Mondesi’s Mind Is Elsewhere

With trade speculation weighing heavy on his mind, Raul Mondesi was unprepared to start Saturday afternoon against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.

The high-priced right fielder eventually pulled himself together and played during the Dodgers’ 4-2 loss before a crowd of 37,114 at Dodger Stadium.

Mondesi pinch-hit during the eighth inning against Diamondback starter Randy Johnson (11-8), who pitched a six-hitter and struck out 12. Mondesi also played in right as a replacement for Trenidad Hubbard, who started and made a sensational diving catch of a ball hit by Matt Williams in the eighth.

As expected, Saturday’s 9 p.m. PDT non-waiver trading deadline came and went with the Dodgers standing pat. But Mondesi still might wind up elsewhere soon because of what occurred Saturday as well as throughout the season.

“I talked to him, and I guess he was upset with some of the stuff in the newspapers,” Dodger Manager Davey Johnson said. “Some of the stuff in the paper about him going someplace else got him a little mentally confused, so I just gave him the day off.”

Not that it mattered much.

Mondesi, making $8.5 million this season, has been a major disappointment to frustrated team officials. They are desperately hoping he gives them a reason not to trade him during the off-season.

“What am I going to do, cry?” Mondesi said about the trade speculation that had no substance. “If I wear a different uniform, it’s still baseball. If they ask me to play football, then I’ll cry. I can’t play football.”

Ismael Valdes (8-9) pitched eight strong innings, striking out 10 without a walk. In the third, Luis Gonzalez hit a two-out, two-run home run against Valdes to stake Johnson to a 3-0 lead.

Eric Karros hit his team-leading 25th homer--a two-run shot--against Johnson in the fourth. Karros needs 27 homers to become the all-time Los Angeles franchise leader. Ron Cey holds the record with 228.