Johnson Is Ready for Major Changes

They don’t do the “little things,” but they weren’t built to do the little things.

The Dodgers were supposed to overwhelm teams with their starting pitching, which officials hoped would minimize the team’s shortcomings. Obviously, it hasn’t worked out that way.

Arizona exploited the Dodgers’ many deficiencies in a 10-1 victory Friday night at Bank One Ballpark.

The Dodgers played about as poorly as it gets defensively when the Diamondbacks scored five runs in the fourth inning to take an 8-0 lead. Second baseman Eric Young committed the most glaring miscue, failing to turn an easy double-play opportunity that prolonged the inning.

And Young’s inability to make that play may have ended his time in the starting lineup. If not as a Dodger.

Dodger Manager Davey Johnson said he plans to make major changes in the lineup today, maybe for the remainder of the season. Johnson declined to indicate whom he plans to reassign, but he is expected to assign Young to another role because of his problems defensively.

“I have to make some changes,” Johnson said. “We’re giving away too many outs. One thing I know is that we can’t be a championship club doing that. You just can’t give a club so many outs.

“I want to keep [his plans] it to myself right now. I’m going to talk to the players [who will be reassigned] today and go from there. We’re going to have to get some roles changed.”

Young singled once in three at-bats and is batting .263.

Johnson and Young met after the game but neither discussed what was said in the closed-door meeting. Team sources said Johnson talked about benching Young, but it appears instead Young will be put on the disabled list because he has had leg and foot injuries.

The speedy leadoff batter has been considered subpar defensively throughout his seven-year career. Officials in the new regime have been especially dissatisfied with Young’s performance this season.

His inability to turn double plays consistently has been a topic of conversation in the clubhouse. Young also has slipped offensively the last two seasons while battling leg injuries.

Young wasn’t the only Dodger who played poorly Friday. Right fielder Raul Mondesi made his second defensive blunder of the game in the fourth, committing a throwing error that helped the Diamondbacks bat around.

Mondesi did not return to the dugout after the inning. He went to the visiting bullpen behind right field after the inning.

“I don’t care where he goes,” Johnson said. “If he wants to sit down [in the bullpen], that’s OK with me.”

There was miscommunication in the infield and outfield in the fourth, and anyone watching the pathetic display wouldn’t be surprised that the Dodgers (43-53) are in last place in the National League West. After winning eight of 10, the Dodgers have lost four in a row with the non-waiver trading deadline approaching next weekend.

Arizona took command against starter Carlos Perez (2-10). Perez gave up 11 hits and 10 earned runs in the six-inning outing, but the Dodgers had only two hits while making one mistake after another defensively.

Arizona starter Omar Daal (9-5) pitched seven strong innings. Young’s single in the fifth was the Dodgers’ first hit against him. Gary Sheffield hit his 17th home run in the sixth for the Dodgers’ only run.

Perez gave up a two-run homer to Matt Williams in the first, marking Williams’ 24th homer and the 23rd Perez has given up in only 89 2/3 innings. The left-hander’s earned-run average went from 6.88 to 7.43.

Perez remains in the rotation because he signed a three-year, $15.6-million deal in the off-season. However, there was plenty of blame to go around in the fourth Friday.

With a runner at first, Damian Miller grounded to Dodger shortstop Mark Grudzielanek, who threw to Young at second to start what appeared to be the textbook double play. But Young struggled to get the ball out of his glove, and his off-line throw pulled first baseman Eric Karros off the bag.

“I thought it was textbook,” Grudzielanek said. “Maybe he had to run a little bit too far to get it, but it looked pretty legitimate to me. I don’t know. I don’t know what else to say.”