Davis Has Ability to Get On

Should the Dodgers trade incumbent first baseman Eric Karros before the Sunday deadline, Glen Davis might be tabbed to replace him.

That’s because Davis, 23, a first baseman-outfielder in his second season, is beginning to show why Los Angeles made him a first-round pick in 1997.

Davis, a switch-hitter, at double-A San Antonio, has reached base by a hit or walk in 43 of his last 49 games. On Friday against Tulsa he reached base twice in the ninth inning when the Missions rallied from a 14-6 deficit with nine runs for a 15-14 victory. On Sunday Davis had the only hit in San Antonio’s 4-3 loss to Tulsa.

In 98 games, Davis is batting .282 with seven home runs and 46 RBIs. One red flag; a team-high 92 strikeouts in 369 at-bats.

Davis is not the only prospect the Dodgers can put at first. Wes Chamberlain, playing at triple-A Albuquerque, is batting .298 with 15 home runs and 66 RBIs in 90 games.

Because the Dodgers’ farm system has needed restocking after several seasons of neglect, club officials have been reluctant to promote players this season but rather leave them where they are and continue their development.

But with the Dodgers falling out of the NL West race that might change.

San Bernardino (19-13)--The Stampede won the first-half Southern Division title in the California League thanks in part to Nick Theodorou. The switch-hitting outfielder is fourth in the league in batting (.345). In a 9-6 victory over Stockton Sunday, Theodorou was four for five and had two RBI.

Albuquerque (51-50)--The Dukes miss outfielder Shawn Gilbert, who was named to the U.S. team for the Pan American Games. Gilbert was batting .331 with 33 doubles, eight home runs and 42 RBIs for the Dukes. He hit safely in his first two Pan Am games, with two runs scored and one RBI. Catcher Paul LoDuca had four hits, including a double and home run, and three RBI as the Dukes beat Iowa, 8-7, in 12 innings on Sunday.