Even Without Ace, Astros’ Deck Stacked

General Manager Jerry Hunsicker of the Houston Astros didn’t have to be told that Dodger fans seem nervous about the team’s inconsistent start after club management had talked of high expectations. Hunsicker said he could hear it and feel it at Dodger Stadium.

“This was the first time I can remember coming into this park and hearing people boo the home team,” Hunsicker said on the dugout bench during last week’s series. “There’s a lot of restlessness. You can sense it. You spend all that money, it increases the expectation level and the pressure goes up on everyone.”

He referred to the Dodgers’ $105-million signing of Kevin Brown and their $80-million payroll. The Astros won two of the three games and are rolling toward a three-peat in the NL Central, despite the absence of injured Moises Alou and a dominating No. 1 pitcher, which Hunsicker is weary of talking about.

“I’m sick and tired of hearing that,” he said. “Statistically, we have the best pitching staff in the National League, and it’s an insult to the pitchers we have when people keep saying that we need an ace. Well, we had one [Randy Johnson] last year and we didn’t get past the first round of the playoffs.

“How many No. 1s are out there? Probably four or five. Would I like to have one? Sure, but I like the guys we have too, and I like the challenge of competing without the high-profile guy that everyone says we are lacking. That makes it extra satisfying when we quietly keep winning while everyone else is debating what we need to do.”

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So the San Francisco Giants lead the West for 43 consecutive days, many of them without Barry Bonds, get knocked out of first place by the Arizona Diamondbacks for a day and the tone in the Bay Area media turns sour.

“I’m a little ticked off,” Manager Dusty Baker said. “You fall out of first by one game and you hear you’re the worst team on earth. It comes with the territory, but you hate to be surrounded by so much negativity. It turns your stomach.

“You’re picked for last, and suddenly you’re expected to be the New York Yankees. No wonder people don’t come out to this ballpark. They believe what they read and hear.”

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In a conference call with reporters this week, Philadelphia pitching ace Curt Schilling said that if owners of the surprising Phillies don’t provide the help the club needs before the July 31 trade deadline, “They need to sell the team.”

Added Schilling, “You have to spend money to make money [but] I haven’t seen any signs from ownership . . . that they’re committed to helping us win.”

He said again that he hopes to be traded if they fail to acquire that help: “There is no reason to keep me if you’re not going to compete.”

In response, Philadelphia General Manager Ed Wade said that Schilling’s comments were “irresponsible and self-serving.”

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Add Roger Cedeno to the list of young Dodger players who have gone elsewhere to succeed. Cedeno, sent to the New York Mets in the Todd Hundley deal and playing more because of injuries to outfielders Rickey Henderson and Bobby Bonilla, had a .361 average through his first 19 starts with 21 runs, 15 walks, six doubles and 14 stolen bases.

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Since November, Mel Rojas has gone from the Mets to the Dodgers (who are still obligated for $4.3 million of his 1999 salary) to the Detroit Tigers to a minor league contract with the Montreal Expos.

Rojas figures to be up with the Expos soon, but Manager Felipe Alou has no illusions about the pitcher’s ability to regain his lost form.

“I’d just rather have a veteran get hit than a young guy who isn’t ready,” Alou said.