Hansen Remains a Hit Coming Off the Bench

The bench hasn’t been considered among the Dodgers’ strengths this disastrous season because of injuries and ineffectiveness.

But pinch-hitter Dave Hansen isn’t among the guilty, team officials said.

“He fit nicely into what we were trying to accomplish [last off-season],” General Manager Kevin Malone said. “Everyone needs people who can come in cold off the bench and get a big hit.

“He has gotten a lot of clutch hits for us this year, and that’s never easy. It’s a real tough job, and he has done a good job for us.”

Hansen, in his second stint with the Dodgers, has performed well as the ballclub’s primary left-handed pinch-hitter. He began Sunday’s game against the Colorado Rockies tied for sixth in the National League with 12 pinch-hits.

The veteran reserve infielder also has walked 15 times and been hit by a pitch in 61 pinch-hit plate appearances.

Hansen, a Southland native, was drafted by the Dodgers in 1986 and played five-plus seasons with the team before signing with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent in 1997.

As a Dodger, Hansen has 75 career pinch hits. He is second on the franchise’s all-time list behind Manny Mota--the major league’s all-time leader with 106.

Overall this season, Hansen is batting .252 with two home runs and 15 runs batted in while playing in 94 games.

He said preparation is the key to his pinch-hitting success.

“You have to approach every game like you’re going to play even if you don’t,” Hansen said. “It’s hard to do sometimes, but you always have to have that mental approach to be successful.”

Hansen is making $450,000 this season. The Dodgers have a $675,000 option for 1999, which they can buy out for $50,000.

The option is expected to be exercised because team officials consider Hansen a good bargain at that price.

“That’s not in my hands, but I’d love to come back next season,” Hansen said. “This is the organization that drafted me, and coming back this season was like a dream.”

The bench needs an overhaul, but Manager Davey Johnson wants the reliable Hansen back.

“Oh, yeah,” Johnson said when asked about Hansen returning next season. “He carried us the first month [with timely pinch-hits].

“He has been great on the ballclub.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--San Francisco Giants, four games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West 2 every game.

* Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 69-80, Giants 82-67.

* Record vs. Giants--3-3.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ ERIC GAGNE

(0-1, 3.75 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’ RUSS ORTIZ

(17-9, 3.74 ERA)

* Update--Gagne is taking Darren Dreifort’s turn in the rotation because Dreifort is experiencing shoulder stiffness. Gagne was temporarily bumped from the rotation because Johnson didn’t want the rookie right-hander to lose his confidence pitching at homer-friendly Coors Field. Ortiz has been the Giants’ top starter. Mark Gardner might start in place of Livan Hernandez on Thursday.

* Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Jeff Williams (0-0, 4.50) vs. Kirk Rueter (14-8, 5.12).

* Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.--Ismael Valdes (9-14, 4.01) vs. Joe Nathan (7-3, 3.95).

* Thursday, 7 p.m.--Chan Ho Park (11-10, 5.54) vs. Livan Hernandez (7-11, 4.71).