Tension Mounts Over Johnson’s Status

Manager Davey Johnson’s shaky job situation has stirred tension in the organization and clubhouse.

Chairman Bob Daly and General Manager Kevin Malone made Johnson’s status an issue at the All-Star break when they publicly criticized his managing style.

Malone is frustrated because he believes the Dodgers are not performing to their potential under Johnson, baseball’s winningest active manager.

That has further strained their already chilly relationship and increased the heat under Johnson.

The Dodgers must qualify for the playoffs for Johnson to return next season in the final year of his three-year contract.

Malone is at his wits’ end, Johnson is dealing with pressure and the Dodgers are going backward.

“There are a lot of things going on here that I never expected to see, a lot of things that you look at and really can’t figure out,” left fielder Gary Sheffield said. “But that’s just the way this game is sometimes, and you have to deal with whatever happens.

“There are a lot of things you can’t control as a player. The only thing you can do is just do your job. We’re professionals, and you just have to try to stay focused.”

Johnson still has supporters in the clubhouse, but his credibility has been affected by management’s poor review of his performance. The Dodgers have many problems that aren’t Johnson’s fault, players said.

“Managers are hired and fired because of [players],” Sheffield said. “Davey is doing his job--we’re just not doing ours.

“Davey gives guys opportunities to play, he gives them chances, and they’re complaining. That makes it hard to manage too.”

Although Johnson being on the hot seat has been a distraction, the Dodgers are not using that as an excuse for their play.

“It just comes down to us getting it done,” catcher Todd Hundley said. “You just have to block out everything and do the job. Obviously, we’ve got to start winning some games.

“We’ve got to turn it around because we’re running out of time. It’s not life or death yet, but we’re getting close to it.”

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The center-field and lead-off situations are still unsettled despite the Dodgers reacquiring Tom Goodwin to fill the roles.

Goodwin, who bats left-handed, was expected to play every day but is platooning with switch-hitter Devon White, who also platooned with Todd Hollandsworth.

Whatever it takes to win, Goodwin said.

“That’s fine with me,” he said. “I didn’t come in here to ruffle any feathers.”

However, the Dodgers traded Hollandsworth to the Colorado Rockies for Goodwin because White and Hollandsworth disappointed batting atop the order. And Randy Dorame, the club’s top left-handed pitching prospect, was included in the deal.

Goodwin is off to a slow start in his second stint with the club. He has struck out nine times in 29 at-bats, and been caught stealing twice in three attempts.

But the Dodgers were aware Goodwin strikes out too much for a lead-off hitter before they reacquired him. Malone made the move because Johnson was disappointed in White.

White continues to play regularly, at least in part, because the Dodgers are concerned he will rock the boat if he doesn’t.

The Dodgers regret giving White a three-year, $12.4-million contract, and White--a seven-time Gold Glove award winner--believes the Dodgers have not treated him with the respect he deserves.

Malone would have traded White, owed $5.9 million under the final year of his contract, to the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Marquis Grissom had the Goodwin deal collapsed.

The Dodgers plan to trade White in the off-season. Although Goodwin only recently returned, he also might be traded in another make-over.

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With victories in his last five starts, Darren Dreifort has improved his standing in the upcoming free-agent market, baseball sources said.

The Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets plan to aggressively pursue Dreifort. The Dodgers also hope to retain the hard-throwing right-hander, who is making $3.7 million this season.

Many teams believe Dreifort is on the verge of becoming one of the game’s top starters.

Several scouts said Dreifort’s sinking fastball has been almost unhittable during his streak, and that Dreifort is throwing a sharp slider and change-up consistently for strikes.

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Third baseman Adrian Beltre remained in the game Saturday against the Atlanta Braves after he was hit by a ball on his batting helmet while stealing second base in the second inning.

The Braves did not cover the bag and catcher Paul Bako’s throw hit Beltre. He had a welt above his left eye.

“It got me good,” Beltre said. “But I’m OK.”

TODAY

DODGERS’

DARREN DREIFORT

(9-7, 4.51 ERA)

vs.

BRAVES’

ANDY ASHBY

(8-8, 5.02 ERA)

Turner Field, 10 a.m. PDT

TV--Channel 5

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

* Update--Dreifort is 5-0 with a 2.67 earned-run average in his last five starts. The right-hander has struck out 31 in 33 2/3 innings during that span. Dreifort is 1-6 with a 6.94 ERA against the Braves. Ashby is making his first start against the Dodgers this season. The right-hander was 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA in three starts against them last season, and is 8-2 with a 2.05 ERA overall.