Sheffield Wants Action, Not Words

Gary Sheffield has heard enough talk about the Dodgers overcoming an eight-game deficit in the National League West.

Team meetings and optimism won’t help at this point, Sheffield said.

“You can only do so much talking, you only try to encourage guys so much and get them going, it’s all about results,” said Sheffield, who hit two home runs Saturday afternoon in a 4-1 victory over the New York Mets.

“When you look at the intensity level we’ve been bringing the last few weeks, you have to wonder. You think it’s going to change and guys are going to go out and start to turn it up, but then you see the same things happening every day.”

Sheffield made strong comments recently about the Dodgers focusing too much on individual success.

Clarifying his position, Sheffield said everyone must be willing to sacrifice more.

“It takes every guy to do everything they can to make the team successful, and there are things you can do even if you’re in a slump,” said Sheffield, who leads the league with 86 walks.

“Sometimes the big hit just isn’t going to come, so you can’t go up there looking for that all the time. There are a lot of things you can do [in an at-bat], and we just don’t do what we have to do enough.”

Sheffield said the Dodgers have put themselves and Manager Davey Johnson in a difficult position.

“Time is what you make of it,” Sheffield said. “Guys were saying [earlier in the season] we still had time, and now you see the situation we’re in.

“Davey wants to rest guys, but he can’t because of where we’re at [in the standings]. Guys start dragging, and that just makes the manager’s job more difficult.”

Johnson acknowledges he has relied on Sheffield more than he would prefer because others have struggled.

“Sheff has been great,” Johnson said. “I’d like to rest him more than I have, but I need him in there. I tell his wife to take good care of him because I sure can’t.

“But I don’t want Sheff to feel like he’s got to keep us together. He can’t do it alone.”

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The Dodgers want to rehire Met pitching coach Dave Wallace in the off-season, team sources said.

Met General Manager Steve Phillips last season denied the Dodgers permission to speak with Wallace, whom Phillips hired from the club after the 1997 season.

Wallace’s contract expires after this season and the Dodgers are determined to bring him back.

Believing Wallace might not return for a coaching job, the Dodgers are prepared to create a front-office position that would enable him to also work with pitchers while assisting in other areas.

The Dodgers declined comment about Wallace because of tampering rules.

Many longtime Dodgers said losing Wallace, widely considered baseball’s best pitching coach, was one of former general manager Fred Claire’s biggest mistakes.

Wallace, a friend of Dodger Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, is close to current starters Darren Dreifort, Chan Ho Park and Ismael Valdes. He tutored them in the minors and majors.

The Dodgers have had three pitching coaches since Wallace left. Under Wallace this season, Met starters are second in the league with a 47-35 record and 4.21 earned-run average.

The Mets hope to retain Wallace, Phillips said.

“Dave has done a wonderful job for us,” Phillips said. “He obviously is very important to our staff and organization.”

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Tom Lasorda said Met catcher Mike Piazza is the league’s most valuable player, but Sheffield is a close second.

“Without a doubt, Mike is the MVP,” said Lasorda, the Dodger manager when Piazza debuted with the club and a close family friend.

“But I don’t want to take anything away from Sheff because he’s having a great year for us and I love the guy. I’d say Mike is No. 1, and Sheff is right there.”

Lasorda had to persuade team officials to draft Piazza, who was selected in the 62nd round in 1988, and prevent them from burying him in the minors early in his career.

“You better believe I’m proud of him,” said Lasorda, who soon will be leaving for Australia to manage the Olympic baseball team. “A lot of people thought he was only here [with the Dodgers] because of our relationship, but he worked hard and made himself a great, great player.”

TODAY

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT

(10-7, 4.35 ERA)

vs.

METS’ BOBBY J. JONES

(8-5, 5.08 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 1

TV--Channel 5. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Dreifort has been the Dodgers’ best starter since the All-Star break. The right-hander is 6-0 with a 2.56 ERA in his last six starts. During his career-high streak, Dreifort has struck out 33 in 38 2/3 innings and limited opponents to a .210 batting average. He is 2-2 with a 2.63 ERA against the Mets. Jones has victories in his last four starts. The right-hander is 2-1 against the Dodgers.