Sheffield Modifying Swing to Save Energy

Scouts marveled at Gary Sheffield’s bat speed when the Dodger outfielder made his debut in the major leagues at 19 in 1988.

They said that the young hitter would consistently hit for power and average because of his superb hand-eye coordination and quick wrists, and Sheffield has proved them correct.

But he’s no kid anymore and the five-time all-star no longer relies exclusively on his bat speed. Sheffield still handles fastballs well, but he’s seeking extra help.

“I’m trying to find ways to conserve energy up there and still move the ball around,” he said after going 0 for 2 Tuesday in a 2-1 split-squad loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodgertown.

“With all my motion up there [with his wrists], I noticed last season that sometimes my timing was a little off. I still feel like I’ve got my bat speed . . . but you’ve got to keep trying different things. That’s what I’m working on right now.”

Sheffield, 31, is working on reducing his wrist movement before pitches. Since Little League, he has rocked his bat with his wrists while awaiting pitches.

He’s trying to keep his bat still until the pitcher starts his delivery, hoping to improve his timing and conserve energy.

Of course, old habits are hard to break.

“You get used to doing something, especially if it works, and it takes time to change,” Sheffield said. “I would watch myself on tape [last season] and see what I was doing, but not change it.

“I’m trying to show [Manager Davey Johnson and batting coach Rick Down] that I’m getting my time in and working on it. I know I’m not there yet, but that’s what spring training is for.”

And how long will the transformation take?

“I’ll know when I can drive the ball to all fields doing it this way instead of the old way,” Sheffield said. “So I guess everyone will know at the same time.”

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Dodger Chairman Bob Daly and agent Scott Boras are scheduled to meet today to resume negotiating a three-year contract for Adrian Beltre.

They are trying to end Beltre’s four-month pursuit of free agency before Saturday, when players must be signed. Boras has intimated that Beltre will go to arbitration if the deal is not done by Friday.

The Dodgers are prepared to offer Beltre as much as $5 million, baseball officials said, which would make him one of the highest-paid players with less than two full seasons in the majors. The sides are believed to be far apart, though.

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The Dodgers also lost the other split-squad game against the Cardinals, 5-4, at Jupiter. The Dodgers are 0-6 in the Grapefruit League.