Short-Time Solution

The Dodgers know who’s on first, they moved a familiar face to second base and they’re breathing easier about third these days.

The other infield position?

They’re still unsure about shortstop because off-season remodeling created an opening. There are many applicants for the job, interviews are ongoing and Manager Davey Johnson hopes to fill the position soon.

How the reconfigured infield fares will help determine the Dodgers’ short- and long-term future, and management can’t afford another major mistake.

“We have a good group of guys who have something to prove,” said longtime first baseman Eric Karros. “Obviously, management made some changes that created some opportunities and some competition for jobs.

“I’m sure Davey feels confident in the guys we have here, and we’ll find out pretty soon who’s going to fit where. As far as how good we’ll be [in the infield], time will tell.”

Johnson has seen some encouraging signs from Alex Cora, considered the leading shortstop candidate, and journeyman Kevin Elster, who might make the team as Cora’s backup. Mark Grudzielanek appears comfortable in the early stages of moving from shortstop to second, and the Adrian Beltre matter is expected to be settled by Saturday, presumably ending the young third baseman’s four-month pursuit of free agency.

Moreover, there’s seemingly better-than-average depth. Utilityman Jose Vizcaino, versatile F.P. Santangelo and journeyman third baseman Kevin Orie have Johnson optimistic about his bench.

Of course, everything hinges on who emerges from the shortstop battle and how Grudzielanek fares once the curtain raises.

“They’ve all shown me something,” Johnson said of Grudzielanek, Cora and Elster. “Gruds is moving around that bag [second base] like he’s been there before, and he knows what I want to see from him. I’d have to give him an A at this point.

“The other position [shortstop] has probably been a C-plus. It seems like there’s a little nervousness over there [in Cora], but we’re going to work on it. That situation will get a little more of my focus and attention because it’s so critical to our success this season.”

An infield spot opened because second baseman Eric Young, along with pitcher Ismael Valdes, was traded to the Chicago Cubs in December. Grudzielanek was moved to second because decision-makers believe he’s better suited to work there, and that Cora’s presence will improve an infield considered below average defensively.

Whoever fills the shortstop job, though, might not have it for long. The Dodgers plan to pursue Seattle Mariner all-star Alex Rodriguez when he becomes eligible for free agency after the season.

The smooth-fielding Cora is management’s first choice to succeed Grudzielanek, though there are concerns about him offensively. Cora is hitless in his first nine Grapefruit League at-bats and has appeared jittery in the field.

Juan Castro is considered an even better fielder than Cora, but Johnson believes Cora has more potential at the plate, so Castro is expected to be traded.

“I want to stay with the Dodgers, but I want a chance to show what I can do,” said Castro, making $425,000 in the final year of a two-year deal. “Sometimes you have to [be traded] to get that chance.”

It appears Vizcaino, 32, will be among baseball’s most expensive backups for the second consecutive season.

Johnson believes Vizcaino is incapable of playing regularly at this stage of his career. The 10-year veteran is making $3.5 million in the final year of a three-year, $9.5-million deal, and the Dodgers have been unable to trade him, although they’ve tried.

“Whatever they decide [about shortstop], they decide,” Vizcaino said. “I can’t do anything about it but just play the game. I can help, and I’m going to do that no matter what [my role] is this year.”

Cora batted a career-high .308 at triple-A Albuquerque last season. He was recalled in September for the fourth time in two seasons, batting .167 in 11 games. He appeared overwhelmed against big-league pitching.

Cora batted .121 in 29 games during his three stints with the Dodgers in ‘98, prompting scouts in the former regime to say he doesn’t have the offensive tools to be an everyday player. The new regime views things differently.

“We like Cora,” General Manager Kevin Malone said. “He showed a lot of improvement at the plate at Albuquerque last year, and we think he can help this ballclub. He wouldn’t be here if he couldn’t.”

Not surprisingly, Cora agrees.

“I know I’m not a great offensive player, but I know how to do the little things,” he said. “I’m a guy who can hit and run, bunt and move guys over.

“Just look at some of the big-league shortstops, like [the New York Mets’] Rey [Ordonez]. You don’t have to be a great offensive player to help your team win. Even [Cleveland’s] Omar Vizquel wasn’t always a great offensive player. He’s a great offensive player now, he wasn’t when he was in Seattle, but he always did the little things.”

In case Cora doesn’t do enough in the spring to satisfy the Dodgers, they signed Elster and have been watching him closely.

The 12-year veteran was out of baseball last season after playing for Texas in 1998. He had a career year for the Rangers in ’96 and was selected the American League comeback player of the year, batting .252 with 24 homers, 32 doubles and 99 runs batted in.

Elster, 35, played for the Mets when Johnson managed the club in the late ‘80s. He was enjoying retirement in Las Vegas when the Dodgers called but was eager to work again “in the right situation.”

“I look at this as being a big plus for me whatever happens,” said Elster, who established the National League record for shortstops with 88 consecutive errorless games in 1989. “If I make the club and things work out, that’s fantastic. If I don’t, there are no regrets. I’ll know I came in and gave it my best shot.

“I played with Davey and I know Davey. I watched them [the Dodgers] last year and I saw the struggles they went through. I think a big turnaround is in order, and this could be a lot of fun.”

And then there’s Grudzielanek.

He initially had reservations about changing positions, considering he had finally shaken the reputation of being among the game’s worst shortstops defensively.

Grudzielanek committed 13 errors last season after committing 65 the previous two seasons. He was feeling good about himself--then came the request.

“Davey told me they were looking at doing some things in the off-season, and he wanted to know how I felt about going to second,” Grudzielanek said. “I was really happy with the progress I was making at short, but that’s what the team needed me to do. I knew what I had to do to make it work.”

Grudzielanek again turned to Bucky Dent, the former major league middle infielder who had helped him before last season. Grudzielanek studied technique and footwork at Dent’s academy in Boca Raton, Fla.

“We started from scratch,” said Grudzielanek, whose .326 batting average last season is the highest for a shortstop in team history.

“We went through all the basics from footwork, positioning, pivots, everything. I feel like I’m getting the hang of it, but changing positions, even from short to second, is harder than people think.”

The Dodgers gave Grudzielanek a four-year contract worth almost $18 million to help him relax. With Grudzielanek at second and probably Cora or Elster at shortstop, the Dodgers’ middle infield appears shaky to some.

Johnson disagrees.

The former big league second baseman believes the group will be improved simply because Young plays for the Cubs.

“Style points don’t matter with me, I just want guys who play hard and pick up the ball,” said Johnson, alluding to Young’s performance.

“I won with [middle infielders] Wally Backman and Rafael Santana [with the Mets]. You don’t need all that flash, you just need guys who can get the job done. That’s what we have now.”

Johnson certainly hopes so.