Leadoff Duo Less Than Dynamic

Leadoff batters Tom Goodwin and Marquis Grissom have averages of .184 and .115. Neither has walked in 58 at-bats with 13 strikeouts.

The statistics have stirred concern, but Manager Jim Tracy said he is not contemplating changes. Yet.

“I’m not one to jump the gun,” he said. “If you were a player and you had like what, 25 to 30 at-bats, and somebody said, ‘Hey, you can’t do it, let’s try somebody else,’ I don’t think that you would look at it as though you’ve been given enough of an opportunity.”

But Goodwin and Grissom are coming off poor seasons, General Manager Kevin Malone is on the hot seat and Tracy is managing under the pressure of a $110-million payroll.

How long can he wait to make a move?

“This isn’t the time,” Tracy said. “If the situation doesn’t work out, we’ll look for other options. In the best-case scenario, I’d like to see them both do it.”

The reality is Tracy does not have many options.

He said he would consider using catcher Paul Lo Duca or second baseman Mark Grudzielanek atop the order if the center fielders continue to struggle.

Lo Duca is in his first full season, and scouts said the free-swinging Grudzielanek is not suited to bat first.

Moreover, Grissom and Goodwin are being paid $8.25 million this season and are guaranteed an additional $8.75 million.

Barring injury, they will be in the lineup.

Tracy said leadoff on-base percentage is the key statistic, and he hopes Goodwin and Grissom show improvement soon.

“They understand that,” he said. “You’re talking about two professionals.”

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The Dodgers essentially have a five-man bullpen because of the struggles of rookie left-hander Jose Nunez, selected from the New York Mets in the Rule 5 draft.

Nunez, in low Class A last season, has given up three homers and five runs in four innings for an 11.25 earned-run average, and his last appearance was April 8 against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.

“That’s what you’re going to get with a young pitcher,” Malone said. “You’re going to get some inconsistency. You’re going to see the bright shining star, and you’re also going to see, at times, mistakes. That comes with inexperience.”

But relying on only five relievers, instead of the customary six or seven, could put a strain on the bullpen.

The club must keep Nunez on the 25-man roster or offer him back to the Mets for $25,000.

How much longer can the bullpen work short-handed?

“As we go from day to day, and see how much work our bullpen actually has to take on, then you’re in a better position to answer that question,” Tracy said. “But right now it’s very easy to have him here because our starters are giving us six innings a game. If that were to change, then maybe we would have to reassess.”

*

Chan Ho Park pitched seven strong innings Friday and left with the lead in the Padres’ 5-4, 10-inning victory. Park’s teammates were especially impressed with his work in the seventh, when, with the potential go-ahead run at second, the right-hander struck out left-handed batters Mark Kotsay and Ryan Klesko to end the inning.

“My first couple of years here, you would watch certain situations and you knew he would cave in, and you also knew as an opposing player,” Gary Sheffield said. “Now, it seems like when he gets in trouble, he gets tougher. He believes in his ability, and that’s about maturity and knowing you have the stuff.”

*

Infielder Dave Hansen said he hopes to determine today when he can begin a rehabilitation assignment. Hansen, who suffered broken bones in his left hand in spring training, took batting practice Saturday for the second time.

“It all depends on how close I get to game speed here [in San Diego],” he said. “It’s just that the strength in the hand is not quite the same [as the right].”

TODAY

DODGERS’ KEVIN BROWN

(0-1, 1.13 ERA)

vs.

PADRES’ KEVIN JARVIS

(0-0, 4.76 ERA)

Qualcomm Stadium, 2

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

* Update--Brown was outstanding Tuesday in his season debut but took the loss in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2-0 victory. The right-hander, activated from the disabled list before the game, gave up only three hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out eight without a walk. Brown, who said his right Achilles’ tendon has healed well, was 2-0 with a 2.12 earned-run average last season against the Padres, whom he led to the 1998 National League pennant.