Recent Skid Is No Reason to Panic

The Dodgers have lost four in a row, dropped to third in the National League West and are in batting and pitching slumps.

Time to panic?

“We said all along we would like to be in the position we’re in right now come August and September,” interim General Manager Dave Wallace said. “We’ve survived some rough times this year, so you have to feel good about that.”

But players acknowledge they also have concerns.

September figures to be especially intense with 22 of 27 games against division opponents, including the last 10 against the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks and second-place San Francisco Giants.

“It’s going to be tough and it gets tougher,” left fielder Gary Sheffield said. “You haven’t seen anything yet. We have to play these guys in our division a lot. You want to be up by three, four or five games because more pressure will be on. I try to stress that to everybody.

“I don’t think there’s too many guys in here that have rings and have been in the playoffs. I don’t know if they know what it takes to get there. I’ve been there, and believe me, there’s a lot of emotion going into it, and it drains you. The intensity . . . one bad pitch or one bad inning that gets away from you and you lose a ballgame. Everything has to be pinpoint.”

The starters are fourth in the league with a 4.15 earned-run average but struggled on a 2-4 trip.

They were 1-4 with a 6.96 ERA, and converted reliever Terry Adams was the only one who pitched well, going 1-1 with two quality starts.

The right-hander pitched seven strong innings in a trip-opening 2-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park and was effective for six innings in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium.

Luke Prokopec, Chan Ho Park, James Baldwin and Eric Gagne were pounded, but pitching coach Jim Colborn is not worried.

“Chan Ho was an aberration,” Colborn said. “We know what the problem is and it’s fixable. Baldwin was hurt by one bad inning. He just fell out of rhythm.

“Gagne allowed four runs in the first inning [on Travis Lee’s] grand slam, and that’s sort of an aberration too. If we hadn’t been behind and had to pinch-hit, he probably would have pitched seven or eight innings.

“It’s just that this happened on consecutive days. That’s why it kind of stands out, but I’m really not worried. They know how good they are and what they have to do.”

Setup man Matt Herges has struggled in the second half, going 1-2 with a 5.09 ERA in 16 appearances.

Opponents are batting .366 against the right-hander during that span, .412 this month.

Some believe Herges is tired because he has pitched 75 1/3 innings--the majors’ second-highest total by a reliever.

Herges disagrees.

“No, that has nothing to do with it,” said Herges, 8-8 with a 3.82 ERA and one save. “I can’t totally explain why I’ve had a bad run here, but I know it’s not because I’m tired. I feel good.”

He said his pitching strategy might be part of the problem.

He has relied on off-speed pitches recently instead of his 94-mph fastball.

“I have to be aggressive to be effective, and I think I had gotten away from my fastball a little bit,” Herges said. “I going to get back to it.”

He appreciates Manager Jim Tracy’s unwavering support.

“When the manager calls you into his office and says he hasn’t lost confidence in you, it means a lot,” Herges said. “He told me, ‘We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you in that position. I’m not losing confidence in you, so don’t you lose confidence in yourself.’ Like I said, it means a lot.”

ON DECK

Opponent--Montreal Expos, three games.

Site--Dodger Stadium.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2 every game.

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

Records--Dodgers 65-53, Expos 49-69.

Record vs. Expos--1-2.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK

(11-8, 3.12 ERA)

vs.

EXPOS’ TONY ARMAS

(8-11, 3.99 ERA)

Update--Park is coming off one of his worst outings in last Thursday’s 8-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The right-hander gave up seven hits--including two home runs--and seven runs in five innings. The Expos are last in the National League East.

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Giovanni Carrara (2-1, 2.88) vs. Carl Pavano (no record).

Thursday, 1 p.m.--Eric Gagne (4-5, 4.92) vs. Tomo Ohka (0-2, 8.18).

Tickets--(323) 224-1448.