Practices Open Under Cloud

Are cracks beginning to show in Chan Ho Park’s facade?

While the Dodger pitching staff has been beset by swarms of injuries in their Dodgers’ inexplicable chase for a division title, Park has been a steadying influence. Especially at home.

That all changed Sunday afternoon.

After getting thumped around by the New York Mets in a 6-5 loss in front of 49,395, Park’s courage intestinal fortitude was questioned by team members.

called into question.

Park (11-9), who entered the game with a record of 8-2 with a 1.59 earned-run average at Dodger Stadium, did not speak to reporters address the media after taking the loss by giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits in five innings while walking four and striking out three.

Dodger staff and Park’s personal catcher did more than enough talking for him.

“Chan Ho wasn’t very good today and he wasn’t very good from the first pitch,” Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said. “The tone that was set early on was not one that was conducive for a club fighting for what we’re fighting for.

“The tone is set by the demeanor of your starting pitcher.”

Said Dodger pitching coach Jim Colborn: “It was a poor outing and a poor effort.”

In his previous start, Park shut out the Montreal Expos for eight innings, giving up three hits.

“As a teacher, it’s good to have the good and bad so close together, back-to-back,” Colborn said. “We can compare and, probably, there’s a real good chance he can learn something from it.”

Park’s catcher, Chad Kreuter, minced no words.

“Frankly, I was disappointed in the intensity level he had,” Kreuter said. “His focus and his intensity level were not at a very high level. We need him to be completely focused. . . . He’s a guy who can dominate, especially this [Met] lineup.”

Park was outpitched by starter Steve Trachsel (7-11), who got the win while Armando Benitez closed it out for his 29th save.

“Something’s going on,” Kreuter said. “We need to find out what it is and correct it in a hurry because we need [Park] to go out there and perform like he’s capable ... when you’re going against a No. 3 or 4 starter like he did today, who you know is going to give up five or six runs, he needs to go out there with a feeling that he’s going to dominate and just completely tear apart their lineup.”

The only tearing Sunday afternoon, though, was done by former Dodger turned Met catcher Mike Piazza.

His dark roots showing through his bad Day-Glo dye job, Piazza turned Chavez Ravine into his personal playground again, as it was from 1993-98, going three for four with two home runs and four runs batted in.

“Obviously, it’s been a while [since I played here],” said Piazza, who was traded by the Dodgers to the Florida Marlins in a seven-player swap that landed the Dodgers Gary Sheffield on May 15, 1998. The Marlins, in the middle of a fire sale after winning the 1997 World Series, sent Piazza to the Mets a week later.

“It’s been [three] years,” Piazza said. “Obviously, I still have a lot of good friends here, but I just try to block it out and concentrate on the game. This is still a great place to play.”

Each Piazza at-bat evoked more emotion from the crowd than the previous.

“Big Mike was swinging like he’s capable of, and he gave Dodger fans a taste of what they don’t have any more,” Met Manager Bobby Valentine said. “Mike is capable of carrying this team, or any team. It’s just unfortunate he hasn’t had a good supporting cast this year.

“It’s just another game for him [playing in Los Angeles], and I think he’s very comfortable playing here. I think there were just as many cheers as there were boos.”

In New York’s only visit to Los Angeles this season, the defending National League champion Mets (56-68) took two of three from the Dodgers (67-57), who managed to go just 2-4 on the homestand against the Mets and the Montreal Expos, the NL East’s bottom-feeding teams, to fall 5 1/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West.

The Dodgers got home runs from Sheffield (No. 28, his third in three games), Shawn Green (No. 37) and Marquis Grissom (No. 19).

Piazza, though, helped the Mets overcome those blasts.

His first home run gave the Mets a two-run lead in the third inning. He crushed a 3-and-1 Park pitch over the wall in dead center for a solo shot.

His second gave New York a five-run lead in the seventh when he sent a 1-and-2 pitch by Giovanni Carrara over the same fence for a two-run homer.

It was Piazza’s fourth multi-homer game of the year and gave him 29 home runs on the season. They were the 298th and 299th home runs he’s hit as a catcher, tying him with Lance Parrish for fourth place on the all-time catcher home run list.

Carlton Fisk (351) leads the list, followed by Johnny Bench (327) and Yogi Berra (306). All three are in the Hall of Fame

“In an otherwise disappointing season for the team,” Piazza said, “it’s kind of bittersweet because I’ve reached some personal milestones that I’m very proud of.”

Who knows when the Dodgers will be proud of Park again?