Dodgers Have Been Hit and Bliss

By JASON REID

July 12, 2001 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Darren Dreifort might not pitch next season, Chan Ho Park can become a free agent after this season and the Dodgers are paying $10.6 million to three players released before the all-star break.

So why is Chairman Bob Daly upbeat?

Because at least the club’s top officials are not at war with each other.

Daly refereed battles between former general manager Kevin Malone and manager Davey Johnson last season while coping with the embarrassing fallout.

The experience gave the former Warner Bros. studio boss a new appreciation for movie stars, and prompted him to fire Johnson. Malone was forced to resign April 18.

With interim General Manager Dave Wallace and first-year Manager Jim Tracy at the helm, Daly believes the Dodgers finally have a tandem capable of restoring the franchise’s image.

The results have been better than many anticipated.

The Dodgers (48-40) begin the second half in second place in the National League West, 3 1/2 games behind the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks, thanks to a recent nine-game winning streak.

Under Tracy’s guidance, the club overcame the outburst of Gary Sheffield in spring training, the forced resignation of Malone and numerous injuries to key players, including starters Dreifort and Andy Ashby undergoing season-ending surgery. Dreifort had reconstructive elbow surgery for the second time in six years and might sit out all of the 2002 season.

This season has been much better than last for Daly because of Wallace and Tracy.

“You go back to the beginning of the year, and what we wanted to try to accomplish, and I think the selection of Jim Tracy as manager was terrific,” Daly said in a recent interview. “The coaching staff that he’s put together has been great.

“Dave Wallace coming aboard as acting general manager has really made the place settle down, and Dan Evans [Wallace’s de facto assistant] has been terrific since he came aboard and he and Dave work together great. From an organizational standpoint, everybody’s rowing in the same direction. They’re all doing their jobs, there’s no big egos involved, and we are very happy about that.”

The Dodgers had their most victories at the break since 1991 (49-31), and are in the division and wild-card hunt despite Tracy having been forced to shuffle the rotation and batting order.

“No question, Trace has done an outstanding job with everything we’ve had to deal with, and the guys on this team really believe in each other,” second baseman Mark Grudzielanek said. “With everything we’ve been through, it can’t help but bring guys together.”

Of course, the Dodgers have an industry-high $110-million payroll, so they should be capable of weathering a few storms.

The Dodgers return to the starting line tonight in an interleague series against the Oakland Athletics at Network Associates Coliseum, beginning a 74-game race for their first playoff appearance since 1996 and first under Fox.

The stakes are high for Daly, who has approved many costly roster moves, and Wallace and Evans, who many in the organization believe will retain their positions if the team finishes well.

The Dodgers are in their best position in years, but now comes the difficult part.

BIGGEST FIRST-HALF SURPRISE

A) Catcher Paul Lo Duca.

B) Outfielder Marquis Grissom.

C) Tracy.

Answer: A.

Grissom (.263, 15 homers, 43 runs batted in) has emerged as a leader in his brief time with the team, helping unite a formerly fractured clubhouse, and is a candidate for comeback player of the year.

Tracy answered critics who wondered if he was too reserved to lead this high-priced bunch, proving he has the right touch.

But no one could have known Lo Duca would bat .346 with 14 home runs and 45 RBIs in only 54 games while playing behind the plate, at first base and in the outfield, and batting throughout the order.

Fans admire the overachieving eight-year minor leaguer, and his impressed teammates do too.

BIGGEST FIRST-HALF DISAPPOINTMENT

A) Reliever Mike Fetters.

B) Outfielder Tom Goodwin.

C) Starter Eric Gagne.

Answer: B.

Fetters, 36, has a 6.46 earned-run average in the first-year of a two-year, $4.25-million contract.

The Dodgers are still waiting for Gagne (1-4, 5.42) to establish himself in the rotation.

Goodwin has the edge, though, because of a .299 on-base percentage. He is batting only .247 and is behind Lo Duca in the leadoff role and Grissom in center field. And why did Goodwin work so hard with Maury Wills in spring training if he didn’t want to bunt more?

Goodwin is popular in the clubhouse, but more is expected of someone making $3.25 million.

DEFINING MOMENT

The forced resignation of Malone.

Players could have used the latest circus-like atmosphere at Chavez Ravine as an excuse to fail--but Tracy wouldn’t let them.

The Dodgers responded to Tracy’s determination.

AT THIS PACE

Park will finish with a career-low ERA, and establish personal bests in innings, strikeouts and quality starts.

REASONS TO BE EXCITED

Lo Duca, Park, Sheffield and Shawn Green.

Lo Duca has come out of nowhere, Park is one of the majors’ top starters, Sheffield is a big-time run-producer and Green (20 homers, 64 RBIs) has rebounded from a disappointing 2000 season.

REASONS TO BE CONCERNED

The bullpen and rotation.

Fetters has been ineffective, putting more pressure on Matt Herges.

The Dodgers could be in trouble if Herges wears down, especially with former setup man Terry Adams needed in the rotation.

No. 1 starter Kevin Brown, 36, has been on the disabled list twice, and the right-hander is still pitching in pain.

If Brown is sidelined again, the Dodgers might have to make a major pitching move to remain in playoff contention.

MOVES TO PONDER

The Dodgers are strongly considering reacquiring starter Pedro Astacio of the Colorado Rockies.

The Rockies are interested in Gagne and starter Luke Prokopec for Astacio, who has a salary of $6.6 million this season and a $9-million contract option, or a $1-million buyout, next season.

The Dodgers also are interested in a middle infielder.

SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER

If Brown reverts to form, Lo Duca, Park, Sheffield and Green keep rolling and Tracy continues to push the correct buttons.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Dodger Breakdown

Comparison of key statistics at the All-Star break:

THIS YEAR’S TEAM

vs. LAST YEAR’S

*--*

2001 2000 48-40 Record 44-42 2nd Div. Stng. 4th 31/2 Games Beh. 6 .257 Avg. .265 411 Runs 458 112 HR 129 .324 OB% .352 4.23 ERA 4.50 30-25 Starters W-L 27-25 4.09 Starters ERA 4.28 18-15 Bullpen W-L 17-17 4.54 Bullpen ERA 4.95 24 Saves 16

*--*

BY POSITION

CATCHER

*--*

.Avg HR RBI 2000: T. Hundley .316 17 43 2001: P. Lo Duca .346 14 45

*--*

CENTER FIELD

*--*

.Avg HR RBI 2000: D. White .289 3 9 2001: M. Grissom .263 15 43

*--*

CLOSER

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