Tracy Applauds Sheffield’s Play

Manager Jim Tracy admires left fielder Gary Sheffield for producing in pain.

Although his severely sprained left index finger has not completely healed, the six-time all-star is still a force in the lineup.

Sheffield is batting .285 with 22 home runs and 52 runs batted in, making things easier for the Dodgers.

“He’s a special guy,” Tracy said. “He’s just like everyone else here in that he’s gone out knowing that you’re going to incur some bumps and bruises along the way, and he’s playing through that.”

Sheffield is determined to remain on the active roster because the Dodgers are finally meeting expectations.

“This is what it’s all about right now, so you don’t have time to think about how you feel,” Sheffield said. “We have a chance to win this year, the best chance we’ve had since I’ve been here, and we have to keep it going.

“This time of year, a lot of guys are battling something because the season’s so long. Other teams have guys who are hurt, so you can’t complain and make excuses. The key is how you respond to it.”

The Dodgers have responded well, overcoming many major injuries.

“That’s what you’re supposed to do if you want to win a championship,” said Sheffield, a member of the Florida Marlins’ 1997 World Series title team.

“You need guys to make sacrifices, and you also need guys who are going to step in and make contributions. That’s what we’ve been doing.”

After struggling in 2000, Shawn Green is the club’s top run-producer.

The right fielder leads with 26 homers, 76 RBIs and 72 runs.

“The biggest role he has played, obviously, is when [Sheffield] and I were out for a period of time,” first baseman Eric Karros said. “I think that’s when he had his best couple of weeks of . . . probably his two years here.

“That was obviously a critical juncture of the season for us. He definitely kept us in this thing.”

Dan Evans, assistant general manager, has been busy in trade discussions with many teams, baseball sources said. The Dodgers still hope to acquire a pitcher and middle infielder before the July 31 trade deadline, but are not willing to trade pitchers Eric Gagne, Matt Herges or Luke Prokopec--the most requested players in proposals. . . . The Dodgers scored 31 runs Saturday and Sunday against the Colorado Rockies, matching their highest total in consecutive games since also accomplishing the feat July 24-25, 1979, against the Philadelphia Phillies. . . . The Brewers will honor Dodger second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, a Milwaukee native, today at Miller Park for his contributions to baseball.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

DENNIS SPRINGER

(0-0, 9.00 ERA)

vs.

BREWERS’

JAMEY WRIGHT

(8-5, 3.38 ERA)

Miller Park, 5 p.m. PDT

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

Update--Springer, making his second Dodger start, had a no-decision last Thursday in an 8-6 victory against Milwaukee at Dodger Stadium. The veteran knuckleballer gave up four runs in four innings after his contract was purchased from triple-A Las Vegas. Springer is 3-0 with a 3.71 earned-run average against the Brewers in five career starts. Wright is 2-6 with a 3.64 ERA against the Dodgers.