Focus Now Shifts to Other Areas

With the Dodgers’ announcement Monday that Gary Sheffield will be in the lineup on opening day, his apologies having convinced Chairman Bob Daly that the left fielder wants to stay and is eager to regain the trust of his teammates, attention now shifts to the team’s other unsettled areas.

The rotation and bullpen have not been set, there are catching issues and third base is a potential problem because of injuries and illness.

Manager Jim Tracy said that his mind has been on the big picture all along, despite the Sheffield situation.

“It was something that had to be dealt with; that’s just the reality of it,” he said. “But the work that needed to be done here continued. The attitudes of the people in that room [the clubhouse] never changed from the first day here.

“We went out there every day with the same approach and dedication we needed, and those guys deserve a lot of credit for that. You see a lot of the positive things happening now, and you have to be pleased with the results.”

The Dodgers are especially pleased with their pitchers.

Kevin Brown, Chan Ho Park and Darren Dreifort should receive more help from the fourth and fifth starters after the pitchers in those roles were 11-26 with a 6.28 earned-run average last season.

Right-hander Andy Ashby (1-0) has been impressive despite a 6.00 ERA, and Ramon Martinez has done enough to earn the fifth spot, though Tracy said he has not made a decision.

Martinez has had a typically slow start at 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA, but the right-hander with 135 career wins has shown positive signs too.

Young right-handers Eric Gagne (1-1, 2.08) and Luke Prokopec (0-1, 4.50) also have pitched well, but they are expected to begin the season at triple-A Las Vegas to provide rotation depth.

Martinez, in his second stint with the club, said the rotation could be one of the best in Dodger history.

“When you look at all the guys we have here, you know it could be a great rotation,” said Martinez, seventh on the Los Angeles franchise list with 123 victories.

Ashby agrees.

“We have something special here because guys have an idea of what we want to do,” said Ashby, signed to a three-year, $22.5-million contract.

“The main thing is that we know that we can win. We know that we’re going to put someone out there every day who, team-wise, we know isn’t a problem. And the bullpen has been solid, so we know we’re going in the right direction.”

The bullpen had the league’s lowest ERA without an effective left-hander, and it might have two capable lefties this season.

Jesse Orosco, the majors’ all-time appearance leader with 1,096, continues to defy time, and rookie Jose Antonio Nunez has been the surprise of spring training.

Orosco, who turns 44 on April 21, is 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA but has been outstanding against left-handed batters.

Nunez has no record and a 3.86 ERA with a save, and the hard-throwing left-hander has overwhelmed batters.

Nunez, selected from the New York Mets in the Rule 5 draft, must remain on the 25-man roster or be offered to the Mets for $25,000.

Catchers Chad Kreuter and Paul LoDuca are on the team, Kreuter handling Park and Dreifort and LoDuca handling the other starters. Angel Pena might be kept as well because he is talented and out of options.

Third baseman Adrian Beltre might be sidelined for two months after having abdominal surgery twice since January, so Pena also could be used as a right-handed bat off the bench.

Tracy might use a platoon of Chris Donnels and Tim Bogar at third base because Dave Hansen, Beltre’s backup, will begin the season on the disabled list after suffering broken bones in his left hand.

“These are situations that come up and that’s just the way it is,” Tracy said. “It happens to everyone, the thing that sets teams apart is how they deal with it.

“I have a lot of faith in the people on this club. We’ve got options we’re comfortable with and these guys believe in one another. That’s all you can ask for.”

Notes

Right fielder Shawn Green, sidelined since March 2 because of a sprained right thumb, participated in drills and said he expects to return to the lineup soon. “I should be able to play in a couple of days,” said Green, still wearing protective padding around his thumb. “It felt fine in [batting practice] and I played a little catch today for the first time.” . . . Rookie utility player Hiram Bocachica said his injured left ankle improved, but he does not know when he will return. Bocachica, expected to make the team, is listed as day-to-day after fouling a ball off his ankle in Saturday’s 9-6 victory over the Florida Marlins. . . . The Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals were rained out of their scheduled exhibition at Jupiter, Fla.