Two Center Fielders, One Problem for Tracy

Managers typically do not experiment in playoff races, but Jim Tracy is because center fielders Marquis Grissom and Tom Goodwin are still struggling.

Tracy hopes to get them going down the stretch of the National League playoff races, so each has started twice in the first four games of the trip.

“We need to get more out of that spot offensively,” Tracy said “You get that extra guy, contributing offensively, and it makes us that much more dangerous.”

Although Grissom is batting only .230 in 366 at-bats, he has provided power with 20 home runs and 55 runs batted in.

But after hitting .263 with 15 homers and 43 RBI in the first half, he’s batting only .169 with five homers and 12 RBIs since the All-Star break.

“In the case of [Grissom], it’s [about production] down there in the bottom part of the order,” Tracy said. “You’ve got [Shawn] Green, [Gary Sheffield] and [Paul Lo Duca] getting on base. Here comes [Eric Karros] and [Grissom] with men on base.”

Goodwin is batting .227 with a .275 on-base percentage in 269 at-bats, and he’s hitting only .116 in the second half.

“In the case of Goody, it’s up at the top of the lineup,” Tracy said. “If Goody gets on and [No. 2 batter Mark Grudzielanek] gets on, now here we go with what we’ve been talking about for the past couple of weeks.

“Here you go with Green, Sheffield and Lo Duca. [Opponents] constantly get to deal with them with men on.”

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Starter Terry Adams, who can become a free agent after the season, is still upset about how management treated him in contract negotiations last winter and said that might influence his choice of team.

Adams, a converted reliever who is 12-6 with a 4.32 earned-run average, said he will consider the Dodgers because of his respect for Tracy, who gave him the opportunity to start.

“I can’t speak to the dollars-and-cents issue because that’s not my department,” Tracy said. “Would I like to have this guy back? You better believe it.

“But I wouldn’t be disappointed [if Adams leaves], just due to the nature of the business and understanding how it works. Terry’s going to do what’s in the best interests of himself financially, and that’s understandable.”