Sinker Allowed Quantrill to Rise to Occasion

Paul Quantrill had an 0-2 record and 9.45 earned run average in his first six appearances as a Dodger this season, and the vultures on the radio sports-talk show circuit were howling.

This was the guy who was supposed to be the team’s primary setup man and possible closer? This was the workhorse who had an 11-2 record and 3.04 earned-run average in 80 appearances for Toronto last season?

First impressions, it turns out, aren’t everything. Since his rocky transition back to the National League, Quantrill has been one of baseball’s most reliable relievers, taking a 5-4 record and 2.74 ERA in a major league-high 85 appearances into Friday night’s game against the Padres.

Quantrill has struck out 52 and walked 25--seven of them intentionally--in 75 2/3 innings and was tied for the major league lead with 33 “holds.” But the right-hander’s most impressive statistic: He has given up only one home run, to Chicago Cub first baseman Fred McGriff on May 3.

“That’s because I’ve been able to establish my sinker inside better against left-handed hitters,” Quantrill said. “That way, I don’t have to keep going away, like I did that day against McGriff. He hit a sinker away--that’s his bread and butter. I’ve done a better job of keeping them honest, not letting them dive across the plate much. But the real reason is luck. Dodger Stadium is a big place.”

Quantrill is not overpowering. He relies on pinpoint control of his sinker and thrives on work. The more he pitches, the better he seems to pitch. Quantrill, who had an 0.87 ERA in 13 games in June, has limited opponents to a .264 average. He had a 3.12 ERA before the All-Star break and a 2.23 ERA since then.

The Dodgers are depending on Quantrill to be one of their bullpen anchors for the next two seasons, but as a player traded in the middle of a multiyear contract (three years, $9.6 million from 2002-2004) Quantrill can demand to be traded this winter.

“I haven’t really thought about that,” Quantrill, 33, said. “I come here, I play ball, and I concentrate on that. After the season, I’ll sit down with my family and think about the future.”

*

Center fielder Marquis Grissom, who had a tying ninth-inning double in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Colorado and a tying eighth-inning homer in Thursday’s 6-5 win over San Diego, will be a free agent after the season, and he said he doesn’t want to return to the Dodgers as a fourth outfielder.

But with right fielder Shawn Green and center fielder Dave Roberts back and left fielder Brian Jordan likely returning, Manager Jim Tracy doesn’t envision an expanded role for Grissom, who entered Friday with a .275 average, 17 homers and 59 RBIs in 335 at-bats.

“If we have a similar outfield to what we have now, I couldn’t see that,” Tracy said. “But I’m not factoring in health. Do I know for sure he couldn’t get 400-450 at-bats here? I don’t know the answer to that.”

What Tracy does know: “Finding someone comparable to Grissom in that role, a guy with 17 homers and 60 RBIs who brings a lot of other intangibles, is not easy.”

*

TODAY

DODGERS’

KEVIN BEIRNE

(1-0, 3.47 ERA)

vs.

PADRES’

BRETT TOMKO

(10-10, 4.49 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 1 p.m.

TV--Channel 11. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--An MRI test on Padre closer Trevor Hoffman showed “changes” in his rotator cuff, and the right-hander, who has 38 saves but is unavailable for the Dodger series, may need surgery this winter. Tomko, who was scratched Thursday and Friday because of neck pain, will try to start again today.

Tickets--(323) 224-1448.