Mota Producing Change for Better

From the day he set foot in the Dodgers’ spring training complex at Vero Beach, Fla., in March 2002, gangly reliever Guillermo Mota, the hard-throwing, 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-hander acquired from Montreal, has been a work in progress.

His awkward delivery was overhauled. His habit of tipping pitches and inability to effectively hold runners were addressed. He was taught the finer points of pitching -- how to set up batters, when to throw inside, when to go off-speed.

A finished product Mota is not, but he’s getting close. Scouts raved about Mota’s stuff this spring, and the rapid development of a changeup to go with his 97-mph fastball and 88-mph slider have helped Mota go 1-0 with a sparkling 0.84 earned-run average in nine appearances.

“All the cards are on the table; it’s just a matter of them coming in one hand,” Dodger pitching Coach Jim Colborn said. “Sometimes he has the concentration, sometimes he has all his pitches working, but until he gets that certain belief in himself, that he realizes not only how good he is but that he should be that good, he’s going to continue to strive to get to that next level.”

With a more prominent role -- Mota has gone from a middle reliever in 2002 to a seventh- and eighth-inning pitcher this season -- and more command of his changeup, Mota has gained confidence. Tutoring on the changeup has come from Dodger closer Eric Gagne.

“He told me not to baby the pitch,” Mota said of Gagne. “Throw it like a fastball. He and I are the same kind of pitcher, and I try to follow what he does.”

Gagne has one of baseball’s best changeups, and with it he vaulted from a marginal starter to one of the game’s best closers last season.

Mota’s changeup isn’t as good, but he is so confident in it, he calls it his second-best pitch after the fastball, and he has thrown it liberally this season.

Mota has struck out nine and walked five in 10 2/3 innings, making significant contributions to a bullpen that leads the major leagues with a 1.68 ERA.

Dodger relievers have given up 11 earned runs in 59 innings, giving up 38 hits and striking out 62, while limiting opponents to a .182 average, lowest in the National League.

“His stuff is sick,” Gagne said of Mota. “He gives us another great arm in the bullpen. When he starts to realize how good he is, he’s going to be amazing. Confidence is a big factor in that.”

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With two home runs and five runs batted in during the last two games, Jolbert Cabrera probably will play more at second base this week, either spelling Alex Cora or pushing Cora to shortstop in place of the struggling Cesar Izturis.

This could also be a telling week for third baseman Adrian Beltre, who was benched three times in the last six games. Beltre is hitting .190 with 13 strikeouts, and it’s apparent the Dodgers’ patience with him is wearing thin. If he doesn’t start regularly this week, could his job be in jeopardy?

“He’s our third baseman, but with the team and him struggling, something has to give,” General Manager Dan Evans said. “Jim [Tracy, Dodger manager] is looking to kick-start the offense, and [Ron] Coomer is an option [at third base].... With Adrian hitting .190, we’re not locked in to him. Jim is trying to manipulate the lineup to give us a chance to win on a nightly basis.”

Have the Dodgers lost confidence in Beltre?

“No,” Evans said. “We’re just looking for him to be a more productive and consistent player.”

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The Dodgers finally snapped out of their funk on offense, pounding the San Francisco Giants with 18 hits, four each by Fred McGriff and Shawn Green, in a 16-4 victory Sunday night.

But unless that outburst generates momentum for a six-game trip through Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, it won’t carry much significance.

“You hope it carries over -- you don’t want to waste all of those runs in one day,” Green said. “Hopefully, a lot of guys will get back to their comfort level with their swings. When that happens, we’re going to be a dangerous team. If we can get to .500 and move up from there, I think these early seasons struggles will be a memory.”

ON DECK

Opponent -- Cincinnati Reds, three games.

Site -- Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati.

Today -- 4 p.m.

TV -- Fox Sports Net 2, all three games.

Radio -- KFWB (980), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Dodgers 8-11, Reds 6-13.

Record vs. Reds (2002) -- 2-4.

Wednesday, 4 p.m. -- Kevin Brown (1-1, 4.03) vs. Chris Reitsma (0-0, 0.00).

Thursday, 4 p.m. -- Darren Dreifort (1-1, 3.79) vs. Ryan Dempster (1-1, 6.39).

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*--* DODGERS TONIGHT

*--*

DODGERS’

KAZUHISA ISHII

vs.

REDS’

PAUL WILSON

*--* THE MATCHUPS 20 03 TEAM 2002 VS OPP TEAMS/PITCHERS W-L ERA REC W-L IP ERA DODGERS/Ishii (L) 1-1 4.32 2-1 0-1 2.2 27.00 Cincinnati/Wilson (R) 0-1 3.86 2-1 -- -- --

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Great American Ballpark, 4 p.m.

TV -- Fox Sports Net 2.

Radio -- KFWB (980), KWKW (1330) delayed, 9 p.m.

Update--The Reds had lost five in a row and seven of eight before Sunday’s 7-5 victory over Montreal in Puerto Rico, and their early-season struggles came with a price; pitchers Jimmy Anderson and Josias Manzanillo were designated for assignment, and infielder Brandon Larson was sent to triple-A Louisville Saturday. Ishii is coming off a superb three-hit, no-run, seven-inning effort in a 3-0 win over San Diego Wednesday.

-- Mike DiGiovanna

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What a Relief

Dodger relievers lead the major leagues in earned-run average (1.68) and have limited the opposition to the lowest batting average in the league (.186 through Saturday). A look at scoreless streaks by Dodger relievers:

* Eric Gagne ...11 innings

* Paul Shuey ...9 2/3 innings

* Guillermo Mota...7 innings

* Paul Quantrill ...3 1/3 innings

* Tom Martin ...2 2/3 innings