Aggressive Approach Pays Off

The Dodgers drew 33 walks, an average of 4.1 a game, in eight games before Tuesday, a marked contrast to the 2.3 walks they had averaged in their first 109 games.

With more free passes have come more runs -- the Dodgers scored 38 runs in the eight games, an average of 4.8, after averaging 3.4 in their first 109 games -- and an assumption the Dodgers are being more patient at the plate. But the opposite is actually true, according to leadoff batter Dave Roberts.

“There has been a concerted effort to be more aggressive,” Roberts said. “It’s a weird correlation, because we’re more aggressive at the plate and getting more walks, but when you start being aggressive, you put pitchers on the defensive and make them nit-pick a little more. You look at teams that draw a lot of walks, like the Yankees; you’ve got to strike a little fear in the pitchers.”

The Dodgers still rank last in the National League in walks and runs, as well as average, homers, slugging percentage and on-base percentage, but they seem to be responding to new batting instructor George Hendrick’s orders to be more aggressive.

“That’s one of the things George has talked about,” Roberts said of Hendrick, who replaced the fired Jack Clark on Aug. 4. “Just be aggressive. It’s not about getting walks, it’s about having aggressive at-bats. Now, you’re not seeing us take as many pitches right down the middle.”

Right fielder Shawn Green said the key to the Dodgers’ offensive surge has been quality at-bats: laying off bad pitches and putting good swings on good pitches.

“Guys are having good at-bats and making things happen, and when you’re not up there with two out and none on, the pitcher has to work a little harder,” Green said. “That’s what it takes to change an offense.”

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Dodger pitcher Hideo Nomo’s five-inning, four-run, eight-hit, four-walk, four-strikeout performance against Florida on Tuesday was a pedestrian effort by his standards, but it was worth $8 million to the right-hander.

When the Dodgers turned a double play in the fourth inning, it gave Nomo 175 innings on the season and guaranteed his $8-million vesting option for 2004. Nomo’s 2004 salary will rise to $8.25 million if he reaches 160 innings, $8.75 million with 180 innings or $9 million with 200 innings.

“That’s good news for us,” General Manager Dan Evans said. “He’s been a solid performer for us for two years, and he gives us a chance to win every game he pitches. I love the way he competes. He can’t help but rub off on our young pitchers in a positive way.”

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Manager Jim Tracy met with pitching coach Jim Colborn to discuss the rotation. Barring injury or fatigue, the Dodgers probably will keep their three best starters, Kevin Brown, Nomo and Odalis Perez, on regular rest, using the four remaining off days to skip Andy Ashby and either Wilson Alvarez or Kazuhisa Ishii.

By keeping Brown, Nomo and Perez on regular rest, the three would start 28 of the Dodgers’ remaining 44 games, 10 by Brown and nine each by Nomo and Perez. If Tracy didn’t skip any starters, Brown would pitch nine games, and Nomo and Perez would start eight each.

“Right now, all three are sound enough to stay on regular rest ... but you also want to be cautious,” Tracy said. “Some of it will be determined by how these guys are pitching. Because of the opposition or circumstances, does it make sense to match this guy against that club? All that has to be taken into consideration.”