Distractions Are Sidetracking Perez

The combination of feeling ostracized by teammates who fumed about his controversial comments and upset by reports that the Dodgers considered trading him has created a mental hurdle that Odalis Perez must overcome if he is to regain his form as one of the team’s most effective starters.

“Too many things going on, too many controversies, people looking at me differently ... it’s hard,” Perez said Monday, a day after getting rocked for eight runs and six hits, including four home runs, in 3 2/3 innings of Sunday’s 10-7 loss to St. Louis. “I’m just trying to concentrate on baseball, do my things, forget about what happened in the past.”

Perez criticized the offense after a June 29 loss to the Angels, saying the Dodgers “need to start producing or get some other players to produce, because all the pressure is on the pitching staff, and that’s not fair.”

The next day, catcher Paul Lo Duca castigated Perez, saying, “If you’re going to pop off in the paper, then you’ve got no guts.”

Since then, Perez, normally a happy-go-lucky, playful sort around the clubhouse, has been sullen, quiet.

“I don’t feel like an outcast, but the way some guys look at me

Perez went 15-10 with a 3.00 earned-run average in 2002 and has shown flashes of brilliance this season, taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning of a July 5 game against Arizona.

But the left-hander fell to 6-8 with a 4.65 ERA after Sunday’s loss.

He was nearly traded to Boston for outfielder Trot Nixon in early July, a development that “made me mad, because I don’t want to get traded,” Perez said. “I love it here.”

Perez said he feels fine physically, but he has seemed a little distracted.

“Every pro athlete needs to have a clear mind to perform,” pitching coach Jim Colborn said. “It’s a learning process most young guys go through.... You have to be at peace with yourself, and it takes experience to know how to do that.”

The fallout from his controversial comments provided an important lesson for Perez: “I’ve got to shut my mouth,” Perez said. “I don’t want my name in the paper, on television, as a guy who likes controversy. I don’t want anyone to hate me. Even if I have a reason to say [something like that] I won’t say nothing. I’m too smart for that.”

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With nine days before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, General Manager Dan Evans, after acquiring outfielders Jeromy Burnitz and Rickey Henderson during the All-Star break, said he is focusing on “complementary players” who might bolster the bench. The Dodgers, according to a source, remain interested in second basemen Jose Vidro of Montreal and Luis Castillo of Florida, but the current asking price remains too high.... First baseman Fred McGriff, out since July 5 because of a groin strain, ran Monday “at 100%” according to Manager Jim Tracy, but he is still weeks away from being activated.... Utility player Ron Coomer, out since July 8 because of a jaw problem, is still experiencing severe headaches and will see a specialist at UCLA Medical Center today.... Center fielder Dave Roberts (strained hamstring) left Monday night to begin a three-game rehabilitation stint with the Dodgers’ rookie-league team in Ogden, Utah, and is expected to be activated Friday.