Lo Duca Focuses on Throwing Woes

Paul Lo Duca hopes a little work with bullpen coach Jim Lett goes a long way toward helping him break out of his defensive funk.

Lo Duca, who has committed more errors than any other National League catcher, spent a few days recently working with Lett on his arm angle while attempting to throw out baserunners.

“He’s gotten into a little bit of a rut where he was throwing the ball too much over his head,” Lett said of Lo Duca, who has made 10 of his 11 errors at catcher. “He’s more of a three-quarters release. That was the thing that we tried to stress.”

Lo Duca hasn’t been able to contain his frustration, blaming himself for a recent loss against Milwaukee in which he committed an error and failed to throw out a runner trying to steal on a pitchout. He had thrown out only 16 of 54 runners trying to steal before Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium.

“It’s been upsetting,” said Lo Duca, who made only nine errors last year in his first full season with the Dodgers. “My throwing errors have been a little thorn, but I ironed them out and I feel better now. I’m more consistent with my arm down a little bit more than it was.”

Despite his defensive struggles, Lo Duca remains one of the Dodgers’ most valuable players because of his hitting and ability to handle a pitching staff with the best earned-run average in the NL.

“There’s been much improvement from last year to this year -- with each pitcher,” Lett said. “Sometimes you’re with one or two pitchers and you kind of work together. He’s been able to work with all 11, 12 guys on the staff. That’s difficult to do.”

*

Manager Jim Tracy gave Dave Roberts the day off so the center fielder could rest his right hamstring for the first time since coming off the disabled list last week. Brian Jordan moved from left field to fill in for Roberts, who will return to the lineup today. Mike Kinkade got the start in left.... Utilityman Daryle Ward, on the disabled list because of tendinitis in his right wrist, took batting practice against coach Manny Mota.... Lett filled in as first base coach for John Shelby, who attended the high school graduation of his son John Jr. in Lexington, Ky. Shelby will rejoin the Dodgers on Tuesday at Detroit.