Opening Day Finds Tracy in a Familiar Role

The Frank McCourt era begins today as the new Dodger owner presides over opening day against San Diego at Dodger Stadium.

It might mark the beginning of the end of an era for Manager Jim Tracy.

Tracy begins the final season of his contract with an offense that, though improved Sunday with the acquisition of Milton Bradley, is essentially the same group that scored the fewest runs in the major leagues last season. Also, many within the organization expect a downturn in pitching.

The owner’s wife has set the bar, saying it was unacceptable that the Dodgers had not been a perennial playoff participant recently.

Tracy is confident in his performance and believes the Dodgers have made strides on his watch, maintaining his focus while speeding into uncharted waters.

“When you really think about it, I’ve been on the hot seat starting with the first day of spring training in 2001,” said Tracy, who has faced numerous on- and off-field hurdles since being promoted from bench coach.

“So that’s why the length of my contract, whether I have one year or two years or whatever, is immaterial to me. Taking this team forward and making it as good as it can be is what I care about.

“Contracts take care of themselves. It is a meaningless thing until it has to be dealt with again.”

Frank McCourt chose not to deal with Tracy’s situation, taking a wait-and-see approach while new General Manager Paul DePodesta, given a five-year deal in February, evaluates the baseball operation.

Beginning spring training, most in the organization figured Tracy probably would not return in 2005 if the team missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. The outlook seemed to worsen for Tracy in mid-March when Jamie McCourt, the vice chairman, said the Dodgers “should be a team that’s in the playoffs every year.”

Tracy continued to stand firm, citing his above-.500 record (263-223) and three top-three finishes in the National League West as proof the team is moving in the right direction.

“I’m not going to change what I do,” he said. “What I do know is that in the three years I’ve managed this club, with the obstacles that we faced, injuries we’ve dealt with and shortages that we’ve had, I can safely say that every club that I’ve had here since 2001 has exceeded expectations.”

Injuries, lack of payroll flexibility and poor player-personnel decisions have contributed to the Dodgers’ late-season problems under Tracy, who is 33 games above .500 in the first half (151-118), seven games above .500 in the second half (112-105).

The Dodgers might have averted their second-half flops had the front office provided more help, Tracy said.

“I’m not going to sit here and say that I wouldn’t have liked to see the circumstances be a little different, at different junctures, from a personnel standpoint,” he said, “I won’t deny that anymore.”

Tracy has done a good job based on what he has had to work with, catcher Paul Lo Duca said.

“From what we’ve had to deal with, with all the injuries we’ve had, he has done a good job,” Lo Duca said. “To still win as many games as we did says something.”

Of course, the Dodgers had $100-million payrolls the last three seasons and didn’t reach the playoffs. Tracy has been roundly criticized within the clubhouse for his handling of veteran players, prompting some to wonder whether he’s taken the team as far as he can.

“I don’t know why all of that has happened,” Lo Duca said of veterans griping about Tracy. “Me and Greenie [right fielder Shawn Green] are veteran players and we get along with him, so I don’t know why that has come up with other guys, but people have their differences.

“I don’t care how good your system is, if your players don’t buy into it you’re not going to win. Maybe some of the veteran players he’s had didn’t buy into his system. But if you buy into the way he wants to play you’re going to win.”

Ultimately, Tracy needs DePodesta to buy into him.

The former Oakland Athletic assistant general manager has been supportive of Tracy and the coaching staff, taking time to formulate opinions about the group. But everyone involved understands the situation.

“Right now, I’m definitely still taking my time and taking a lot of things in,” DePodesta said. “I’m trying to build relationships with the people here and trying to figure out who some of the good ones are, and I’m convinced that there are some really good ones here.

“That being said, I’m also here for a reason, and we do want to do better. If you ask anybody here, I think everybody would say our goal would be to try to be in the playoffs every year. That’s something we’re going to aspire to.”

As if Tracy needed to be reminded again.