Thinking Big Thoughts

The Dodgers have been surprisingly candid in expressing confidence about winning the National League West title.

Many players said they expected to be division champions, making no excuses for their bold comments despite 50 games remaining in the regular season.

“Why should we?” third baseman Adrian Beltre said. “We’re not saying anything bad about anybody, we’re just talking about what we’re doing. We know we’ve got a good team.”

Manager Jim Tracy has encouraged the Dodgers to think big.

“I like a team that comes to the ballpark and expects to win every day,” Tracy said. “Is it a swagger? It’s a winning team.

“They recognize where we have been in the past, and they’re doing something about it. They’re beginning to see the potential reward in approaching it that way.”

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Wilson Alvarez is starting today in place of Kazuhisa Ishii, demoted to the bullpen because of his erratic performance.

Ishii received a reprieve because right-hander Brad Penny is injured, and the left-hander is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Ishii said he has tried to maintain his pre-start regime during a strange period for him.

“It is difficult to make adjustments when I’m pitching from the bullpen,” Ishii said through an interpreter.

“I’m used to pitching as a starter, but it can’t be the same right now. We’re in a situation where we have to win games, so I have to make the necessary adjustments. That’s all I’m thinking about.”

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Beltre is having a career year despite ankle and thigh injuries that have slowed him throughout the season.

Although he still has a noticeable limp, Beltre said his right thigh has improved enough for him to go from first to third on base hits, as he did on Shawn Green’s single in Tuesday’s 5-2 victory over Cincinnati.

“The ankle is going to be the same all year, but I can feel my quad getting better,” he said. “I’m not trying to steal a lot, but I can run a little now.”

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The Dodgers have not put Penny on the disabled list because they are hopeful he might miss only one start.

Penny, who has a strained muscle in his pitching arm, said there was no timetable for his return. “I’ll be able to throw whenever the nerve calms down,” Penny said.

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Good Exchange Rate

The Dodgers haven’t missed a beat since trading Paul Lo Duca, Guillermo Mota, Juan Encarnacion, Tom Martin and Dave Roberts on July 30 and 31. A look at how the players they acquired have done since the trade:

RECORD BEFORE TRADES:

60-43, first place in NL West, 2 1/2 games ahead of San Diego

RECORD SINCE TRADES:

7-3, first place in NL West, 7 1/2 games ahead of San Diego

*--* PLAYER AB R H 2B HR RBI AVG OB% SLG% Steve Finley 17 5 10 4 1 5 588 636 1.000 Hee-Seop Choi 16 1 3 3 0 2 188 300 375 Brent Mayne 13 1 2 0 0 0 154 214 154

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*--* PITCHER IP H ER BB SO W-L ERA Brad Penny 8 2/3 3 1 1 4 1-1 1.04 Yhency Brazoban 3 2 1 0 1 0-0 3.00

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