Dodgers Hardly Built for Speed

Their season went downhill fast. Their slide down the standings was rapid. Their fans bolt for the exits in the late innings of their frequent losses with startling speed.

But make no mistake.

The Dodgers are very, very slow.

They stole no bases in a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. No surprise there. They have only 56 stolen bases in 2005, their lowest total since 1967 when they also stole 56.

That Dodger edition struggled to a 73-89 record, which this Dodger edition will be fortunate to attain after Diamondback outfielder Luis Gonzalez hit a two-run home run against Yhency Brazoban (4-10) in the eighth inning to erase a one-run lead.

Only Washington has fewer stolen bases than the Dodgers in the National League, where the team average is 81.5. The Dodgers (70-88) have been caught stealing 34 times, giving them a success rate of 62%. The league average is 71%.

Compounding the problem is how astonishingly easy it has been to steal bases against the Dodgers. Opponents have stolen a league-high 125 in 157 attempts, an 80% success rate. Only two other National League teams have given up more than 100 steals.

The Dodgers have made several adjustments to try to stem the thievery, including promoting top catching prospect Dioner Navarro in late July, calling more pitchouts and ordering pitchers to attempt more pickoffs.

But there is no remedy for lack of speed.

Jayson Werth leads the team with 11 steals and Antonio Perez has 10. Perhaps the most embarrassing statistic is that Dodger leadoff batters have eight stolen bases in 21 attempts.

Why is there so little team speed? It was by design. General Manager Paul DePodesta says he believes the stolen base involves too much risk. He’d rather not give up runs on the basepaths.

But that strategy only makes sense if a team hits well. The Dodgers don’t, ranking 15th in the league with a .256 batting average and 11th with 154 home runs.

Manager Jim Tracy has tried to kick-start a running game by employing hit-and-run plays. Too often, however, he has been forced to wait for something to happen offensively rather than making something happen.

“We’ve done different things to put runners in motion and try to play aggressively,” said Tracy, who has requested a multiyear contract extension.

Too bad Tracy can’t adopt the strategy of John Ward, the manager of the Dodger team that holds the franchise record with 409 stolen bases in 1892. Those Dodgers finished 95-59 and 10 players had at least 18 stolen bases.

The leader with 88 was Ward.

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Reliever Wilson Alvarez was met with high fives in the dugout and cheers from the stands when he pitched a scoreless inning Saturday. He will retire after the season and many assumed it would be his last appearance.

Not so. Alvarez was summoned to begin the seventh inning, and the first batter he faced, Shawn Green, drilled a line drive through the box, clipping Alvarez on the ring and pinkie fingers of his left hand.

He left the game and X-rays were negative.

“There is a strong chance he has pitched for the last time,” Tracy said. “Words can’t express what he meant to us the last couple of years. His unselfishness and goodness to his teammates made him the consummate professional.”

Said Alvarez: “I thought it was broken as soon as it hit me. Right now, for me, that’s it. I’m done.”

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Sandy Koufax, Tom Lasorda, Barry Bonds, Preston Gomez and the Bavasi family will be honored at the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation dinner and memorabilia auction Dec. 17 at the Beverly Hilton. The event provides support to professional scouts who have financial hardships. Details: Dennis Gilbert, (310) 858-1935.