Introducing the Dodgers

Should a mishap occur involving the bus during a Dodger trip this spring, don’t be alarmed.

It would just be Manager Grady Little’s way of developing unity in a team that has experienced immense turnover, allowing the players to share a jarring experience they could talk about.

It happened once before, but not on purpose. A bus carrying the Class-A Hagerstown Suns to their first road game hit something on the interstate, fell over on its side and shook the players as if they were in a laboratory beaker.

Talk about team chemistry.

The Suns went on to win the Carolina League title. Little, the manager, credits the accident with bringing the players together.

“The bus wreck, I think, had a lot to do with it,” he said.

“Half the players were with the Baltimore Orioles and the other half were castoffs from other organizations. When we broke spring training, we all got in a room for the first time. I was worried.

“When that bus tipped over, all of a sudden it gave all the players something in common.”

What might these Dodgers have in common, besides bloated salaries? They will gather at Dodgertown -- pitchers and catchers today, the rest of the squad Monday -- to begin building a team capable of rebounding from one of the worst seasons in club history, a 71-91 record that resulted in changes from the general manager to the clubhouse attendant.

Little and his coaches are new as well. They met Tuesday with General Manager Ned Colletti to formulate a plan for the spring. Third base coach Rich Donnelly will coordinate the camp.

“When you have as many new people coming into the mix as we do, it’s important that a sense of community develops,” Colletti said. “It’s part of the reason Grady is the right choice to manage the club. He can help bring that about.”

Boston Red Sox players erupted into applause when Little was introduced as their manager during 2002 spring training. They already knew him from his tenure as bench coach and knew he developed strong personal relationships.

Dodger players should discover that soon enough. But Jim Tracy, manager the last five years, was also well-liked by players. It takes more than a nice person in the manager’s office for a team to win.

“We’ve got to get everybody working together, that’s the most important thing,” Little said. “We haven’t been in the same room yet. I don’t know who is going to interrupt my first talk in the clubhouse and say something funny. I don’t know who that person is yet. But I’ll learn quick.”

Extreme makeover is de rigueur in baseball these days. Jokes about needing name tags at spring training are told everywhere, not just at Dodgertown. But rarely are there this many changes in less than two years -- the only position player expected to make the opening-day roster who played on the 2004 NL West championship club is reserve infielder Olmedo Saenz. The only pitchers are Eric Gagne, Odalis Perez, Brad Penny and Yhency Brazoban.

Key newcomers include leadoff batter and shortstop Rafael Furcal, No. 2 batter and center fielder Kenny Lofton, No. 5 batter and first baseman Nomar Garciaparra and No. 6 batter and third baseman Bill Mueller.

Starting pitchers Brett Tomko and Jae Seo, relievers Danys Baez and Lance Carter and reserve catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. also are in their first Dodger seasons. And there are the usual assortment of nonroster invitees seeking bench or bullpen jobs.

All of which tempers Colletti’s optimism.

“I think it’s a club that, if healthy, should compete,” he said. “Once you get in the compete mode, anything can happen. If we can gain momentum and confidence in April and get things sorted out, you never know what can happen.”

Colletti seems to preface comments about the Dodgers with “if healthy.” All it takes is the memory of last season’s debacle to remind anyone that injuries can derail plans.

Gagne missed all but a month of the season. J.D. Drew sat out 90 games. Shortstop Cesar Izturis, who is expected to return by midseason, was sidelined the last two months because of elbow surgery. Outfielder Jayson Werth, who could return by May, began last season on the disabled list and played with a wrist injury all season. Center fielder Milton Bradley, who was traded to the Oakland Athletics, missed 87 games.

“I can’t predict what we are going to do,” Colletti said. “There are too many variables, too many things you can’t predict. I’m not smart enough to know, but not foolish enough to predict.”

Besides getting veterans to mesh, the Dodgers also plan to give several prospects long looks in the spring. From finding a permanent position for 6-foot-7 slugger Joel Guzman, to determining whether hard-hitting second baseman Delwyn Young can move to the outfield, to gauging when starter Chad Billingsley, catcher Russell Martin and third baseman Andy LaRoche will be ready to make their debuts, many decisions must be made.

“We have a lot of objectives, more than any other camp I’ve been to,” Colletti said. “That’s mainly because of all the young players I’m anxious to take a look at.

“We’ll see what the big league club looks like and we’ll see what the kids can do. That should keep us busy.”

*

DODGER OPENERS

* Spring training: March 2, vs. Atlanta, 10 a.m. PST, at Holman Stadium, Vero Beach, Fla.

* Regular season: April 3, vs.

Atlanta at Dodger Stadium, 1 p.m.