Ned Colletti not sure how to assess this team

Reporting from Denver

The Dodgers’ season is two months old, but General Manager Ned Colletti said he still doesn’t know what to make of his team.

“We haven’t seen the team yet,” Colletti said.

In their first 65 games, the Dodgers have put 13 players on the disabled list. Five of them made repeat visits to the DL.

Asked how he would go about determining the team’s needs with so many players out, Colletti replied, “At some point, you figure you’re not going to get somebody back and you assess it as an open spot. Until then, you hold out hope that you’re going to get some semblance of attendance so that you can make a judgment whether or not you need somebody better and if there’s somebody better or not.”

Colletti said he was unsure of when, or if, sidelined pitchers Vicente Padilla and Jon Garland will be back.

Padilla has a herniated disk in his neck and Garland has shoulder inflammation. No timetable has been set for either of their returns.

Colletti said sidelined closer Jonathan Broxton could be back in July.

Healthy or not, Colletti said the Dodgers have to hit better in clutch situations.

“Look at some of the averages,” he said. “You can’t help but be concerned with that.”

The Dodgers went into Friday hitting .229 with men in scoring position, third-worst in the National League. With men in scoring position and two out, the Dodgers are hitting .196, also third-worst in the NL.

Colletti said that although he thinks Andre Ethier will hit for more power, he does not consider his lack of home runs a problem.

“Andre’s fine,” Colletti said. “He’s hitting .330, getting big hits.”

Colletti said the Dodgers have been playing better lately, pointing to how they won three of six games in Cincinnati and had a chance to take the series opener in Colorado on Thursday.

“We’re close,” he said. “We keep seeing signs. Hope isn’t a bad thing to have, but hope doesn’t win games.”

Short hops

Jay Gibbons, who was designated for assignment Monday and cleared waivers, has accepted an assignment to triple-A Albuquerque. Juan Castro, who also cleared waivers, still has not told the Dodgers whether he will also accept an assignment to Albuquerque. … Sidelined relievers Hong-Chih Kuo and Kenley Jansen are scheduled to pitch in minor league games Saturday. Kuo will pitch for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and Jansen for double-A Chattanooga. Jansen is eligible to be activated Monday. … The Dodgers signed their second-round draft pick, infielder Alex Santana, for close to $500,000. They also signed outfielder Jeff Schaus (16th round), infielder Jesus Valdez (17th round) and left-hander Mike Thomas (35th round). … Trent Oeltjen, who was called up from Albuquerque on Thursday, could have become a free agent if he wasn’t on the major league roster by June 15.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

twitter.com/dylanohernandez