DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GOODWIN HAS WILLS, BUT NO WILL, TO BUNT.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

DENVER - Baserunner extraordinaire Maury Wills worked throughout the spring with Dodgers leadoff hitter Tom Goodwin, teaching him to hit the ball on the ground and use the bunt to increase the impact of his speed.

Still, there's little to show for the work. The teachings and refining of skills haven't altered Goodwin's game.

More than a quarter of the season has passed and Goodwin has all but ignored the bunt as a piece of offense. He has three infield hits, none of which have come via the bunt, and the leadoff position remains a source of frustration for the offense.

``I don't feel comfortable doing it (bunting) right now, so I'm not going to do something I'm not comfortable with,'' Goodwin said. ``There was a stretch, I think when we played San Diego, both (there) and at home, where I felt good. Whenever you're not comfortable doing something, you don't do it until you're comfortable.''

Though Wills worked daily with Goodwin in spring training, emphasizing not only the bunt but also hitting the ball on the ground and drawing walks to pressure opposing pitchers on the basepaths, it hasn't transferred to the regular season.

Goodwin entered Monday's series opener in Colorado with a .279 on-base percentage, which ranked 12th among National League leadoff hitters. His 10 walks are fifth on the team and his 20 runs scored ranks fourth, and even prodding from manager Jim Tracy isn't likely to get Goodwin to alter his approach.

``When that guy gets on first base, it's energy. You can see what he does to our dugout,'' said Tracy, who hasn't changed his thinking on batting Goodwin leadoff. ``To me, I think there are enough opportunities over the course of a 162-game schedule to give players the opportunity to determine their own fates.''

--No trade needed: Texas owner Tom Hicks reportedly told Ivan Rodriguez he won't be traded before he reaches 10 years of major-league service and five with the same team, thus giving him veto rights of any trade. It should quell talk out of Texas that the Dodgers could acquire the All-Star catcher for Eric Gagne and Luke Prokopec, something the Dodgers said they aren't prepared to do.

The talk comes because the Dodgers are scuffling for runs, but catcher Paul LoDuca, who returned from a strained oblique and batted seventh Monday, said the offense should be fine now that he and Adrian Beltre are in the lineup.

``I really don't think we need a trade,'' LoDuca said. ``I think we'll be just fine. It's just a matter of time of us stringing it together at the same time and everybody getting healthy.''

--Odds and ends: To make room for LoDuca on the 25-man roster, infielder Chris Donnels was placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to Saturday) with a strained right lumbar.

DODGERS vs. COLORADO

Time: 6:05 p.m., at Coors Field.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Dodgers RH Eric Gagne (1-3, 4.56 ERA) looks to continue his impressive stretch in a ballpark in which he struggled last season. Gagne allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings before being sent to the minors last July. In two career games against the Rockies, Gagne is 1-0 with a 6.97 ERA. This season, his ERA is 3.19 in five road starts and opponents are batting .159 against him. Free-agent acquisition LH Denny Neagle (4-1, 4.12) won his last two starts for Rockies. He's 2-0 with a 4.30 ERA in four home games.

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. COLORADO (see text)