DODGERS NOTEBOOK: LO DUCA SOLIDLY IN THEIR SITES OPPOSING PITCHERS REALIZE HE'S FOR REAL.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - Paul Lo Duca ran into a grammar-school student in the offseason who had an interesting Halloween costume. The kid, armed with pictures and sideburns, dressed up as Dodgers catcher Paul Lo Duca.

Everyone knows Lo Duca these days, especially opposing pitchers.

Lo Duca sneaked up on the world with a .320 average, 25 homers and 90 RBI last season despite missing a month because of injuries. It won't happen again.

``I think they're going to throw inside more, not give me a lot to hit, and it's all on me making adjustments and being more disciplined,'' Lo Duca said. ``I think that's going to be the key. It's more me. If I can stay disciplined, I'll be OK.''

Pitching coach Jim Colborn gave Lo Duca an inkling of what to expect after a breakout season, and the message was to work even harder. Colborn won 20 games for Milwaukee in 1973 and went 10-13 the following season. Instead of opposing hitters being leery of Colborn, they viewed it as a challenge. Lo Duca, who can bat first to sixth in the lineup, expects the same thing.

Lo Duca said his offseason workouts were geared toward adding flexibility, agility and strength. He admits to wearing down last season, as reflected by his .256 batting average after Sept. 1, and wants to avoid that.

But batting coach Jack Clark said Lo Duca's swing is so fundamentally sound and his batting eye so good, he had 39 walks and 30 strikeouts in 510 plate appearances. Pitchers will struggle to make adjustments.

``He's got such a nice swing, he's going to put the ball in play somewhere,'' Clark said. ``If everybody on this team did that and put the ball in play and cut down on their strikeouts, over the course of the whole season, you're going to see the other teams, knowing they can't strike the guys out, the defense is always on their heels because there's always something happening, and you're going to catch a few breaks.

``When guys get hot around breaks, it makes for a tough team because all those things add into runs. A guy like Lo Duca is someone everybody on the team should look at. No matter their size, they should look at his game and say, 'I want to be like that.' ''

--Daal eyes rotation: Three pitchers for the final spot in the starting rotation. Omar Daal doesn't understand the fuss. The lefty, acquired in a November salary dump from Philadelphia, said there should be no problems.

``I don't think it's a competition for me,'' Daal said. ``I've shown what I can do. I've been a starter for the last five years. I just have to get myself in shape and do my work in spring training and I'm going to be in the rotation, I'm sure.''

Perhaps the question is which rotation? If Kevin Brown and Andy Ashby are healthy, Dodgers general manager Dan Evans would like to trade Daal, and his $5 million salary. While Daal represents a lefty in a left-handed division, he is considered third among such starters behind Kazuhisa Ishii and Odalis Perez and third behind Jesse Orosco and Terry Mulholland in the bullpen.

--Odds and ends: Lefty Odalis Perez, who cleared up his visa problem, and reliever Giovanni Carrara, who was tending to a personal situation, arrived in Florida and will take their part in their first workouts today. ... Dodgers assistant general manager Kim Ng, who was bogged down with the Kazuhisa Ishii negotiations, is expected to begin negotiations with the agents for reliever Matt Herges and Lo Duca today. The Dodgers hope to sign each player to a three-year deal before contract renewals March 2.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

The Dodgers' Paul Lo Duca surprised the National League last season, hitting .320, with 25 homers and 90 RBI despite being out a month because of injuries.

Los Angeles Dodgers