DOWN TO BUSINESS; GRUDZIELANEK FINDS MOTIVATION TO PROVE HIS VALUE TO DODGERS.

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

It's not that Mark Grudzielanek is oversensitive. He's just reacting the way anybody would after being criticized by his employer.

That's why Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone made it a point to talk to Grudzielanek as training camp began. It was the first chance both had to get together since Grudzielanek's salary arbitration case, which went in the team's favor.

``Things are going to be permanently in his mind,'' Malone said. ``You can't erase what was said.''

Grudzielanek's feelings are hurt, though time could mend the problem. Still, it's not quite the way you want your starting shortstop to enter spring training. Before being acquired from the Montreal Expos on July 31, rumors of the trade, and his contract status, bothered Grudzielanek. Some suggest his play dropped off as a result.

``I think there are times when he battles himself,'' Expos general manager Jim Beattie said. ``I think it's a maturity and experience thing. The possibility of a trade was always hanging over his head and the contract situation hung over his head. When you're not settled, a lot of things can affect you.''

This is part of the arbitration process. It's been two weeks since Grudzielanek experienced it for the first time. It's going to be much longer before he forgets it.

He said the Dodgers embarrassed him with some of things that were said during the hearing. He is trying, unsuccessfully, to separate the business and emotional sides of his profession.

After listening to the Dodgers present a case why he isn't worth the $3.6 million he was asking - basically, railing about his deficiencies - he's supposed to play the most demanding infield position for a playoff contender.

``It confused me a little bit,'' Grudzielanek said. ``They tell me, `Yeah, you're our backbone, but we're going to take you to arbitration because we want to embarrass you and make you feel like you're not worth what you really think you are.'

``I thought, `Montreal would treat me like this. I never thought it would come from the Dodgers.' It really kind of shocked me, after they traded for me.''

Grudzielanek lost his case and will be paid $1.9 million for this season, but that isn't the issue. Even if he won, he didn't like what transpired. He considers himself a little wiser about the business of baseball.

``I'm happy to be here, I think we're going to have a very good team and I'm excited about that,'' Grudzielanek said. ``But the next time this comes up there will be no sympathy. None.''

Grudzielanek couldn't say definitively he was over the experience, but he figures by Opening Day he'll be fine. That is, if he beats out Jose Vizcaino for the starting shortstop job, which he thinks will happen.

``I'm an everyday player, and if I'm not an everyday player, here I will be somewhere,'' Grudzielanek said. ``But this is my home. This is where I wanted to start over, so to speak.''

It could come down to whether manager Davey Johnson emphasizes offense or defense from the position. Grudzielanek's strength is offense; Vizcaino is defense.

``It used to be you could carry a glove, but now you have to be able to hit, too,'' Johnson said. ``You have to be able to do damage offensively and hold your own defensively.''

Hitting has never been an issue for Grudzielanek, a career .279 hitter who was second among National League shortstops with 62 RBI and third with 10 homers a year ago.

Fielding is where his problems lie. In the past three seasons he made 27, 32 and 33 errors. He was so put off by his performance last season that he called it ``pathetic.'' It prompted him to spend the offseason working on fielding.

``I think defense is now a priority for him,'' Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone said. ``I think maybe he was always told he was an offensive player. His offensive production and capabilities was always complimented. I don't know how much emphasis was ever placed on his defense.

``He has the tools. He can play defense. I've seen him play defense. He has the ability.''

And he has pride.

Grudzielanek didn't just work on grounders in his backyard during the winter. He went to Bucky Dent's camp in Delray, Fla., to re-learn the fundamentals of fielding. It also helped him establish a daily routine to improve his glovework - it begins with a short-hands drill, taking grounders on the edge of the infield grass, then he works his way back and takes grounders to his left and right to improve his range. He then takes slow rollers, fielding them with two hands and one hand, and finishes up by turning the double play.

``I had a total rebuilt engine this offseason,'' Grudzielanek said. ``Some of things we talked about I never even heard about. My angles and my footing, the fielding of the ball and where your hands should be, the release point.

``I want to be a complete player. I want to get better and be consistent out there. The last thing I want anyone to do is blow it out of proportion.''

GRUDZIELANEK: A CLOSER LOOK

Spring situation: Battling Jose Vizcaino for the starting shortstop position. Lost an arbitration case two weeks ago and will make $1.9 million this season.

1998: Traded to the Dodgers on July 31 in a seven-player deal involving Wilton Guerrero. Hit .272 with 21 doubles, 10 homers, 62 RBI and 62 runs scored with Montreal and the Dodgers. Led N.L. shortstops in games played (156) but committed 33 errors.

1997: Tied a major-league record for doubles (54) by a shortstop. Led the N.L. with 649 at-bats and was ninth with 177 hits.

1996: Set career bests for average (.306), hits (201), stolen bases (33). Became the second shortstop this century to hit .300, collect 200 hits and steal 30 bases in a season, joining Honus Wagner. Was named to the N.L. All-Star squad.

GLOVE WORK

Dodgers shortstops with 30 or more errors in a season:

Errors Player Year

42 Jose Offerman 1992

40 Maury Wills  1960

39 Bill Russell  1974

37 Jose Offerman 1993

36 Maury Wills 1962

35 Jose Offerman 1995

(x) 33 Mark Grudzielanek 1998

31 Bill Russell 1973

31 Bill Russell 1978

30 Mariano Duncan  1985

30 Bill Russell 1979

(x) Started season with Montreal; played 51 games with Dodgers.

BY THE NUMBERS

GRUDZIELANEK vs. VIZCAINO

1998 comparison

Player G E PO Att. Pct. AB H Avg.

Grudzielanek 156 33 230 456 .954 589 160 .272

Vizcaino 66 4 89 169 .985 237 62 .262

Career comparison

Player G E PO Att. Pct. AB H Avg.

Grudzielanek 499 94 698 1460 .958 2146 604 .279

Vizcaino 633 70 876 1840 .975 3308 901 .272

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, 2 Boxes

PHOTO (1--Color) At his arbitration hearing, the Dodgers questioned Mark Grudzielanek's defense.

(2) no caption (Grudzielanek)

John Soo Hoo/Special to the Daily News

BOX: (1) GRUDZIELANEK: A CLOSER LOOK (see text)

(2) BY THE NUMBERS (see text)