THREE'S A CROWD WITHOUT A BONA FIDE THIRD BASEMAN, DODGERS' HOT CORNER TURNS COLD, WITH BETEMIT, LAROCHE AND ABREU EITHER STRUGGLING OR STILL LEARNING.

Byline: TONY JACKSON 

Staff Writer

They use funny math in baseball.

A two after a decimal point in an inning-pitched column? It means two-thirds, not two-tenths. The so-called "attendance" figure you see at the bottom of a box score? It is based on the number of tickets sold to that game, so anybody who bought one but then decided to stay home and watch "American Idol" gets credit for being there, anyway.

And, as anyone in the Dodgers' brain trust will tell you, three third basemen are not better than one -- and Tony Abreu plus Wilson Betemit plus Andy LaRoche does not equal Miguel Cabrera. Or Aramis Ramirez. Or Scott Rolen or Joe Crede or David Wright.

So the obvious question becomes, just how long can the Dodgers continue to juggle Abreu, Betemit and LaRoche at the hot corner?

And the apparent answer is, not long.

"At some point, our schedule is going to dictate that we go back to 12 pitchers," general manager Ned Colletti said, and the obvious inference is that someone probably is going back to Triple-A Las Vegas sometime during an upcoming stretch of 16 consecutive games without an off-day. That someone will be either Abreu or LaRoche because Betemit is out of minor- league options and, his .188 average notwithstanding, club officials remain convinced he can develop into a star-caliber player.

Abreu, who was having a spectacular year at Las Vegas, was promoted Tuesday. He started that night against Milwaukee and went hitless in three at-bats. LaRoche, who was having a so-so year at Las Vegas, was recalled on May6. He started Wednesday night against the Brewers and went hitless in four at-bats, after which he was hitting .206.

Doesn't anyone want this job?

"We would love to have eight position players locked in every single day," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "But that isn't the way the world works, especially in the game of baseball. It's a constant adjustment, whether you're a player on the field or us with the lineup or with the roster."

The reason for this adjustment was that Betemit, who was handed the everyday third-base job after LaRoche failed to take it from him in spring training, never really got going there. But the alleged switch-hitter, who still has just three right-handed hits this season, has found an unlikely comfort zone as a left-handed pinch hitter, going 5 for 7 with three homers and seven RBIs in that role.

But that isn't the role Colletti and Little had in mind for Betemit, who hit 18 homers last season and whom hitting coach Eddie Murray said in spring training had the potential to be the best hitter on the club.

"If I had my wishes, I would love for Wilson Betemit to give me four good at-bats in the same way he gives us one good at-bat as a pinch hitter," Little said. "But right now, our decision is to start rotating it around somewhat. (Betemit) made the decision for us. He kind of opened it back up to giving some other guys some opportunities to show what they can do."

But neither Abreu nor LaRoche is getting to show that on an everyday basis. And with both of them at crucial development stages, there is a question of whether they are being stunted by spending so much time on the bench.

"I don't think so," Little said. "With younger players, there aren't too many Russell Martins who come in, put the gear on for a major-league team and stay there. It is all a work in progress, and this experience these kids are getting is invaluable."

To their credit, both Betemit and LaRoche have refrained from airing any personal discontentment -- if such discontentment even exists. Abreu, meanwhile, hasn't been in the majors long enough to generate discontentment.

"Every day that I have been up here has been a great learning experience," LaRoche said. "This is actually helping me. I'm learning from all these guys, just like I did in spring training, watching the way they go about their business and watching how the game is played up here.

"If Grady thinks Abreu or Betemit might hit better against a certain pitcher on a certain day, then I want them to be in the ballgame. It's all about winning."

What is unclear is whether the Dodgers can keep winning with their third- base situation so unsettled. Colletti's long search for another power hitter, which has been ongoing from the moment J.D. Drew opted out of his contract last November, continues, but it isn't limited to third base. The ideal solution would be for one of these three to grab the job by the throat -- preferably Betemit or LaRoche, because Abreu is neither a power hitter nor a natural third baseman.

"The trade market being what it is, we may have to solve this from within," Colletti said. "But we continue to have confidence and faith in our younger players. We would love to see somebody come in and take control of this position, both offensively by providing run production, and defensively."

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(1 -- 3 -- color) From top, Wilson Betemit has failed to live up to expectations with the Dodgers, while Andy LaRoche and Tony Abreu are learning the nuances of playing third base in the majors.