Hundley Still Has Some Problems

Catcher Todd Hundley is popular in the clubhouse because of his competitiveness and desire to play.

Teammates admire how hard Hundley has worked during his ongoing rehabilitation from reconstructive surgery on his throwing elbow in September 1997.

Of course, none of that matters to opposing baserunners. Teams are tormenting Hundley and the Dodgers, seemingly stealing bases at will.

Hundley is doing what he can and Dodger pitchers are trying to help. So far, though, nothing is working.

“I feel great,� said Hundley, who was not in the lineup Saturday during the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over Atlanta. “I know that it [throwing out runners] could be going better but I’ve been making progress.

“I feel like my throws are getting better and better. The thing is to keep making progress. That’s what I’ve been trying to do all along.�

The results have not been good. Hundley has thrown out only five runners in 46 attempts.

General Manager Kevin Malone traded four-time Gold Glove award winner Charles Johnson in a three-team deal to acquire the switch-hitting Hundley during the off-season. Hundley is batting .237 with five home runs and 16 runs batted in during 36 games.

Meanwhile, Johnson is thriving in Baltimore, batting .264 with 10 homers and 21 RBIs.

Through 39 games, Johnson caught 11 runners in 25 attempts. Teams are simply reluctant to run against the strong-armed catcher.

In the most disturbing scene for the Dodgers to this point, the St. Louis Cardinals stole seven bases in eight attempts during a 10-6 victory last Friday. Scouts in attendance at Dodger Stadium that evening said Cardinal runners were eager to run early in counts, figuring they could steal multiple bases in an inning against Hundley.

Charts indicated that the Cardinals who stole bases always ran after one or two pitches. Moreover, scouts said Dodger pitchers are rushing their deliveries to try to compensate for Hundley’s throwing, which adversely affects their mechanics.

Manager Davey Johnson remains supportive of his catcher, saying the pitchers deserve some of the responsibility.

“Guys [pitchers] who are quick to the plate, I think he’ll gun them [baserunners] down,� Johnson said. “Guys who are slow to the plate, nobody is going to get them.

“Our best-throwing catcher is [backup Angel Pena] and he’s one for 10. Again, some of our guys are slow and it doesn’t give ‘em [the catchers] a chance back there.�

*

Infielder Jose Vizcaino, suffering from a left hamstring strain, is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday.

“He’s having some problems batting right-handed,� Johnson said. “It’s looking more like Friday now. He has to have some better days running.�

TODAY

DODGERS’ KEVIN BROWN (5-3, 2.39 ERA)

vs.

BRAVES’ GREG MADDUX (4-3, 4.48 ERA)

Turner Field, 10 a.m. PDT

TV--Channel 5 Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

* Update--This matchup of staff aces features two of the major leagues’ dominant pitchers of the decade. Brown is the only member of the Dodger starting rotation who has performed as expected. The Dodgers let Brown down in his last outing--a 3-2 trip-opening loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday at Cinergy Field. The right-hander established a regular-season career high with 12 strikeouts and pitched an eight-inning complete game, marking his first of the season. Only one of the runs Brown gave up was earned because of the Dodgers’ poor defensive play during the Reds’ two-run fourth inning. During the regular season, Brown is 3-2 with a 2.09 earned-run average in eight starts against the Braves. Inexplicably, Maddux is struggling. The four-time Cy Young Award winner has given up 93 hits--the most in the National League. There are many theories about Maddux’s problems, ranging from undetected changes in his mechanics to tighter strike zones. Maddux believes he simply needs to throw better pitches. Maddux, who has studied hours of videotape in hopes of getting things turned around, has pitched 11 scoreless innings spanning his previous two starts. In his career, Maddux is 9-3 with a 2.59 ERA against the Dodgers.