BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : NL West Race Is Too Interesting

The Dodgers are supposed to be running away with the National League West. You hear it from opposing managers. You hear it from general managers. You hear it from scouts. You even hear it from players in the Dodger clubhouse.

Yet here it is, six weeks until the end of the season, and the Dodgers lead the Colorado Rockies by half a game in the National League West, the only race in baseball in which the division leader owns less than a 9 1/2-game lead.

“It’s strange, real strange,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. “We don’t need all this much interest.”

Said Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda: “I wish it was the other way around.”

Yet, baseball couldn’t be happier, and considering the two wild-card races, they technically have three races still creating interest.

“From baseball’s standpoint,” Claire said, “you’d have to say thank heavens for the wild-card setup. Without it, it would not be a good situation.

“I’ve never been one for changes in structure, but I think this will work for baseball.”

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Dodger starter Kevin Tapani, who planned to save the ball commemorating his first major-league hit from his last start in Cincinnati, no longer will have that opportunity.

Tapani’s duffel bag was burglarized, and he lost the commemorative ball, several shirts and a bat. Tapani doesn’t know if one of the bag handlers broke into his bag or if the theft occurred in the visiting clubhouse at Shea Stadium.

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There were no exchange of pleasantries, and a few coaches acted a bit cool toward third base umpire Bob Davidson, but this game was much more tranquil than the last time this crew worked a Dodger game.

That was Aug. 10, during the Dodgers’ forfeit to the St. Louis Cardinals.

“There were no problems,” said Davidson, who called the forfeit. “It’s a new game, another day. The only thing different was that [third-base coach] Joey Amalfitano usually is very friendly, and he didn’t say anything. And [bench coach] Bill Russell was a little cold, but that’s all right.

“We had 10 to 11 days to reflect on that call, and we’re convinced we did the right thing. We believe [National League President] Len Coleman will agree.

“It was a shame the game had to end like that, but we know now more than ever we did the right thing.”

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Left fielder Roberto Kelly was benched for the second consecutive game while Chad Fonville played left. “If I’m not hitting,” Kelly said, “I can’t be complaining.” Kelly is batting .145 since the Colorado series that ended Aug. 3. He’s expected to return to the lineup tonight against left-handed starter Carlos Perez. . . . Expo outfielder/first baseman Henry Rodriguez, who was traded from the Dodgers on May 23 in the Kelly trade, still has not recovered from the hairline fracture in his leg. He expects to return in two weeks. . . . Outfielder Chris Gwynn has begun taking batting practice again and said he’ll be ready to return from the disabled list when the trip ends Sunday night.