Lack of Hitting Keeps Smith Up

He was one of the most feared hitters in the game, appearing in seven All-Star games and four World Series, and batted at least .300 in seven seasons with 314 home runs.

Yet, there’s not a thing hitting coach Reggie Smith can do to bail the Dodgers out of their hitting slump, and the frustration is eating away at him. The Dodgers showed signs of life Monday night, but it’s premature to say that all is fine.

“I’ve been taking it home with me,� Smith said. “I’ll go home, turn on the computer, and go over each guy’s at-bats and play it back in my head. I’ve been falling asleep at 3, 4 o’clock each morning.

“When we’re struggling like we are, I’ll take the blame. It’s my fault. I never should have let it get this far.

“I’ve got to find something to get them going. “

Smith and the rest of the Dodger staff have tried extra hitting and cutting back on hitting. They had players stay home and skip all pre-game activities and had them out five hours before game-time.

Yet, the Dodgers entered Monday’s game ranking among the three worst teams in 11 different offensive categories, and their 89 runs were the second-fewest in all of baseball.

“If there’s one fault,� Smith said, “it’s their unwillingness to experiment. Sometimes, I don’t feel like hitters want to try different things. But if you talk to the great hitters, they’re always trying different bats, different stances.�

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Dodger starter Tom Candiotti probably will sit out one start because of his sprained right knee. . . . Left fielder Billy Ashley will travel to triple-A Albuquerque today to begin a rehabilitative assignment before being brought back May 6. . . . First baseman Eric Karros (strained left rib cage) and shortstop Greg Gagne (strained upper hamstring) showed improvement while taking batting practice, but again were kept out of the lineup. . . . Starter Ramon Martinez (torn right groin) pitched off the mound Monday without complications and expects to go on a rehabilitative assignment within a week.