BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Cedeno Has New Appreciation for Butler

Certainly, it has been a lot to ask. Dodger rookie Roger Cedeno not only is supposed to replace Brett Butler in center field, but also fill Butler’s shoes as one of the finest leadoff hitters in the game.

“It hasn’t been easy,” Cedeno said, shaking his head. “Man, it shows you how much Brett meant to this team. It’s tough doing just one of the jobs.

“I know I can do it, but when you struggle like I have, you lose your confidence. I’m in a slump right now and it doesn’t seem like I can do anything right. I have to help the team some way, so I’m just trying to play the outfield the best I can.”

Cedeno has struggled this trip, batting only .174 (four for 23). His average has plummeted to .235, but if nothing else, he is finding a way to at least reach base once a game. He produced a hit and a walk Thursday, and stole two bases.

“Very frankly, we’ve lost some momentum at the top of the lineup without Brett,” said Fred Claire, executive vice president, “but I’ve been pleased with Roger and [rookie] Todd [Hollandsworth]. I think they’re making good progress.

“It’s their time. There’s no way to get Roger or Todd through this period without playing.”

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Catcher Mike Piazza took batting practice and jogged around the bases Thursday, and hopes to return to the lineup tonight or Saturday against the New York Mets. Piazza, who has torn meniscus cartilage in his right knee, has been sidelined since the first inning of Tuesday’s game when he injured the knee sliding into second base.

“It feels good,” Piazza said. “I think the best thing right now is to give it one more day or two and I’ll be all right. I just needed some time. I never had the luxury of three or four days off just to rest my knee.”

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Manager Tom Lasorda predicts that Roger Maris’ home run record will fall this year, but he disagrees with New York Yankee Manager Joe Torre that four or five players will have more than 61 this year.

“I know it’s going to happen,” Lasorda said. “The ball is livelier. It’s just wound tighter. But hey, it’s still a baseball. If you hit it 62 times out of the ballpark, you deserve to break the record.”

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Right fielder Raul Mondesi, the only Dodger who has played in all 54 games, said that he badly wants to play in every game this season.

“I don’t ever want to sit out again,” Mondesi said. “I want to be like [Cal] Ripken. Hey, if I play 10 straight seasons, do you think I can catch him?”

Mondesi was told that he’s 2,169 games behind Ripken’s consecutive game streak, and Ripken keeps playing.

“Well,” Mondesi shrugged, “there goes that.”