Guerrero Calms His Doubts in Outfield

Many doubted that the plan would work, and even Wilton Guerrero wasn’t sure about the experiment.

But he went along with the program, and hoped that learning a new position would help his career.

Guerrero started in the outfield Friday--for the first time in his career--in the Dodgers’ 11-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. After working in left field during spring training, he is trying to prove himself in the new role.

“This is what I want, this is what I’ve worked for,” said Guerrero, who tripled in three at-bats, scored a run and handled two chances in the field.

He began working in the outfield at the request of team officials, who didn’t know what to do with him.

Guerrero was prone to mental lapses as a rookie second baseman last season, and failed to consistently turn double plays. He began his career as a shortstop, but was converted because he was too erratic.

But the Dodgers were eager to find a position for Guerrero because of his hitting and speed. He batted .291 with four home runs and 32 runs batted in last season, and was tied for third in the league with nine triples.

He worked with coach Manny Mota throughout the spring, and convinced Manager Bill Russell that he was ready.

“On the first day of spring training, we told Wilton that the opportunities would be there,” Russell said. “He looked at the lineup and saw it was pretty much set except for center, and he probably didn’t see too many chances for himself out there.

“But any of us who have played the game know that anything can happen. Exactly what we told him would happen has happened.”

Guerrero is also proving to be a capable backup for shortstop Jose Vizcaino and second baseman Eric Young. He has a seven-game hitting streak in which he’s batting .444 (eight for 18), and is batting .381 overall.

“Wilton really needs to be commended for what he’s been doing,” Young said. “He was in a tough spot, but he worked hard and made the best of the situation. And now look at him, he’s playing tremendous ball and picking everyone up.”

Guerrero is still prone to poor judgment, and he’s developing as an outfielder. Russell accepts that Guerrero will have bad days, but he said his presence is positive.

“Wilton can do a lot of things to help this team win,” he said. “With his bat, we just need him to make the routine plays.”

*

Fred Claire, executive vice president, joined the team in Chicago after being released from Centinela Medical Center on Tuesday.

Claire, 62, fainted at Dodger Stadium on Sunday because of what team physician Michael Mellman said was a viral infection. He suffered dehydration, but Claire said he is now feeling fine.

“I didn’t like the disabled list very much,” joked Claire, who said he had not previously missed a day of work because of illness in 30 years with the team.

“I was the least concerned of everyone involved with this, because I underwent a complete physical in January and I’m in excellent shape.”

Claire wanted to leave the hospital Monday, but Mellman insisted that he undergo further tests. An avid runner, Claire said he ran three miles the day he was released.

“But I did go home,” Claire said, “to relax a little first.”

*

Outfielder Roger Cedeno played six innings Thursday for the Class-A Vero Beach, Fla., Dodgers in the first game in his rehabilitation assignment.

Cedeno, who has been sidelined since March 2 because of a severely strained right hamstring, didn’t experience pain, trainer Charlie Strasser said.

Today

DODGERS’

HIDEO NOMO

(1-1, 3.38 ERA)

vs.

CUBS’

KERRY WOOD

(0-1, 7.71 ERA)

Wrigley Field, 11:15 a.m. PDT

TV--Channel 5. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--The Dodgers have won four of five and eight of 11, and believe that right-hander Nomo is regaining his form after undergoing off-season surgery on his pitching elbow. Nomo earned his first victory in defeating the Houston Astros, 3-1, Monday night at Dodger Stadium. He has struck out 22 in 16 innings. “A lot of people were concerned about him in spring training, but I saw a lot of things I liked,” pitching coach Glenn Gregson said. “The velocity was often there, and that’s the main thing I wanted to see. With a guy like Nomo, something just seems to click when the lights of the regular season come on.” The Cubs have high hopes for rookie right-hander Wood, who was their first-round selection in the 1995 June free-agent draft. His pitches have been clocked as high as 100 mph, and he struck out seven in 4 2/3 innings in his first start against the Montreal Expos.