Tracy Leading Off His First Season With Optimism

While Debra Tracy was on the second day of a harrowing house-hunting trip through the Southland on Friday, her husband Jim was busy taking on an equally awesome task at Dodger Stadium, overseeing his first workout as the new manager of the Dodgers.

The Dodgers have not won a postseason game since winning the 1988 World Series, but optimism was high as the team began voluntary winter workouts.

But then, opening day is still three months away and there are rumors of a trade for a much-needed leadoff-hitting center fielder, the Kansas City Royals’ Johnny Damon.

“If there’s something out there that economically fits, and fits the mold and the chemistry of this club, sure, you look into it,” Tracy said. “But you do that on a daily basis. I don’t think you ever want to just stand pat. But if something comes up . . . definitely, I’m sure we’ll talk about it.”

General Manager Kevin Malone echoed his manager’s sentiments, pointing out the acquisition of right-handed starter Andy Ashby and the re-signing of Darren Dreifort.

“We’re real encouraged about what we were able to accomplish in the off-season,” Malone said. “Everyone worked real hard and we’re positioning ourselves to give the fans a winning team.

“We’re committed to the fans and we think with what we’ve done with the pitching staff--and we think the defense is going to be better--that we’ve achieved our goals, our objectives. We’re always looking to get better; we’re never going to be good enough, as far as when you’re trying to improve. We like the way we’ve positioned ourselves right now.”

Malone, however, would not comment on any specific players as potential trade targets.

“If we can find a deal that can make us better without mortgaging the future, we’d strongly consider it,” he said.

When Tracy, who was promoted from bench coach to manager on Nov. 1, wasn’t defending his hiring and going over his resume with reporters, he was explaining his managerial philosophy.

“My responsibility is to build and mold the character of the clubhouse,” he said. “I really feel like you get good at something by actually doing it.”

And what about the egos and personalities in the sometimes combustible Dodger clubhouse?

“I think I know what they expect,” Tracy said of his team. “I’ve been around these guys for the last two years and this is a fabulous group of people, in my opinion. They’re guys that want structure and they’ll get some structure, but they don’t have to be inundated with it because they’re veteran players. They know what they have to do.

“They’re waiting for us now as we go to spring training next month to plug in a formula that we’re going to follow as a ballclub, as an organization, and I’m sure they’ll take off with it.”

A few major leaguers attended Friday’s workout, among them pitchers Dreifort, Eric Gagne, Matt Herges and Gregg Olson, catchers Chad Kreuter and Paul LoDuca, first baseman Eric Karros, and outfielders Gary Sheffield and Shawn Green.

“We’re just working on setting a tone today,” said Tracy, who will return to his winter home in Florida on Sunday before rejoining workouts at the end of the month. “This is a day where you want them to come out and be relaxed in this type of environment.”

Also registering on the Dodger radar Friday was the impending signing of former Dodger starter Ramon Martinez, which will become official when the right-hander passes a physical next week.

Malone also said that re-signing starter Chan Ho Park, who led the team in wins (18) and strikeouts (217) and can become a free agent after this season, is a priority. Malone, though, wouldn’t say when discussions would begin.

But the Dodgers committed 135 errors last season, second most in the National League behind the 141 committed by the San Diego Padres, and a porous Dodger defense could make strong starting pitching a moot point.

“Leather-slapping is going to be a priority, defense,” Malone said. “We’re going to really emphasize defense in spring training. It’s going to be a priority, a team priority, an individual priority. With the pitching staff we have, we have to play better defense.

“We’ve had a lot of quality individuals. Now we want to work as a team, from the manager to the coaches on down.”