DODGERS REPORT : Johnson Sees Positives

Manager Davey Johnson has been putting out fires throughout the season, trying to persuade the high-priced Dodger veterans to do things his way.

Johnson has spent more time than he would prefer on changing the mind-set of the team, explaining his reasoning to players more than he has in any of his other jobs.

But Johnson believes he finally sees the light at the end of the tunnel. Or is that another train?

“Yeah, it hasn’t been easy, but I do believe that we’ve turned a corner,” Johnson said. “It took a while, a lot longer than it should have, but I think they understand where I’m coming from and we’re better off for it. This should help us [next season].”

Johnson has been criticized by players for his substitution patterns, strategy and lack of communication. He has been dumbfounded by the complaints because he believes the only thing the Dodgers should worry about is their poor performance as a team.

“Some guys just didn’t understand that the decisions I make have nothing to do with anything personal,” Johnson said. “If I give you a day off to play somebody else that doesn’t mean it has anything to do with you. You’re good, but we’re not winning. I’m not going to just sit back and lose and not try to do something about it.

“I mean, in case you haven’t noticed, we haven’t exactly set the world afire. Everybody has to have a role for us to win. I feel we’re to the point now where we understand that much.”

Johnson acknowledges his work isn’t finished.

“Most everybody gets it, but there are still a few guys who don’t,” he said. “From where we started, I’ll take that. That’s progress.”

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The Dodgers added four players from triple-A Albuquerque to the 25-man roster Tuesday, recalling pitcher Jamie Arnold and infielders Juan Castro and Alex Cora, and purchasing the contract of pitcher Jeff Williams.

To make room for Williams on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers recalled left-hander Carlos Perez from Albuquerque and assigned him to the 60-day disabled list because of a severely bruised right leg.

Arnold went 2-3 with a 4.91 earned-run average in 32 games before being optioned to the Dukes on Aug. 23 to work as a starter. The right-hander went 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA in three games, including two starts, for the Dukes.

The smooth-fielding Castro failed to make the team out of spring training after spending the 1998 season on the roster. In 115 games at Albuquerque, Castro batted .274 with seven home runs and 51 runs batted in.

Cora missed half the Dukes’ season after fracturing his right hand in spring training. Cora, who played in 29 games with the Dodgers last season, batted .310 with four homers and 37 RBIs in 79 games in the minors.

The left-handed Williams worked in 42 games as a starter and reliever, going 9-7 with a 5.01 ERA and four saves.

Castro is making $325,000 in the first year of a two-year, $725,000 deal.

That’s a lot of money for a minor league utility infielder. Castro doesn’t do enough offensively to earn a spot on Johnson’s bench, so the Dodgers will probably trade him in the off-season.

“It’s not my decision,” Castro said. “I’ll be happy if I stay here if they have good plans for me. If they don’t, I’d like to go someplace where I can play in the major leagues.”

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Perez is done for the season--and not a moment too soon.

A line drive off his right shin put him on the disabled list, ending his season-long nightmare. It wasn’t much fun for the Dodgers, either.

Perez went 2-10 with a 7.43 ERA in 16 starts for the Dodgers before being optioned to Albuquerque. He went 3-3 with a 5.92 ERA for the Dukes.

Perez signed a three-year, $15.6-million deal in the off-season. He will make $5 million next season and $7.5 million in 2001.

DODGERS’

CHAN HO PARK

(9-10, 5.71 ERA)

vs.

MARLINS’

A.J. BURNETT

(2-1, 3.12 ERA)

Pro Player Stadium, 1 p.m. PDT

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

* Update--Park has won his last three starts despite having a 5.21 earned-run average during that span. The Dodgers have scored 21 runs in those games. Burnett, a rookie right-hander, is making his fourth major league start.