The guy to have in a pinch

Nick Christensen

Friday, June 3, 2005 | 9:59 a.m.

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Probable Starters

The latest in a long string of rehabbing Dodgers in Las Vegas, Jason Grabowski has had no problem facing Triple-A competition.

In eight games with Las Vegas, Grabowski's hitting .417 in 24 at-bats, knocking in six runs while drawing seven walks.

And oddly enough, 51s manager Jerry Royster thinks those numbers might be too high.

"I wish he wasn't getting as many at-bats or they would slow down the amount of at-bats he's getting and let us (pinch hit him) a few times," Royster said. "I understand him needing the at-bats because he hasn't had very many and it's really going to help."

An outfielder, Grabowski led the majors in pinch-hit at-bats last year, with 69. In 80 overall at-bats in games that he didn't start, he had just 12 hits, and was 5-for-33 this year before going on the disabled list.

Still, Grabowski is happy to be working on his overall plate technique instead of trying to get further practice in pinch-hit situations.

"I'm not going to get my timing getting one at-bat at a time," he said. "They want me to be able to get it back so that when I get there I get a chance to pinch hit up there, then I'm ready."

Grabowski is one of the five players in the Dodgers system who came from the Oakland system after former A's assistant general manager Paul DePodesta took the helm of the Dodgers.

He was acquired by the Dodgers for cash late in spring training last season, at a time when he said it was becoming clear he wasn't going to make the cut with Oakland.

"(DePodesta) and I are friends. I knew he liked me or he wouldn't have been my friend in the first place," Grabowski said. "He's the reason I got into Oakland a couple years ago."

The Athletics claimed Grabowski from Seattle through the Rule 5 draft in 2001, and he signed as a free agent with the A's three months later.

He spent much of 2002 and 2003 with Triple-A Sacramento before spending all of last year with the Dodgers. He hit .293 in two seasons with the River Cats.

This year, Grabowski was asked to take on a new challenge, learning how to be a backup catcher in spring training.

The strain of being behind the plate caused Grabowski to have some shoulder pain, and even cortisone shots couldn't keep the pain fully away.

"Something just came up when I was switching positions and throwing angles," he said. "All I wanted was an extra chance to make the team. It all worked out."

Royster said Grabowski has plenty to improve on while still in Las Vegas, particularly his defense.

"Grabowski is not a defensive specialist," Royster said. "These guys realize this is the place to practice. This is your last opportunity to practice. You don't get the kind of practice up there that you get down here. You've got to go about it the right way. (Jason) Repko's done that and Grabowski's done that."

His minor league rehabilitation set to end on June 11, Grabowski is just hopeful to get as many at-bats as he can, something Royster doesn't terribly mind given Grabowski's batting average.

"I just keep seeing pitches," Grabowski said. "I'll try to see as many as I can and I'll have a good chance to be ready to go back."