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By Nick Piecoro
State Press
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Davey Johnson remembers an intrasquad game played during spring training in February when he learned what Paul LoDuca is all about. Johnson filled in the starting lineups without putting LoDuca, a seven-year player in the Dodgers organization and a former ASU baseball player, in the catcher's slot on either team.
"He was like, 'Here we go again. New manager, new regime -- I've got to prove myself all over again,'" Johnson said. "I could feel him thinking that."
Proving doubters wrong is nothing new for LoDuca. He was disdained by scouts and college coaches because of something he couldn't control -- he doesn't look like a ballplayer. He's only 5-10 (he may be closer to 5-8 or 5-9 with his shoes off) and he weighs 185.
"I'm the kind of guy that had to put up numbers," LoDuca said. "If I hit .250, I wasn't going to go nowhere because I don't have the kind of physique where I could just develop into an unbelievable talent."
It was the same deal in spring training -- he had to produce if he wanted the backup catcher's job. He hit .325 (13 for 40) with two homers and eight RBI in the spring to earn the spot. He would impress Johnson enough to get a spot on the opening day roster.
"I didn't give him nothing," Johnson said. "He made my ballclub."
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If you're watching batting practice from left field hoping to catch a home run ball, take a breather when LoDuca's taking his hacks. No McGwire-like bombs for him. Just line drives sprayed from left-center to right-center.
He's always been that type of hitter. At Apollo High School in Glendale, he hit .441 as a junior and .470 as a senior. He followed that by hitting .449 and .461 in his two years at Glendale Community College. Then he hit a school-record .446 at ASU in 1993, a storybook season that included a Golden Spikes nomination, a 37-game hitting streak and a trip to the College World Series.
But regardless of his amateur numbers, scouts didn't like him. For one, there was his size. And second, he didn't really have a position. He split time in '93 as a catcher and a designated hitter.
His size especially held him back before he got to ASU. Coming out of high school, no one recruited him. He wound up basically walking on to Glendale Community College and then ASU coach Jim Brock had to be convinced by an assistant coach to give LoDuca a scholarship. Brock was unsure of LoDuca because of disinterested scouts and LoDuca's physique.
After the dream 1993 season, the Dodgers drafted him in the 25th round that June. He started off playing third base and catcher at Vero Beach and it wasn't until he began catching full-time in 1996 that he progressed in the Dodgers farm system.
"That's what got me to where I'm at. I've always been able to hit," the 27-year-old said.
In his last two years of minor league ball, he his .327 with seven homers and 28 doubles in AA and .319 with eight homers and 30 doubles in AAA.
Johnson, the Dodgers' first-year manager, likes him for more than just his bat.
"He handles pitchers well, blocks balls well, throws well and he's a tough out," Johnson said. "He's a good little ballplayer."
The "little" part was evident at the Diamondbacks' home opener at Bank One Ballpark last Tuesday. The Los Angeles players lined up down the third-base line during introductions and LoDuca was announced right after pitcher Ismael Valdes. LoDuca jogged out to lineup and stood next to Valdes, who towered over him.
Most of the time, LoDuca is "a lovable little guy," just as Brock described him.
He's generally a pretty laid back guy with a pleasant disposition. But he's also an intense competitor, surely a result of being overlooked as many times as he has been and growing up in an athletically competitive family.
"He's got a lot of fight in him," Johnson said. "You wouldn't know it because he's a happy person."
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The Dodgers badly needed things to go their way Thursday night at Bank One Ballpark. They were on the verge of being swept by the Diamondbacks in a four-game series and were facing Randy Johnson in the series finale.
Johnson is a lefthander, which means LoDuca got the start. The Dodgers' regular catcher, Todd Hundley, can't hit lefties the way he could before he underwent elbow surgery over a year ago.
Before the game, LoDuca was asked about facing the Big Unit. He said he wasn't afraid of him and would focus on just trying to make contact, something LoDuca does well. He struck out only 67 times in the last two seasons combined. But he didn't really care much about his personal success against Johnson -- he just wanted a win. Darren Dreifort, the Dodgers starting pitcher, delivered.
Catching Dreifort in warmups before the game, LoDuca could see it coming.
"Down in the pen, he was just throwing gas," LoDuca said. "I told myself I'm just going to sit right down the middle and let them hit it."
The Diamondbacks couldn't hit it, and lost 8-1. It was LoDuca's first career win as the starting catcher.
"Yeah, that gets the monkey off my shoulder. Now I need a hit," he said after going 0 for 2, striking out once against Johnson. He also was beaned in the hip by a 90 mile-an-hour Vladimir Nunez fastball.
Through Sunday, he was 0 for 11 on the season. Last year, in three brief stints, he went 4 for 14.
Part of LoDuca's dream has been lived -- he's in the Major Leagues. But now he'll try to stay there.
"It's easier to get here than it is to stay here," he said.
Hopefully, staying will be easier for him than getting there was.