Nixon Acquired to Fill Speed Role

Otis Nixon played in the first inning of Tuesday night’s Minnesota-Toronto game. When the Blue Jays took the field in the second inning, however, Nixon was missing.

He had been yanked out of the lineup and dropped into the middle of a division race.

The Dodgers, anxious to put more men on base, more speed in their lineup and more experience on the roster, acquired Nixon from the Blue Jays on Tuesday for minor league catcher Bobby Cripps.

Nixon will bat leadoff and play center field, said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice-president.

“With two guys [including current leadoff man Brett Butler who’ll now bat second] at the top of the order who can get on base,” Claire said, “it will put more pressure on the other team. The guys in the middle of the lineup should see more fastballs.”

To make room for Nixon on the roster, the Dodgers designated outfielder Eric Anthony for assignment.

The switch-hitting Nixon is a 15-year veteran, having played with the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Montreal Expos, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers. He has 47 stolen bases this season in 102 games. He has stolen 37 or more in 10 straight seasons and has 545 in his career.

He has performed well in the postseason, having hit .314 in 13 league championship games and .295 in six World Series games with Atlanta.

“I think this is going to help us tremendously,” first baseman Eric Karros said. “His experience is obviously a factor, but the most important factor for this ballclub is speed at the top of the lineup.

“But he’s not going to be a savior. The bottom line is, the guys who have been here have to produce.”

His contract is up at the end of this season, so the Dodgers are only renting him for the pennant run.

Nixon has had a troubled past. As a member of the Braves, he tested positive for cocaine in September of 1991 and was suspended for 60 days, causing him to miss the postseason that year.

Claire said he is satisfied that Nixon has cleaned up his act.

“From everything I’ve heard,” Claire said, “he’s got a pretty good record and is on a good career path.”

That path includes his role as founder and president of the StrikeOut Foundation, a nonprofit organization designed to educate children on the evils of drug abuse. Nixon is also involved in the Institute for Infant and Child Survival, which was formed to aid youngsters in the Georgia area.

The deal comes after the Dodgers played one of their worst games of the season last Sunday. Center fielder Roger Cedeno made an error in that game, and has been shaky defensively in recent weeks.

The Dodger outfield situation itself became a little shaky earlier when Todd Hollandsworth broke a bone near his right elbow on the last road trip. He is expected to be out a few more weeks.

In the midst of a division race, that can seem like a lifetime.

Cripps, 20, is hitting .306 with four homers and 25 RBI in 46 games at Great Falls, a Rookie League team.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

ON DECK

Opponent--Montreal Expos, two games. Site--Dodger Stadium. Tonight--7:30 p.m. TV--Fox Sports West 2. Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330). Records--Dodgers, 64-55; Expos, 60-57. Record vs. Expos--5-4.

TONIGHT’S GAME

DODGERS’ TOM CANDIOTTI (8-4, 3.52 ERA) vs. EXPOS’ CARLOS PEREZ (11-7, 3.69 ERA)

Update--Tom Candiotti’s role is about to change. This figures to be his last start in the regular rotation. If all goes well in Ramon Martinez’s rehabiliation start Thursday and he gets to throw 75 to 80 pitches, the Dodgers plan to return him to the rotation on the upcoming road trip. Candiotti, who has been filling in for Martinez since the right-hander suffered a small tear of the rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder in June, would back up Martinez in his first start, which would be August 20 against the Mets in New York. The Dodgers might bring Candiotti in that night if Martinez only goes four or five innings. Martinez and Candiotti would then both be used on August 25 in Pittsburgh where the Dodgers will play a doubleheader against the Pirates. Thursday, 1 p.m.--Dodgers’ Ismael Valdes (6-10, 2.94) vs. Expos’ Pedro Martinez (14-5, 1.72).