Less Rest for a Testy Tracy

Dodger Manager Jim Tracy has a big smile for every visitor to his office, remembers the name of every reporter who asks him a question, and is quick to laugh at every joke, good or bad, he is told.

Ever the family man, he spent Monday, the start of the final week of the regular season, helping Brian, the oldest of his three sons, move to Santa Barbara to start college.

Yet not even the most amiable of men is immune to the pressures of a playoff chase. And last week, the tension surfaced.

When a reporter wrote that the Dodgers looked flat, Tracy snapped, “You weren’t in this dugout.”

When another reporter inquired about Dodger relief pitching, Tracy replied sharply, “You know what’s going on in that bullpen.”

Tracy says he doesn’t sleep as much as he did, down from around eight hours a night to five. Instead, he sits in front of the television and channel surfs.

He doesn’t eat as much, either, sometimes only one meal a day.

“I just don’t feel hungry,” he said.

But don’t get the feeling Tracy is miserable.

“I may sleep less but fatigue doesn’t enter into it,” he said of his first pennant race. “I’m anxious to go to work. This is fun.”

Even if the jokes don’t seem as funny when the Dodgers lose.

*

Center fielder Dave Roberts, sidelined because a strained muscle in his right side that may prevent him from returning this week, will have an MRI exam today.... Heading into Monday’s games, Roberts was tied for the major league lead in stolen bases with Luis Castillo of the Florida Marlins, each with 45. The last Dodger to lead the league in that category was Davey Lopes with 63 in 1976.

ON DECK

Opponent--Colorado Rockies, two games.

Site--Dodger Stadium.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2

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

Records--Dodgers 88-68, Rockies 72-84.

Record vs. Rockies--11-6.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ ODALIS PEREZ

(15-9, 3.07 ERA)

vs.

ROCKIES’ DENNY STARK

(10-3, 2.91 ERA)

Update--Tracy is down to two reliable pitchers in these final, furious days, Hideo Nomo and Perez. Perez is 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA in his last 10 starts. And he has held opposing teams to two earned runs or fewer in 18 of his last 31 starts. Perez has been especially consistent against Colorado this season, going 3-0 with a 2.48 ERA and two complete games in four starts. The Dodgers have won six of seven against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium.

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Giovanni Carrara (6-3, 3.26) vs. Jason Jennings (16-8, 4.62).