Playing right-center field in a four-man outfield at my pickup softball game Sunday, I made 16 putouts in 13 innings. Isn't that remarkable? I'm not bragging about it - I just think it's amazing that so many people could hit the ball my way.

At the plate, things were shakier. I started out 0 for 4, robbed of a hit once but otherwise making very meek outs. I decided to change my approach, and told myself to go to the plate angry. Not desperate for a hit, but determined. I got solid hits the next three at-bats.

The day got hotter and tireder, and I finished only 3 for 9. What the hell, I'm still an amateur.

But the game really is a mental one, isn't it? It's not all about talent, but about how you use that talent. There are limits, but the limits shouldn't be players at their worst.

I cannot help but think that Dodger hitters have room for growth in their ability to produce.

I take these two concluding paragraphs from Mike DiGiovanna's Saturday game story in the Times as progress for the organization:

Batting instructor Jack Clark's job seems more and more tenuous in light of the Dodgers' offensive struggles Ñ they rank last in the league in batting, runs, hits, home runs, walks, sacrifice hits, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.

"We evaluate people all the time - I'm not going to categorize his job status," General Manager Dan Evans said of Clark. "We need to be better in that area. He knows it, and the players know it."