Now Dodgers have a problem leading it off

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The Dodgers have a leadoff problem.

And for another week or so, they have no real answer. What’s one more small problem?

With Rafael Furcal on the disabled list and Manny Ramirez back in the lineup Saturday, the Dodgers had no one who approached a typical leadoff hitter.

So Joe Torre flipped a coin between Russell Martin and Jamey Carroll … and up came his catcher!

When Furcal joined Manny on the disabled list, the Dodgers used Manny’s left-field replacement as their leadoff hitter -- either Reed Johnson or Xavier Paul.

But when Manny came off the DL and started Saturday, that player was gone, and there was no one who really resembled a leadoff hitter to bat first.

Martin went 1-for-4 with a single, before leaving the game after seven innings of the Dodgers’ 8-0 loss to the Rockies.

Neither Martin nor Carroll are exactly base-stealing threats. Each has one stolen base this season. Martin did steal 21 bases in 2007 but stole only 11 last season and then made a point of adding bulk this past offseason.

The Dodgers will have to make do until Furcal recovers from his strained left hamstring. The first game he would be eligible to play would be Friday in San Diego. That means a minimum of another four games with Martin or Carroll leading off.

-- Steve Dilbeck