GLENDALE, Ariz. – To call it the dog days of spring right about now is an understatement.

All the heavy lifting has been done, with the roster all but finalized. Once Corky Miller is officially told that he is the backup catcher, it’s Murder She Wrote for Donny Lucy, bringing the roster to 25.

But after a 6-1 loss to San Diego on Wednesday, that didn’t stop manager Ozzie Guillen from reminding his team that they need to pick it up, rather than relying on flipping the intensity switch on Monday.

“I think when we look around, everyone looks the same way because of how long spring training was, but in the meanwhile, you can’t just flip the switch,’’ Guillen said. “Maybe in the next couple of days we can pick it up.

“I think over all, we need to play better defense. We look real shaky in the field, and we have to be better than that. I think everyone in general, get up in the morning, go practice and then go play, it’s not easy for a long period of time. I think the guys are looking forward to the start of the season.’’

No one more than outfielder Dewayne Wise, thanks to the rocks already being chucked in his direction.

Since being named the starting center fielder/leadoff hitter on Monday, it didn’t take long for the critics to start a knocking – specifically, knocking Wise.

Like this one from a certain ESPN columnist, who said: “Wow. In the hierarchy of horribles, giving Dewayne Wise an everyday job is right near the top.’’

Wise’s reaction?

“I just pretty much blow stuff like that out the window to be honest with you. That’s where it belongs. Everybody has their own opinion and I’m not one to let that get me down. I know how [manager] Ozzie [Guillen] and my teammates feel about me, how they have confidence in me.’’

Wise, 31, said he expected some fallout from the decision, especially because his previous stints with Toronto, Atlanta and Cincinnati didn’t end well.

“I guess they’re looking at previous years, or previous times where I was put out there on this level,’’ Wise said. “You know, 2000 or 2002, where they’re just looking on the back of my baseball card. It’s 2009 now, it’s not 2000, and I could care less what negativity people want to throw my way. I feel like I’m ready.

“It might not have happened as quickly I was wanted it to, but now I’m ready.’’