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Izturis Insists: ‘I’m a Shortstop’

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Times Staff Writer

Cesar Izturis arrived at Dodgertown on Thursday, but he’s still in limbo.

The injured shortstop is clearly conflicted, caught between wanting to say the right things and occasionally letting slip that he is dismayed by events in the off-season.

His recovery from elbow replacement surgery won’t be complete until at least the All-Star break. So although he said he was surprised when General Manager Ned Colletti’s first move was to sign shortstop Rafael Furcal, he understands the logic.

“If I was the GM, I’d have done the same thing,” Izturis said.

However, the idea of moving to second base doesn’t sit well with Izturis, who won the Gold Glove in 2004 and has been the Dodger shortstop the last four years.

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“Second base? Who said that?” he said when asked how he felt about changing positions.

“They haven’t said anything to me about that.”

Colletti has made it clear that Furcal, who signed a three-year, $39-million contract, is the Dodger shortstop. Power-hitting Jeff Kent, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is the second baseman.

That leaves Izturis as either trade bait, the league’s most talented utility player or insurance against an injury to either middle infielder. He also provides protection in case first baseman Nomar Garciaparra is injured, because Kent could slide over to first and Izturis could play second.

As long as he is willing.

“If I have to, I have to,” he said, shrugging. “But I’m a shortstop, that’s my position. There is no doubt in my mind.”

His rehab is on schedule, even though Izturis was diagnosed with an arthritic condition in his elbow in addition to the ligament damage. He is throwing at about 40 feet and taking batting practice from both sides of the plate.

“I think I’ll be back sooner than everybody thinks,” he said.

*

Chad Billingsley stifled a yawn. Justin Orenduff glibly tossed a baseball into his mitt.

The two top Dodger pitching prospects sat at their lockers moments before their first spring training workout, looking casual when everyone suspected that their stomachs must be churning.

But they were relaxed for a reason few knew -- they both live in Vero Beach and have been working out at Dodgertown every day for weeks with the team’s new strength and conditioning coach, Doug Jarrow.

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“It’s a little intimidating being in the presence of all these big leaguers,” Orenduff said. “But it also feels like home because we’re here all the time.”

Both pitchers threw in the bullpen with Manager Grady Little and his coaches watching.

“It’s exciting to watch the young players get on the mound,” Little said, mentioning Billingsley, Orenduff and Jonathan Broxton by name. “That was the highlight of the day for me.”

*

Little is wearing No. 9, which he couldn’t do as Boston Red Sox manager because it was Ted Williams’ number and had been retired.

“They wouldn’t let me use it in Boston for some reason,” Little joked. “Here, I wanted No. 2, but they wouldn’t let me have that one, either.”

Tom Lasorda still wears his uniform with No. 2 during spring training. And, yes, it has been retired by the Dodgers.

*

Infielder Willy Aybar made a strong impression when he batted .326 for the Dodgers in September, and he’s made another strong impression by reporting early.

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“I want to make the team,” he said. “I got a taste of it and I want more.”

Earning a spot on the opening day roster is a longshot, despite the fact that Aybar posted the third-highest on-base percentage among first-year players since 1900.

His .448 on-base percentage in 104 plate appearances trailed only Frank Thomas (.454 in 1990) and Olaf Henriksen (.449 in 1911).

He played third base for 20 games and second base for six after getting called up from triple A. But veteran Bill Mueller was signed to play third and Kent is back at second, leaving Aybar to battle Oscar Robles and Ramon Martinez for the utility spot.

He is at a disadvantage because he has little experience at shortstop, and filling in for Furcal is a necessary qualification for the job. So Aybar is in camp early primarily to shore up his skills at shortstop.

“I can play every position, third, second and shortstop,” Aybar said. “I just have to show everybody.”

*

Furcal, who is recovering from minor knee surgery, took his physical and will begin working out today.... Pitchers Yhency Brazoban and Franquelis Osoria still have not reported. The Dodgers said they are in the Dominican Republic and are having visa problems.

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