Dodger Notebook : Pena Scratched; Valenzuela Looks Sharp for 7

The uncertainty of Alejandro Pena’s comeback attempt was underscored again Thursday when he was scratched from pitching in the Dodgers’ 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins.

The decision to keep Pena out of the game, which would have been his second outing in a regularly scheduled A-team game, was made after he complained of stiffness while warming up on the side.

“I threw for 20 minutes but couldn’t get loose,” said Pena, who was scheduled to follow Fernando Valenzuela and work three innings.

Instead, Valenzuela, tuning up for what is expected to be his sixth straight opening-day assignment, pitched seven splendid innings and shut out the Twins on four hits. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.

Carlos Diaz finished and lost the shutout when Tim Laudner hit a two-run homer in the ninth.

Pat Screnar, the Dodgers’ physical therapist, said he did not consider Pena’s inability to pitch Thursday a setback.

“You have to put it in the overall scheme,” said Screnar, who has worked closely with Pena since the pitcher’s shoulder operation a year ago February.

“You have to understand that he’s going to have his ups and downs, that he’s going to go through things like that.

“He felt a little stiffness. He’s felt it at other times this spring, but he hadn’t in a long time. It was pretty windy today. Rather than take a chance, we decided it would be better if he didn’t pitch.”

Pena, whose therapy consists primarily of exercises and time spent on an electrical muscle stimulator, seemed unfazed by Thursday’s events.

“What I have to do is keep working and hope I feel better,” he said.

“I’ve come a long way, I can’t stop now. I just have to work a little harder.”

Even though the Dodgers are in no position to count on Pena or, for that matter, on a healthy Rick Honeycutt, rumors persist that they might be interested in trading left-hander Jerry Reuss. Those rumors intensified when Philadelphia Phillies’ scout Hugh Alexander showed up to watch Reuss pitch on Wednesday.

Reuss has heard the rumors. “It’s a distraction,” said Reuss, who has been traded twice--by Pittsburgh and St. Louis--in his career.

“Last year, it was supposed to be Baltimore. The winter before that, I think it was Toronto. You hear it.

“It’s funny--you win 14 games and pitch over 200 innings after undergoing surgery--that would be enough to lead some staffs. But because this staff is so exceptional, it’s like it’s almost overlooked.

“I hope Honeycutt is healthy and has the best year of his life. I hope Pena is healthy and has his best year.”

If that happens, the Dodgers would have six starters, and a trade would be plausible. That condition doesn’t exist, yet.

“You’ll have to ask Al (Campanis),” Reuss said when asked whether there was another trade in his future. “That’s his department. I have enough trouble getting hitters out.”

With the Dodgers still needing to trim four players from their roster to get down to their desired number of 24, Manager Tom Lasorda gave many of his regulars the day off and took a look at his reserves.

He started a lineup that had Dave Anderson at third, Bob Bailor at second, Enos Cabell in left field, Bill Russell in center and Alex Trevino behind the plate. Anderson helped his chances with a three-run homer off Twin starter John Butcher.

Cabell, for one, appears assured of a job as the Dodgers’ right-handed pinch-hitter.

“I’m satisfied if I don’t play all the time,” said Cabell, who will be 37 in October.

“I’m happy. This is a good team, a team that can go all the way. I don’t want to be playing all the time.

“Some people can’t accept it. I can. If someone gets hurt, I can play two weeks in a row. If they need me to play four months in a row, I can. I’ve done it.”

Cabell is no advocate of the reduced roster, a development that apparently will cost an established veteran, perhaps Bailor, his job.

“That’s not right, but did they (the Dodgers) say they were nice guys?” Cabell said. “This business is not a nice business.

“What ends up happening is that players who are supposed to be here will not be here.

“But somebody’s going to go back to 25. And once one team does it, 25 others will, too.”

Dodger Notes During a workout after the game, Dodger catcher Mike Scioscia climbed into the stands in the direction of an abusive spectator, who said he was a Yankee fan. Before Scioscia could get to the man--who, observers said, was shouting profanities at Scioscia and Bill Russell while holding a child in his arms--Dodgertown officials escorted the man from the premises. Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda followed in pursuit, observers said, yelling that the man should be permanently banned from Dodgertown. “Tommy banned him,” said Dodgertown director Charlie Blaney, a late arrival on the scene. “We just made sure we got him out of there.” . . . Outfielder Reggie Williams, who has a bruised right thumb, did not play. . . . First baseman Greg Brock appears in the April issue of GQ magazine, modeling a raincoat. “It looks like Brock, too,” Enos Cabell said. “Except the raincoat usually isn’t that clean. And lookit, he combed his hair, slicked it down.”