BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Butler Makes Up With Candelaria

Brett Butler said he has cleared the air with John Candelaria and other relief pitchers involved in Sunday’s clubhouse altercation in Pittsburgh.

“I talked to everybody involved, individually, and everything is fine,” Butler said Wednesday. “In fact, with Candy, it was fine right after it happened.”

Butler became involved in the scuffle when he tried to intervene in a loud argument between Todd Benzinger and Candelaria, who was assisted by other members of the bullpen.

Witnesses said Candelaria eventually grabbed Butler before they were separated. Ironically, Candelaria and Butler have always appeared to be good friends, and often composed half of a daily card game in the Dodgers’ clubhouse.

“I’ll be playing cards with him again, I still consider Candy one of my friends,” Butler said. “Friends fight. That doesn’t mean they aren’t friends.”

Butler said the scuffle was caused by the obvious frustration of losing.

“When you have individuals who hate to lose, and when you’re going bad, sometimes that causes friction,” Butler said. “Hey, if we were in first place, that never would have happened.”

Ramon Martinez, who has missed two starts because of an inflamed elbow, has been ordered to miss at least two more starts because his injury is not improving. That puts the remainder of his season in doubt.

Even though X-rays showed no serious damage, surgery could be necessary if he does not improve.

“He is suffering from overuse syndrome,” said Dr. Frank Jobe, Dodger medical director. “We want him to rest the elbow for at least two starts, then we will re-evaluate.”

Jobe said there was no way of knowing whether the elbow problems have been bothering Martinez since spring training, as some have suspected.

“The player has said he felt fine until this recent problem, so there is no reason to think it is anything more,” Jobe said.

Even though Pedro Martinez has joined his brother on the Dodgers, he apparently will not join him in the rotation.

With the emergence of Pedro Astacio, who is scheduled to remain in the rotation as a replacement for Ramon, the younger Martinez will pitch in relief.

Wednesday was the 27th anniversary of Sandy Koufax’s perfect game against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium, the only perfect game by a Dodger pitcher.