BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Gross Suffering Shoulder Stiffness

Kevin Gross said it’s nothing to be concerned about, but he has been experiencing some shoulder stiffness since the winter workouts in Los Angeles.

“It’s improved a lot, and I’m still throwing everything, but I’m just taking it slow to be sure I take care of it,” Gross said after the first full-squad workout Tuesday at Vero Beach, Fla.

Gross said he first felt the stiffness in January, when he started throwing at Dodger Stadium. “I don’t know what caused it,” he said. “I didn’t do anything differently during this off-season.”

Pitching coach Ron Perranoski said Gross will probably throw on the side a few more times before pitching batting practice.

“Kevin has never had this before, and every pitcher gets it some time in their career,” Perranoski said. “It’s nothing to worry about.”

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South Korean pitcher Park Chan Ho has been listening to English audiotapes every night, and each day he practices a new sentence. Tuesday, he greeted Executive Vice President Fred Claire with the question: “How old are you?” The night before, he asked Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda: “How come you look so tired?” Lasorda was midway through an answer before he realized that Park had spoken English. The players are also helping Park learn English. Tuesday he was walking around saying, “Hey dude.”

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Roger McDowell introduced himself to Ramon Martinez in the clubhouse Tuesday, chiding him for arriving to camp four days late. Martinez, who reported after the rest of the pitchers and catchers, reiterated that his tardiness had to do with personal business and not because his brother, Pedro, was traded to the Montreal Expos.

“This is a business and I take it that way,” said Martinez, who gained about 17 pounds during the winter. “When they traded Pedro, I was a little upset, but someday that’s going to happen to me, maybe.”