BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : ‘Throw-In’ Called a Real Thrower

He was the unknown player in the Dodger-Expo trade, the pitcher almost everyone ignored in their assessment of Tuesday’s four-player deal.

Kevin Malone, Montreal’s vice president and general manager, said Wednesday people are mistaken if they believe rookie left-handed reliever Joey Eischen is just another body thrown into the deal featuring outfielders Roberto Kelly and Henry Rodriguez.

“I’m telling you, Joey can be a good one, a real good one,” Malone said. “Joey’s potential is just starting to surface. I think he’s got the capabilities one day of being a closer.

“He throws 90-93 m.p.h., has a power curveball--one of the best left-handed curveballs I’ve ever seen--and an average changeup.

“The potential is there for him to be another Norm Charlton. He can be that good.”

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The Dodgers removed the cast and placed catcher Mike Piazza’s left thumb in a splint, confirming that it will be a minimum of a week to 10 days before he can resume playing.

“It’s going to take at least another week to get the mobility back in the thumb and get his strength restored,” said Pat Screnar, Dodger physical therapist.

Piazza, who suffered a torn thumb tendon on May 10, will have his catcher’s mitt fitted with a hard plastic brace.

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Dodger catcher Carlos Hernandez lost his arbitration case and will be paid $300,000 this season, instead of the $525,000 he was seeking. . . . The Dodgers are picking up only $1.2 million of Kelly’s $3.4-million contract, said Malone and Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. . . . The Dodgers say they have no intention of making Kelly the leadoff batter and had him bat second in the lineup again Wednesday night. When Piazza returns, Kelly is expected to bat fifth or sixth. . . . Rookie outfielder Todd Hollandsworth, who broke a bone in his right wrist on May 3, is making significant progress, Screnar said, but is not expected to return until early July.