Pitching Plans Revamped for the Week

The Dodgers, fearing that the ceremony honoring the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s first game could provide a lengthy delay Tuesday night at New York, have quietly revamped their pitching plans.

The Dodgers will start Ismael Valdes against the Mets, but plan to pull him after four innings. The game is scheduled to be stopped for at least 30 minutes, and perhaps longer, after the Dodgers bat in the top of the fifth. Pedro Astacio will take over in the bottom of the fifth.

The ceremony will include President Clinton and Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s widow.

Astacio, originally scheduled to start Wednesday, will be replaced by Ramon Martinez. This will move Hideo Nomo’s next start to Friday against the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers originally planned to have Chan Ho Park replace the starter Tuesday, but that was scrapped because of Saturday’s rainout. This will permit Martinez and Nomo to start on their usual four days’ rest.

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The Dodger bullpen showed its survival instincts in the cold Sunday. Realizing there were no heaters in the bullpen, Darren Dreifort and Scott Radinsky picked up loose planks and actually boarded up their bullpen, leaving only slits to see the game.

“They wanted to build a fire, but I wouldn’t let them,” said Dodger bullpen Coach Mark Cresse. “They couldn’t understand why, and I told them they’d get asphyxiated. They said, ‘What does that mean?’

“I told them, ‘You won’t be able to breathe, let’s leave it at that.’ ”

Said left-handed reliever Mark Guthrie: “We quit talking to him the rest of the day after he used that word. But I’ll tell you what, he may know what that word means, but I bet he can’t spell it.”

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The Mets, who have given away 14,000 tickets, expect a crowd of about 45,000 for Tuesday’s game celebrating Robinson breaking the color barrier. There have been 700 press credentials issued.

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Dodger catcher Mike Piazza, who missed Sunday’s game because of his bruised left elbow, plans to wear a supportive sleeve for at least a few weeks for precautionary purposes.