Last Trip Was a Good Sign for Butler

Outfielder Brett Butler spent a few hours in each city on the just-completed trip doing something he thought he’d never do--signing copies of his book.

“I thought I would never write a book about myself,” Butler said. “I thought you would really have to be vain to do that.”

But “Field of Hope,” a book written with co-author Jerry B. Jenkins to tell the story of Butler’s struggle to overcome throat cancer, has just been published. What changed Butler’s mind?

“I received 180,000 pieces of mail asking about my condition and wishing me well,” he said. “So I decided to write this for the kid who is told he won’t make it, the last kid picked. . . . I wrote it for all the people who have cancer and are told they can’t come back. I’m living proof they can. And I wrote it to show that God is real and miracles do happen.”

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Shortstop Greg Gagne, plagued by a viral infection that began in his eyes 10 days ago and spread to his sinus area, has been told by his doctor that it appears the illness is finally clearing up.

Gagne’s eyes were dilated Tuesday for a medical exam, but he predicts he’ll be available to play tonight.

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Right-handers Ramon Martinez and Ismael Valdes, both on the disabled list, are expected to throw 40 to 45 pitches under simulated game conditions today.

If all goes well for Valdes, who has been out since the start of July because of a strained left hamstring, he will be ready for a start before the end of this eight-game home stand.

Martinez, who has been out since mid-June because of a small tear in the rotator cuff on his throwing shoulder, will require a rehabilitation assignment before he is ready to return.

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The Dodgers’ 65 Roses Club will hold its 10th annual Dodgers Family Fashion Show on Saturday at the House of Blues. It starts with a silent auction at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon and the fashion show, which features the players and their families. The 65 Roses Club has raised about $650,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

TONIGHT’S GAME

DODGERS’ DENNIS REYES (1-1, 4.97 ERA) vs. METS’ BRIAN BOHANON (1-1, 6.75 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West 2. Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330).

* Update--This might be Reyes’ last chance to prove that, at 20, he is ready to assume one of the five slots in the Dodger rotation. With right-hander Ismael Valdes poised to return, the Dodgers’ only option would be to send veteran Tom Candiotti back to the bullpen to keep Reyes in a Dodger uniform. That’s not likely. And since the Dodgers would rather see Reyes starting in Albuquerque than languishing in the Dodger bullpen, this figures to be his farewell appearance until September with the exception of a possible role as the Dodger starter in the Hall of Fame game Aug. 4. Bohanon’s only loss came in relief against the Dodgers in a 14-inning game in April. His only victory came that month as well. Filling in for Pete Harnisch, who left the club because of depression, Bohanon got his only start of the season against the San Francisco Giants. He went seven innings for the victory.