Turn of Events for Pitchers

The Dodgers and Carlos Perez reached an agreement Wednesday that temporarily resolved one of the club’s pitching problems while the bullpen remained in flux after closer Jeff Shaw’s demotion.

Perez reluctantly agreed to continue the unusual arrangement that enables the Dodgers to send him to the minor leagues despite his right to refuse as a player with at least five years’ major league service time. The temperamental left-hander had adamantly refused to an extension after pitching better than expected during his monthlong audition.

However, Perez’s stance changed after the Dodgers and his agents revised the previous agreement. The sides made concessions to complete the deal, again delaying a decision on Perez’s future with the team.

“It was a good compromise,” said Perez’s co-agent, Adam Katz. “Both sides gave a little bit and we’re all satisfied.”

The Dodgers then turned to their bullpen.

Manager Davey Johnson has been forced to shuffle the relievers because of the struggling Shaw, who is being given time off. The Dodgers hope their closing committee fares better than Shaw.

Relievers Terry Adams, Antonio Osuna and Mike Fetters have experience closing. They will share the job unless someone emerges as the obvious choice.

The Dodgers aren’t sure when--or if--Shaw will resume closing. At Dodger Stadium, they’re used to handling turmoil one step at a time.

“I’m happy the Carlos situation got resolved without any problems or complications,” said General Manager Kevin Malone, apparently forgetting Perez’s angry response when he initially asked the pitcher to sign an extension Monday.

“I’m happy that Carlos is going to keep getting the ball and continue helping us win games. I’m glad he continued to show he wants to help this team. It’s another example that he’s a team player.”

Malone and Katz declined to discuss the terms of the extension, but a baseball source said the Dodgers can option Perez to Albuquerque during the next 25 days. The Dodgers wanted a 45-day window and Perez instructed his agents, Katz and Tom Reich, to hold firm against an extension that long.

Under the terms of the agreement Perez signed May 1, he waived his right to refuse being optioned to the Dukes and the club agreed to keep him on the 25-man roster until Wednesday. The Dodgers hope Perez pitches well enough during his second audition to end the arrangement, and Perez does too.

“The main thing is that I want to be here, I want to help the team and I want to win,” said Perez, 4-2 with a 5.40 earned-run average.

“I want to be in the World Series and I think this is the right team. I’m here and I’m going to have to keep doing what I’m doing and pitching well.”

The Dodgers wish Shaw was pitching better.

Nothing has gone right for Shaw this season. He is 2-3 with a 7.84 ERA and has given up 30 hits in 20 2/3 innings.

Shaw suffered his fifth blown save in Tuesday night’s 10-5 loss to the New York Mets. He failed to preserve a 5-4 lead in the ninth, and Johnson had seen enough.

“You go through these things sometimes and I’m going through a rough one now,” said Shaw, who leads the Dodgers with 11 saves. “You just have to keep working and try to get through it.”

Team trainer Stan Johnston said the muscles around Shaw’s right rotator cuff are weak. Dodger physician Frank Jobe has designed an exercise program to strengthen his rotator cuff muscles, and Johnson is monitoring Shaw’s progress.

“It’s not like he has been getting hammered,” Johnson said. “It’s been a lot of ground balls and base hits, but he’s not throwing like he’s capable of throwing.”

Adams said the Dodgers have enough proven relievers to give Shaw time to revert to form.

“We all go through our struggles, we all go through streaks like that,” Adams said. “He’s under the biggest spotlight because he’s a closer, but it happens to everyone.

“The good thing is that we have a lot of experienced guys down there [in the bullpen] who can take some of the pressure off of him now. He can relax and take the time to get back in a little groove.”

Malone said he’s confident Shaw--making $5.05 million this season and $6.05 million next--will regain his job.

“I think he’s going to be fine,” said Malone, who signed Shaw to a contract extension. “He’s a proven professional and one of the best closers in the game. I have total confidence that he’ll be back.”

Adams also said the situation is temporary.

“He’s the closer, he’s earned that right based on what he’s done,” Adams said of Shaw, who had 124 saves from 1997-99. “I don’t care who finishes games [while Shaw works on his problems]. . . . As long as he’s here, he’s the closer.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

No Relief

Comparison of statistics after Dodgers’ first 49 games in 1999 and 2000 for demoted closer Jeff Shaw (left):

*--*

Category 1999 2000 Games 23 22 Innings 24 2/3 20 2/3 Hits 18 30 Earned Runs 8 18 Home Runs 3 4 Walks 8 7 Strikeouts 16 10 Wins-Losses 1-2 2-3 Saves 12 11 ERA 2.92 7.84

*--*

Note: Shaw had five blown save opportunities in 1999. He has five this season.

DODGERS AFTER 49 GAMES

*--*

Record 26-23 27-22 Games Behind 3 4

*--*