Dodgers Are Thrown for Many Losses

By JASON REID

June 12, 2001 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

A pitching staff already a shambles absorbed another blow Monday when the Dodgers learned that starter Andy Ashby must undergo season-ending elbow surgery.

An MRI exam revealed that the right-hander suffered a torn flexor muscle at the bone of his pitching elbow while rehabilitating from another elbow injury that had sidelined him since April 18.

Team physician Frank Jobe plans to perform the surgery, which usually requires three-to-six months of rehabilitation.

The Dodgers, who gave Ashby a three-year, $22.5-million contract in the off-season that could become a four-year, $31-million deal with a vesting option, are optimistic that he will be ready to start spring training, but major pitching concerns tempered their mood.

Starter Kevin Brown is out indefinitely because of an irritated nerve in his neck, Eric Gagne continues to regress since being demoted to long relief and the bullpen has been weakened because Terry Adams and Giovanni Carrara are needed in the rotation.

Luke Prokopec didn’t help shore up the rotation Monday night against Texas, as he gave up seven runs and 10 hits in only five innings of work during a 12-7 loss to the Texas Rangers.

It was Prokopec’s third consecutive shaky outing.

Jobe acknowledged that Ashby’s latest injury is related to a strained right elbow that prompted the Dodgers to put him on the disabled list April 18, and that it occurred during his throwing program.

“Are they related at all? Well, they are in this regard: When one muscle heals, the tissues surrounding that are probably a little bit weaker,” Jobe said.

“It’s a different injury, it could possibly be related, but I don’t think you can find a direct relationship.”

Moreover, Jobe said the Dodgers were cautious with Ashby’s program and could not have foreseen the second injury.

“You never know what causes any injury when there is a pulling away [of muscle from bone],” said Jobe, adding that reliever Jesse Orosco recovered after having the same injury and procedure last season.

“This whole thing is a judgment call, and I’m positive we were on the conservative side.”

The Dodgers will miss Ashby, players said.

“It’s tough,” left fielder Gary Sheffield said.

“We got this far when we were just trying to hang in there until he got back, and now we’re going to have to get our mind-set in a different mode because we have to do it without him.

“He got off to such a good start and this is such a bad way to end it. Especially injuring his arm.”

They hoped the 10-year veteran would help improve a rotation considered one of the majors’ best, and Ashby was 2-0 with a 3.86 earned-run average in his first two starts.

But then he was put on the disabled list and had setbacks in his throwing program.

However, the Dodgers hinted that Ashby, 33, might soon make a rehabilitation start after he faced batters last Tuesday for the first time during his throwing program.

With Manager Jim Tracy observing, Ashby threw fastballs, sinkers, curveballs and change-ups in the final 20 pitches of his bullpen session before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark.

Because of soreness, Ashby did not throw again until Sunday, and the MRI was conducted after he continued to experience pain.

“Obviously, we were holding out hope in the fact that, at some point and time, we would be able to get him back,” Tracy said of Ashby, who did not speak with reporters before leaving Dodger Stadium. “Knowing now that you’re not going to have him back, you have to be encouraged by the work Terry Adams and Giovanni Carrara have done for us.

“We’ve torn down one area of strength of our club [the bullpen] in order to solidify another area [the rotation].

“As we go along here, we’re going to have to continue to look for ways to improve and enhance our situation in the bullpen.”

Brown’s injury does not help.

When they put Brown on the disabled list June 4, the Dodgers said they hoped he would miss only three or four starts.

But their No. 1 starter has already missed two starts, and Tracy said he does not have a timetable for Brown’s return.

“As far as Brownie’s situation is concerned, and when he will be back, once again we go to that timetable word,” Tracy said.

“I just don’t have one at this point.

“What Brownie is doing is a lot of exercise to maintain his legs and the lower half of his body.

“But baseball activity right now . . . Kevin Brown is not doing any.”

And then there’s Gagne.

The right-hander was bumped from the rotation because he was 1-3 with a 6.05 ERA and winless in his last eight starts.

Since joining the bullpen, Gagne has given up seven hits--including two home runs--and four runs in eight innings.