Sheffield Sits Out, Remains in Limbo

By Paul Gutierrez

May 26, 2001 12 AM PT

Gary Sheffield, with a severely sprained left index finger, was not available to the Dodgers Friday night but the left fielder was not placed on the disabled list either.

And while Sheffield was not talking about his lingering injury, Dodger Manager Jim Tracy would not rule out the outfielder being sidelined for the next two weeks.

“It’s a situation where we’re going to treat [the finger] very aggressively over the next couple of days and see where that takes us,” Tracy said. “The possibility does loom that he could become a disabled list candidate.”

Sheffield has said he first injured the finger fielding ground balls in the Dodger Stadium outfield before throwing out two runners at home plate in the Dodgers’ 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 25.

He has continued to play with the injured finger, though, and was only four for 31 on the Dodgers’ recent nine-game trip.

“There’s been little, if any, improvement,” Tracy said. “We’re just going to see how the finger responds to an aggressive form of treatment.”

A frustrated Eric Karros, on the disabled list for only the second time in his 10-year career, was in no mood to discuss his lower back sprain or a possible time frame regarding his return.

“I’m not into predicting the future,” Karros said.

When asked if he thought he’d be out longer than two weeks, Karros said, “I’m not surprised by anything around here anymore.”

Jesse Orosco, baseball’s all-time appearances leader, had his contract purchased from triple-A Las Vegas by the Dodgers Friday.

Orosco, 44, was with the Dodgers in spring training. But he was granted free agency on March 30 after being informed he was not part of the team’s plans. He signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers on April 24, five days after former Dodger general manager Kevin Malone’s forced resignation.

“I thought I had a job coming out of spring training,” Orosco said. “When the day came, it was a different opinion. It was puzzling.”

Tracy said he’s looking forward to utilizing the left-handed Orosco out of the bullpen in certain situations.

“This is our window of opportunity,” Tracy said. “Is Jesse the guy? We’re going to find out, sooner than later.”

Andy Ashby, sidelined since April 18 with a right (throwing) elbow strain, threw off a mound Friday for the first time in more than three weeks.

Ashby threw 35 pitches--fastballs and sinkers.

“It felt 100% better than it did the last time I did it,” Ashby said. “There was a world of difference in the way it felt three weeks ago.”

Ashby plans on playing catch today and possibly throwing another bullpen workout Sunday before beginning to mix in more types of pitches.

Tracy said Ashby might have a rehab assignment before being activated.

“I wish I could say I’d be back next week,” Ashby said. “But I think, with the time we’ve taken, to try and do something too early would be kind of stupid.

“Today was a big day.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

LUKE PROKOPEC

(5-1, 3.59 ERA)

vs.

ASTROS’

SHANE REYNOLDS

(4-3, 5.88 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)