They Still Like Hand, Even Without Ace

With pitcher Kevin Brown sidelined indefinitely because of a herniated disk in his lower back and inflammation in his surgically repaired right elbow, the Dodgers must come to grips with the possibility of being without their ace for a significant amount of time.

They’ve survived Brown-out conditions so far--they’re 36-25 despite getting only five quality starts from Brown, who has been on the disabled list twice. The Dodgers are 18-7 with Brown on the disabled list and 18-18 with him on the active roster.

But can the Dodgers reach the playoffs or win the National League pennant without Brown? Can a rotation of Hideo Nomo, Andy Ashby, Odalis Perez, Kazuhisa Ishii and Omar Daal, a deep and talented staff that lacks a dominating No. 1, keep the Dodgers in contention?

“We’ve got six aces,” outfielder Marquis Grissom said. “We have a good pitching staff. I don’t care if Kevin Brown is out all year, he’s still our ace, the guy, come playoff and World Series time, you want on the mound. But we still have other guys who can do the job.”

Like the Seattle Mariners of 2001 and the Atlanta Braves of the 1990s, the Dodger rotation seems built for the long haul. But unless Brown returns to the form that made him one of baseball’s most effective pitchers, they might have trouble matching up against teams with dominant aces.

“Sure, it would be nice to have a Randy Johnson-Curt Schilling tandem,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “In the meantime, I like my chances every day I write one of those names in the ninth or 10th spot [in the order]. We’re 11 games over .500 ... so you have to be satisfied, especially considering your ace isn’t healthy.”

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National League managers often take advantage of the designated hitter in American League parks to give position players a break, figuring a game in which a regular doesn’t have to play defense is as good as a game off. Dodger left fielder Brian Jordan, who has a nagging left knee injury, was the DH Saturday night.

But Tracy said he will not use first baseman Eric Karros in that capacity against the Orioles and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, whom the Dodgers will face in a three-game series beginning Monday night.

Karros went hitless in six at-bats as a DH in 1998 and had one hit in four at-bats as a DH in 2000. He discussed that performance with Tracy before interleague play began, and the manager decided to keep Karros at first base in AL parks.

“I’ve never had any success as a DH--I just don’t feel like I’m in the game,” Karros said. “It’s a tough job to do, the same as pinch-hitting. It’s not as easy as it appears. It’s something you have to learn.

“It’s like a catcher who plays outfield or first base for a game; unless you have experience doing it, you’re going to be exposed. It’s not just going up there and hitting. It’s just as important what you’re doing between at-bats.”

TODAY

DODGERS’

ODALIS PEREZ

(5-3, 2.52 ERA)

vs.

SIDNEY PONSON

(3-3, 4.72 ERA)

Camden Yards, Baltimore, 10:30 a.m. PDT

TV--Channel 13.

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

Update--Perez was impressive in his first nine starts, when he went 4-2 with a 2.00 ERA, but hitters appear to be catching up with the Dodger left-hander, who has given up 11 earned runs and 25 hits in 17 innings of his last three starts.