Sore-Shouldered Daal Will Skip One Turn

The Dodgers will take advantage of Monday’s off-day and skip Omar Daal’s next turn in the rotation, giving the left-hander nine days to recover from a case of biceps tendinitis before pitching against Boston on June 22.

The injury is not expected to send Daal to the disabled list, but it did put him in Manager Jim Tracy’s doghouse temporarily. Tracy was upset that Daal did not tell him or a trainer that his shoulder began bothering him after a May 26 relief appearance at Arizona.

Daal replaced the injured Kevin Brown in the rotation after that game and has been rocked for 21 earned runs and 24 hits, including four home runs, in 16 1/3 innings of three subsequent starts, all losses.

Daal told reporters after Tuesday night’s loss to the Devil Rays that his shoulder was sore, and when asked to comment on Daal’s condition, Tracy said, “That’s the first I’ve heard of it.” Tracy spoke to Daal about the lack of communication before Wednesday’s game.

“The disappointing thing is he mentioned it to you and not to me,” Tracy told reporters. “That’s just not the way we do things around here. But it’s done and over with. It’s been talked about.”

Daal, unhappy with his demotion to the bullpen to start the season, kept the injury to himself because he did not want to jeopardize his chances of staying in the rotation. Tracy empathized with Daal’s position but encouraged him to speak up about such matters in the future.

“We don’t have the kind of training staff that will inhibit a guy from playing if the problem is minor,” Tracy said. “Don’t worry about going into that [training] room and having someone pull the rug from under you. I made it clear in talking to him that I’m not going to take the ball away from him unless I think he’s going to get hurt.”

After this weekend’s series against the Angels, Andy Ashby, Kazuhisa Ishii and Odalis Perez will start a Tuesday-through-Thursday series against Toronto, all on four days’ or five days’ rest. Hideo Nomo, Daal and Ashby are scheduled to pitch against Boston June 21-23.

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The Dodgers signed first-round pick James Loney, the 19th overall selection in the recent draft, to a $1.5-million bonus Wednesday, and the high school first baseman will begin his professional career at Great Falls, Mont., of the Pioneer League.

Loney, who will take batting practice in Dodger Stadium before Saturday’s game against the Angels, hit .563 with eight homers and 46 runs batted in to lead Lawrence Elkins High to the Texas state championship. He also went 12-1 with a 1.60 earned-run average as a pitcher.

The Pioneer League, a high-level rookie league, is a starting point for many college players, “but we want to try to push him a bit to see how he does,” Dodger scouting director Logan White said. “I think he’ll handle it OK.”

The Dodgers have signed six of their first nine draft picks, including fourth-round pick Delwyn Young, a Santa Barbara City College second baseman who received, $265,000, and seventh-round pick David Bagley, a University of San Diego third baseman.

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Brown remained hospitalized Wednesday while recovering from Tuesday’s surgery on a herniated disk in his lower back, but he was able to get out of bed and walk around. If Brown, who is expected to be discharged from USC Medical Center today, is unable to pitch again this season, insurance would pay about $6 million, or 40%, of his $15-million contract.