Tracy Taking It Down to Wire

The season opener is eight days away, the Dodgers still haven’t named starters at shortstop, center field and in the fifth rotation spot, and some players are getting a little restless.

“Eyes are still wide open,” outfielder Marquis Grissom said. “You’re not comfortable when there are moves to be made in the last couple of days before you break camp.... You’ve got to put nine guys out there and let them play. Then those guys can build some chemistry, and the other guys can adjust to their roles.”

Manager Jim Tracy said he will have some answers today. “It’s getting to be the time to make a few announcements so guys can get prepared,” he said.

Some decisions are apparent: Cesar Izturis seems to be a lock to win the shortstop job, but the Dodgers are leaning toward keeping 2001 shortstop Alex Cora, who has shown improvement at the plate and in the field this spring, as a utility infielder. Odalis Perez is likely the fifth starter, and rotation candidate Omar Daal is expected to open the season in the bullpen.

The decision in center field, where four candidates are competing, can be inferred: The Dodgers are aggressively trying to trade Tom Goodwin and are soliciting offers for McKay Christensen, a good indication Dave Roberts and Grissom will make the team and probably platoon in center.

According to a baseball source, Cleveland, Baltimore and Pittsburgh have expressed interest in Goodwin, whom the Dodgers have been trying to trade all winter. Goodwin is guaranteed $3.75 million, and the Dodgers are willing to pay a significant amount of that to deal him.

The Dodgers have had several feelers for Christensen, who was considered the favorite in center entering camp but may have played his way off the team with several fielding and baserunning mistakes.

Christensen is out of minor league options and would have to clear waivers to be sent to triple-A Las Vegas. The Dodgers don’t want to lose the former first-round pick without compensation, so they would prefer to trade him before the season starts.

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Dodger right-hander Andy Ashby took another significant step in his recovery from elbow surgery Sunday, giving up one unearned run on four hits in five innings of a 1-1, 10-inning exhibition tie with St. Louis. Ashby struck out one, walked none and threw 70 pitches.

If Ashby doesn’t experience any setbacks and is able to increase his pitch count to 90 or so in his next start Friday or Saturday, he will likely open the season with the Dodgers as the No. 4 starter.

“What’s weird is I haven’t felt anything in my elbow, which is great,” Ashby said. “My location was good [Sunday], I mixed it up and made some pitches when I had to. The main thing now is to focus on mechanics and making good pitches.”

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Matt Herges’ name came up in winter trade rumors, so the Dodgers weren’t shocked when he was dealt to Montreal Saturday, but several players were saddened to see the popular set-up man go.

“You feel bad for Matt because he gave everything to this organization and was a model citizen for the Dodgers,” first baseman Eric Karros said. “It’s one of the tough parts of the game.

“It comes out of nowhere, and you’re not prepared for it. It doesn’t matter how much money you make or how many years you’ve played, it’s still a shock, a feeling that you had the rug pulled out from underneath you.”

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Hard-throwing right-hander Eric Gagne may eventually develop into the Dodger closer, but he will not be rushed into that role at the start of the season. Tracy reiterated Sunday he will open with a closer-by-committee system, using Gagne, Paul Quantrill, Giovanni Carrara and possibly Jesse Orosco in the ninth inning.

“We’re going to look at matchups, pitcher vs. hitter statistics,” Tracy said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the fifth or sixth or ninth inning. I may go with gut feelings and the pulse of the game. Gagne may evolve [as the closer] but it will take place gradually.”

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Reliever Guillermo Mota, one of the players acquired in the Herges trade, struck out two of three batters in a scoreless seventh inning Sunday, and his fastball was clocked between 95 and 98 mph.... Left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii, who hasn’t pitched in a game since allowing six runs on six hits, including three homers, to the New York Yankees on March 16, will start a minor league exhibition today.... The Dodgers reassigned utility infielder Jeff Branson and pitcher Rickey Bones to minor league camp, reducing their roster to 31 players.