Opening-Day Assignment Is Given to Nomo

Manager Jim Tracy made it official Thursday, announcing Hideo Nomo as the opening-day starter against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Tracy also set the rotation for the opening three-game series beginning March 31 at Bank One Ballpark, saying Odalis Perez would start Game 2 and Kevin Brown the final game.

That puts Brown on track to start the Dodger Stadium opener April 7 against the Diamondbacks, and Nomo and Brown in line to face the San Francisco Giants, whom they thrive against, twice in April.

Tracy declined to reveal the five-man rotation, saying that Andy Ashby, Darren Dreifort and Kazuhisa Ishii are competing for the final two spots.

Many in the organization said Ishii, whose command problems might worsen in a relief role, would be the fourth starter.

There are mixed opinions within the organization about whether Dreifort, sidelined since July 2001, should begin the season in the rotation despite his strong spring performance. That leaves the door slightly ajar for Ashby, who has a 17.47 earned-run average and acknowledges his mechanics are “out of whack.”

“We still need to get answers to questions we don’t have yet, so I’m not going to come out and say something that I may have to backtrack on later,” Tracy said. “The process is such that we need to continue to sort that out.”

Tracy wanted to reward Nomo for carrying the club down the stretch last season. The 16-game winner isn’t caught up in the hoopla of opening-day starts, though, having been selected twice in Japan and with the Detroit Tigers in 2000. But he welcomes the challenge of opposing Arizona left-hander Randy Johnson, a five-time Cy Young Award winner.

“Whether it’s the No. 1 pitcher, No. 2 pitcher or No. 3 pitcher, I just want to get in a lot of starts,” Nomo said through an interpreter. “My goal is to be injury-free and try to help the team win.

“I don’t feel more pressure or responsibility. I treat every game the same, and that’s how I’m going to approach it.”

Nomo is 2-3 with a 3.38 earned-run average in seven games against the Diamondbacks, including 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in three starts last season. Brown has been sidelined most of the last two seasons because of back and elbow surgery, making it easier for him to accept Tracy’s decision.

“It’s not like I’m coming off of a year where everything was smooth, and he has to look out for what he thinks is best for the team,” said Brown, who has an 0.56 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16 innings this spring.

“What would really mean a lot to me is being on the mound during the World Series or playoffs.

“Whatever game I pitch at this point is kind of immaterial. To be healthy and able to pitch is really what it’s all about. Hideo had a great year for the team last year, he was rock solid, and you can’t argue at all with the decision.”

Tracy and the coaches were to discuss the rest of the rotation, as well as position candidates for the final two opening-day roster spots, in a meeting Thursday night. Ishii would be surprised if he landed in the bullpen.

“I’ve always been a starter,” he said through an interpreter. “I haven’t ever thought about being a reliever, so I really can’t answer how I would do that.”

Dreifort is coming off reconstructive elbow surgery for the second time, and knee surgery derailed his attempt to return last season. He has been impressive this spring, going 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings.

“If they’re waiting to see if I’m going to remain healthy over the next week and a half, then I’ll knock on wood every morning and hope that that’s the case,” Dreifort said.

“If it is and they still want me to go to the ‘pen, then that’s fine too.”

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Reliever Guillermo Mota plans to appeal a five-game suspension and $1,500 fine for his role in last week’s bench-clearing brawl with the New York Mets.

“It’s the start of the season, so maybe some of [the Dodger starters] won’t go seven, eight innings the first time,” he said.

“The team maybe needs me, so I think I want to [appeal] and get less games.

“I need to do my work and help the team.”

Mota and Met catcher Mike Piazza, who was fined $3,000 and suspended five games, have until Monday to inform the union of their decision.

A major league official said appeals probably would not be heard until after the regular season begins, enabling Piazza and Mota to start the season on the roster.

The Mets want Piazza to appeal and delay his suspension, but the Dodgers would rather Mota begin serving his suspension, officials said.

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Outfielder Calvin Murray, utilitymen Jolbert Cabrera and Terry Shumpert and infielders Ron Coomer and Jason Romano are fighting for the final two roster spots with nine games remaining in Grapefruit League play.

Murray, batting .311, was one for three with a run in an 8-7 victory over the Florida Marlins on Thursday at Holman Stadium. Murray has impressed with his fielding and bunting, focusing on the skill in individual sessions with Maury Wills, the team’s baserunning and bunting coordinator.

“I have a blueprint as far as what they want me to do with my bunting, I’ve been following it and I’m happy with the results,” Murray said.

“They’ve told me what they want me to do and I’m reinforcing it every day.”

The Dodgers have certainly noticed.

“The work he’s done with Maury has really paid off,” Tracy said. “And as I’ve said all spring long, there’s no debating about what type of outfielder he is. He has played them all [center, left and right] and played them equally well.”

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Shumpert hit a two-run home run in a four-run eighth. He’s batting .323 with three homers and 14 runs batted in.... Shawn Green hit his third home run.... Closer Eric Gagne, who threw in a minor league game Wednesday, said he felt fine and plans to pitch today here against the St. Louis Cardinals. Gagne, sidelined two weeks because of a sprained lower back, has worked only two-plus innings this spring.... Left-hander Wilson Alvarez, who could provide rotation depth at triple-A Las Vegas, pitched three scoreless innings against the Marlins’ triple-A club.