To Tracy, Jackson Is Real Deal
Dodger Manager Jim Tracy compared Edwin Jackson to Dwight Gooden, the 1985 National League Cy Young Award winner, after the rookie’s first start last season.
He didn’t back off that bold comment after watching the 20-year-old right-hander work three perfect innings in his first exhibition outing Saturday, a 6-2 Dodger victory over the New York Mets at Tradition Field. Jackson mixed 96-mph fastballs with sharp sliders and changeups while striking out three.
“He’s pretty good, isn’t he?” said Tracy, his face creased by a wide grin. “It’s fair to say this young man has a chance to do some special things.”
Jackson was also pleased, but Dwight Gooden?
“Whoever I get compared to, I don’t really suck it up that much,” said Jackson, the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year in 2002.
“Obviously, I take it into consideration. At the same time, you can’t let it change the way that you do things. You just have to keep going out and doing the things that you do.”
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Starter Wilson Alvarez (1-0) gave up a run and four hits in three innings as the Dodgers improved to 4-0.... Former general manager Dan Evans rejected numerous trade offers for Franklin Gutierrez, who has been impressive in his first spring training. The 21-year-old right fielder went two for three with three runs batted in and displayed an outstanding arm. A Dodger official recently described Gutierrez as being “a young Moises Alou.”
-- Jason Reid