Tracy Gives Nomo Time, Not Many More Chances

While he stopped short of imposing a deadline for Hideo Nomo to correct the mechanical flaws that have plagued his first eight starts, Jim Tracy on Friday indicated that he would remove the veteran pitcher from the rotation if his struggles persisted.

“We’re going to give him the opportunity to figure it out,” Tracy said. “Is it something that we would continually allow him to go out there and not be himself? No, that’s not the case.”

Nomo (3-4) was shelled for six runs in 1 1/3 innings Thursday during the Dodgers’ 7-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs and has not pitched more than six innings in any outing this season. The right-hander has a 7.14 earned-run average, by far the worst among the team’s starters, and has lost his last three decisions.

“I think even Hideo himself is smart enough to realize you can’t go out there two, three, four times in a row and pitch an inning and a third, three innings, four innings,” Tracy said.

Tracy said he thinks flaws with Nomo’s delivery from the windup are causing him to lose command and velocity. Tracy also noted that Nomo’s velocity appears to increase when he pitches out of the stretch.

Would he consider asking Nomo to pitch exclusively out of the stretch?

“Absolutely not,” Tracy said. “I’m not going to tell Hideo Nomo how to pitch.”

Nomo said he has watched videotape of himself to monitor his mechanics but did not think he needed to work on anything specifically. He also said he was not mulling whether continued struggles might result in a demotion to the bullpen.

“I don’t really think about that stuff,” he said through an interpreter. “It’s not something I make the decision on.”

Tracy announced that Nomo would pitch Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

“I won’t discuss a cutoff point,” Tracy said. “I don’t want the guy to get up tomorrow morning and read where he has a cutoff point. Right now he doesn’t have one.”

*

Juan Encarnacion did not play after receiving an MRI exam on his left shoulder, which revealed some tendinitis but no structural damage.

The right fielder had experienced some soreness in his shoulder since making a diving catch two weeks ago. The shoulder flared up again after Encarnacion made a catch last week against the Florida Marlins and was so bothersome Thursday that he finally reported it to trainers.

“Everything’s good,” Encarnacion said, adding that he hoped to be back in the lineup tonight. “It’s nothing major.”

Shawn Green took Encarnacion’s spot in the outfield, with Robin Ventura replacing Green at first.

*

Adrian Beltre and Alex Cora returned to the lineup, one day after suffering injuries that forced them to prematurely leave the 7-3 loss to the Cubs. Beltre was still experiencing soreness and swelling on the outside of his left ankle, which had been struck by a foul ball. Cora sported the bruise on his right elbow that was left by a Carlos Zambrano sinker but was feeling better, Tracy said.... Reliever Darren Dreifort left the team Thursday to travel to Wichita, Kan., with his wife Ann, whose 32-year-old brother died. Dreifort is expected to rejoin the team Sunday.... Reserve outfielder Jayson Werth is expected to report to triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday if his strained abdominal muscle continues to improve. Werth took six at-bats in an extended spring training game Friday and is scheduled to participate in a simulated game today.