After Kent, They’re Short at Second

Jim Tracy likes to juggle the lineup as much as the next manager. Maybe more. Witness the 10 combinations he has used in 12 games this season.

But it would take extraordinary nerve for him to pencil in someone other than Jeff Kent at second base as long as backup infielder Antonio Perez is on the disabled list.

And not just because Kent is off to a torrid start. At 37, he could probably use a day off once in a while.

The fact is, the Dodgers don’t have a backup second baseman. Jose Valentin has played 19 games at second in 13 seasons, and Norihiro Nakamura never played the position in 13 seasons in Japan, yet Tracy insisted he is comfortable playing either of them there.

“Absolutely I would,” he said. “If Jeff Kent needs a day off to charge his battery, I’m not afraid to use either of them.”

Perez went on the disabled list because of a pulled hamstring nine days ago and has yet to run at full speed. Although he is eligible to be activated April 25, Tracy said he would not be ready to play then.

An injury to Kent probably would require the Dodgers to purchase the contract of Oscar Robles from the Mexican League. Robles is a versatile infielder who batted .414 during spring training for the Dodgers.

He returned to Mexico City and is batting .426 with three home runs and 12 runs batted in in 12 games.

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Elmer Dessens, the Dodger starter today, has not pitched in 11 days. He is bothered by it, but Tracy is not.

Said Dessens: “It’s been a long time. I would have preferred pitching in relief in between starts. But we had so many days off, and the starting pitching has been good.”

Said Tracy: “Elmer’s bullpen session [Sunday] was more important. That far outweighs getting him out there in a game” as a reliever.

Dessens, the fifth starter until Brad Penny comes off the disabled list, gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings during his first start, April 8 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is grateful for the opportunity.

“Everybody in the bullpen has done a good job,” he said. “I know my position.”

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Left-hander Wilson Alvarez will pitch one inning today in Vero Beach, Fla., the first step in building his pitch count to the point where he can rejoin the Dodgers. Alvarez is expected to pitch in at least two more minor league games.