Izturis Finally Has Award of His Own

A ceremony that was supposed to take place in front of 55,000 fans occurred instead in the Dodger clubhouse with a handful of players and reporters watching.

Shortstop Cesar Izturis blushed anyway when Maury Wills handed him the Gold Glove award.

“I love you all,” Izturis jokingly said by way of acceptance speech.

Wills, a legendary former Dodger shortstop, was supposed to give Izturis the trophy at the home opener April 12, but it didn’t arrive in time. Wills was ready when he saw the trophy in Izturis’ locker, though, picking it up and saying, “To the best shortstop in the game, Mr. Cesar Izturis.”

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Outfielder Ricky Ledee is as low-key as any Dodger, but he was disappointed when he left the trainer’s room Monday and was told he wasn’t in the lineup. He has a history of success against Arizona starter Javier Vazquez, hitting .400 with a home run in 20 at-bats.

Ledee had been getting treatment for a pulled oblique muscle that has bothered him most of the season, but he said he could play. Manager Jim Tracy and the trainers had a different assessment.

“The sentiment is that if we push this too far by him playing nine innings and getting four to five at-bats, we run risk of it getting worse,” Tracy said. “He can play defense and hit, he just can’t do it for two hours and 45 minutes.”

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Brad Penny said he had no soreness in his right arm the day after throwing 83 pitches in his first start since September. Tracy did, however, notice a change in the right-hander.

“I saw a smile I haven’t seen since the first time I shook hands with him last August,” Tracy said. “He jumped over several hurdles.”

Penny’s next scheduled start is Saturday at home against the Colorado Rockies.

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Closer Eric Gagne threw off a mound for the first time since he sprained his elbow in his last spring training appearance. He threw about 10 fastballs after stretching out his arm by throwing from 120 feet.... Outfielder Jayson Werth took batting practice with the rest of the team and said he felt good. He is expected to hit again today and could begin playing in extended spring training games in Vero Beach, Fla., by the end of the week.... Before Monday’s game, the Dodgers had been hit by pitches 13 times, tying the Minnesota Twins for the most in the majors.