Penny Proceeds With Caution After Injury

Brad Penny responded to questions Saturday at spring training, but he didn’t really have any answers.

It’s going to be like that at least until he takes the mound against batters, maybe until he does so under the glare of regular-season competition. The right-hander with the odd biceps nerve injury said he feels fine, but that “I thought I was 100% last year, and we know what happened.”

Penny jumped off the mound in pain during his second Dodger start after being acquired from the Florida Marlins at the trading deadline. He made one more start several weeks later and experienced the same pain.

He went through a measured rehabilitation during the off-season and will not throw off a mound for another day or two. Trainer Stan Johnston has devised a special regimen for him, but Penny was getting over flu when he reported to camp and is proceeding with caution.

“Every day I get stronger,” said Penny, who estimated that he is at 85% strength. “My goal is to be ready by April. I’ll take it slow.”

He will be on a strict pitch count throughout the spring, with the goal to bring him to 90 to 100 pitches by early April. A plan for the next six weeks was mapped out in a meeting Saturday with Manager Jim Tracy, pitching coach Jim Colborn and Johnston.

“He’s champing at the bit,” Tracy said. “We’re pulling the reins back.”

The only remnant of the injury is persistent numbness along his forearm, which doesn’t affect his pitching. Former San Francisco Giant closer Robb Nen had a similar injury 12 years ago and sought out Penny in September to talk about dealing with the uncertainty.

“He said he had a long time to rest because it happened early in the year,” Penny said. “And he said he came back like he’d never been hurt.”

Nen went on to notch 314 saves in a 10-year career. Penny can only hope the nerve injury is behind him as well.

“It’s weird because all I can do is work hard, do my best and keep my arm in shape,” he said. “Anything I can’t control, I can’t worry about.”

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Tracy addressed the pitchers and catchers before their first workout Saturday, reminding Dodger holdovers how rewarding it was to win the National League West title, and inviting newcomers to help do what it takes to repeat the experience.

“I told them it all starts here, with paying attention to the little things,” Tracy said.

One of those things is bunting. Right-hander Derek Lowe, who has spent his entire career in the American League, impressed coaches in a drill by laying down ball after ball along the third-base line.

“He’s an athlete,” bunting coach Maury Wills shouted.

Lowe said the Boston Red Sox, the team he played for from 1997 to 2004, did not practice bunting during spring training.

“But it’s like riding a bike,” he said.

The most spirited portion of practice was the rag-ball drill, designed to test the reflexes of pitchers on balls hit back to the mound. A coach smacked soft “rag balls” at the pitchers from close range.

“We won a game last year when Giovanni Carrara stabbed a come-backer, and he attributed it to the rag-ball drill he did during spring training,” Tracy said.

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General Manager Paul DePodesta said he has not engaged in trade discussions for several weeks. “I’m happy with the team we have here,” he said. “It’s an exciting time.” ... All position players are expected to arrive Wednesday except Japanese third baseman Norihiro Nakamura, who is having visa problems and could be several days late. He was signed to a minor league deal.