Penny Gets Over His First Hump on Mound

For the first time since he re-injured his biceps in September, Brad Penny threw about 15 pitches at half speed from a mound Monday and was encouraged.

“I hadn’t been on a mound for so long, I just wanted to do it,” he said.

He plans to throw again from the mound Wednesday, gradually building to the point where he is throwing full speed.

“I’m going to let my body tell me how it feels,” he said.

More important than the few minutes throwing the ball each day are the several hours spent in the weight room.

“If I can get stronger than I’ve ever been, that can only help me,” he said.

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Dodger pitchers are striving to join a 100-Mile Club, the brainchild of strength and conditioning coach Todd Clausen. Pitchers need to run an average about 2 1/2 miles a day during the 41-day spring training to reach the goal.

Penny, Eric Gagne and Wilson Alvarez are off to the best starts.

Penny’s abbreviated throwing program leaves him plenty of time for the treadmill, Gagne is usually the first Dodger to arrive each morning and the portly Alvarez realizes he must work overtime to get into top shape.

The running is in addition to the pitchers’ normal conditioning regimen. The idea is to push themselves, and Clausen makes it easier by turning it into a competition.

“Strong legs are so important to a pitcher,” Gagne said. “This is a way to bring some fun into what can be monotonous. We know it’s important.”

There is more competition ahead. Clausen plans to hold a one-day “Tour de France,” with pitchers competing on a stationary bike.

“Anything to get us in peak condition before the season,” Alvarez said. “I know it’s for my own good.”

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Pitcher Derek Lowe breaks into a grin every time he picks up a bat. He realizes he could eclipse the 20 at-bats he had in seven American League seasons during his first two months with the Dodgers.

Lowe was a strong hitter in high school, and his authoritative swings in the batting cage Monday had hitting coach Tim Wallach yelping with glee.

“I can stay in games longer if I can handle the bat,” Lowe said. “I want to be able to get a bunt down or hit a fly ball when the situation calls for it.”

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Manager Jim Tracy held his first one-on-one meeting with a player, trying to build some confidence in catcher David Ross, who batted .170 last season.

Ross, who is expected to platoon with veteran Paul Bako, has several supporters in the Dodger front office. He is a good receiver who controls opponents’ running games well. But he will have to hit significantly better to keep his job.

Wallach has spent time with Ross already this spring, and batting practice results have been encouraging.

“I’m better than I showed last year,” Ross said. “I got myself out at least 70% of the time.”

Ross hit .258 with 10 home runs in 124 at-bats in 2003. A return to production similar to that would be fine by Tracy.

“If David Ross performs the way he did in 2003, he could catch a lot,” Tracy said. “It’s time to start anew.”

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Left-handers Orlando Rodriguez and Ryan Ketchner are not throwing yet. Rodriguez missed the 2004 season because of arm surgery and still has not completely recovered. Ketchner, who was 8-7 in 21 double-A starts last season, also has had arm surgery.