Center Getting the Attention

Manager Jim Tracy is doing his best to downplay it, but an interesting spring training battle will take place in center field.

Milton Bradley is the quasi-incumbent, having patrolled center last season until Steve Finley was acquired at the trading deadline. Bradley willingly moved to right field, and wants to return to center now that Finley has departed.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers signed J.D. Drew, a former All-American center fielder at Florida State who has played right field most of his six-year major league career. Drew expressed a desire to play center at the news conference introducing him as a Dodger.

Bradley and Drew arrived at Dodgertown on Tuesday, as did the third starting outfielder, Jayson Werth.

Let the competition begin.

“I’m a center fielder; I do that better than anybody,” Bradley said. “But I don’t make the decisions. If I did, a lot of things would be different. The fans want to see me in center field.”

Tracy said he has an idea who his opening-day center fielder will be but declined to share it. All three starting outfielders and backup Ricky Ledee will get time in center during spring training.

“We aren’t here to create controversy,” Tracy said. “We are here to do what is in the best interest of the club.”

Drew said one reason he prefers center is that it puts less stress on his surgically repaired knee. In right field, there is a greater need to plant quickly because of the fence angles.

“That will be a consideration; that’s a considerable part of it,” Tracy said. “But I’d like to see for myself whether he can handle center field.

“The other guy,” he said, referring to Bradley, “I know he can play center field.”

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Bradley didn’t want to discuss the anger-management program he has been going through since an incident near the end of last season. He became irate after a fan threw a plastic bottle at him during a game in September and was suspended for five games.

“I don’t think fans care about anger management. They never asked me a question about it during the off-season,” said Bradley, who made several appearances on behalf of the team.

“They were glad to see me,” he said. “I was recognized and noticed. People love you and you love them back.”

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Werth arrived at spring training with a bounce in his step for good reason -- he didn’t have to lug around catcher’s gear.

For only the second time in nine professional seasons, Werth was not asked to report early with pitchers and catchers. Even last spring he was considered an emergency catcher, which meant he spent the first week of camp catching bullpen sessions.

But with regular jobs come privileges. Werth is the Dodger left fielder after he batted .262 with 16 home runs in 89 games last season.

“I’ve always been fighting for a spot,” he said. “This is going to be a great season. I’m upbeat.”

Werth said his arm feels fine after an off-season spent gradually extending the distance and velocity of his throws. An MRI exam showed he has a partially torn elbow ligament, and he seriously considered surgery.

“We decided to give it time instead; I threw and it reacted well,” he said. “I’ve got it back to about 90%.”

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Right-hander Brad Penny will throw a short bullpen session today at about half-speed.... Dodger legend Sandy Koufax, 69, made his first appearance in Dodgertown. Koufax, who lives in Vero Beach, provides instruction to pitchers on occasion.... Tracy and General Manager Paul DePodesta had individual meetings with seven pitchers and three catchers Tuesday. They will continue to meet with 10 to 12 players a day. “We lay out the landscape, our expectations and their possibilities,” Tracy said. “Then they don’t have to walk around and wonder what’s in store for them.” ... All position players are required to report today.