Great Relief: Gagne Injury a Mild Sprain

There was a collective sigh of relief at Dodgertown on Friday when the results of Eric Gagne’s MRI exam showed only a mild sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

“It’s good news,” trainer Stan Johnston said. “He probably won’t throw for a week until we get it calmed down, then he’ll go back to a throwing program.”

Johnston said that if the injury had happened during the season, “he’d be taped and he’d be pitching.”

Gagne didn’t seem too concerned before the exam, putting in an hour of cardiovascular work in the morning.

“There is no sharp pain, so I’m not really worried about it,” he said. “There’s no swelling. I feel better today, that’s a good sign.”

Pitchers who share bullpen duties with him weren’t worried, either. There seems to be a feeling that Gagne is indestructible.

“I feel bad because he’s our leader,” right-hander Duaner Sanchez said. “But there is no doubt he will be in the bullpen every day. Thinking otherwise never crossed my mind.”

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Norihiro Nakamura, the Japanese third baseman the Dodgers signed to a minor league contract, has been unable to obtain a visa from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Because he did not sign a major league contract, Nakamura is ineligible for a preferred P-1 visa. According to a Dodger official, there are no more visas available in the class for which he is eligible, an H-2B. Congress established a cap of 66,000 H-2B visas for this fiscal year.

Don Nomura, Nakamura’s agent, is trying to arrange for Nakamura to obtain a P-1 visa. Manager Jim Tracy said the eight-time Japanese all-star would be jeopardizing his chances of making the team if he isn’t in camp by early March.

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Brad Penny continued his incremental push toward pitching full speed, throwing about 40 pitches from a mound at 50% effort, then firing another dozen pitches off flat ground at 85% effort.

He also threw several curveballs for the first time since injuring his biceps last season, then spent two hours in the weight room. His intense work off the mound is the most encouraging aspect of his spring regimen.

“Once I get healthy, I’ll be better off than I’ve ever been physically,” he said. “I’ve given my body a chance to get in shape. It’s a great feeling knowing that when this is all over with I’ll be in the best condition of my life.”

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Right-hander Giovanni Carrara pitched 25 innings in the Venezuelan winter league but turned down an invitation to represent his native country in the Caribbean Series earlier this month.

“I needed to give my arm a rest,” he said.

Next season the series, which pits teams from Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic against each other for six days, will take place in Venezuela.

Carrara wants to play and said other Venezuelan stars such as Dodger shortstop Cesar Izturis, Angel reliever Francisco Rodriguez and Phillie outfielder Bobby Abreu could play as well.

“We haven’t won it since 1988; that’s a long time,” Carrara said. “We want to make a good showing because we’ll be hosting the series.”

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Rain curtailed practice Friday, although batters hit in the cage and pitchers were able to throw in the bullpen after the sun peeked out of the clouds. Intermittent rain is forecast through the weekend.