Penny’s Pace Raises Doubts on Readiness

Brad Penny has yet to appear in an exhibition game and yet to complete several items on the to-do list that would precede an appearance, including throwing a breaking ball off a mound and throwing at full velocity.

Penny, asked Friday what might be holding him back from throwing at full velocity, answered bluntly.

“Nothing really,” he said. “I just don’t want to go out there and get hurt in March.”

But spring training is halfway done, and not throwing hard by this point in March means not being ready for opening day. Manager Jim Tracy conceded that starting the season on the disabled list was “becoming a realistic possibility” for Penny, and General Manager Paul DePodesta suggested the pitcher could sit out the first few weeks. Penny is recovering from a nerve injury in his right arm.

“If it means giving him an extra two or three weeks and he misses two or three starts,” DePodesta said, “that’s certainly something we’ll look at it if it gives him a better chance of staying healthy the whole year.”

Although DePodesta said Penny has cleared all medical tests, the Dodgers say they have no problem letting him set the pace of his rehabilitation.

“Getting him to the point where he’s ready to let go of the ball has to be completely on his terms,” Tracy said. “You can’t force somebody to do something if they feel they can’t do it.”

Penny, acquired in July to be the No. 1 starter at the cost of catcher Paul Lo Duca and reliever Guillermo Mota, won one game before suffering the injury.

“I’d rather him continue to take baby steps,” DePodesta said, “than do something rash that makes him have a setback.”

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DePodesta said he expected Paul Bako to be the backup catcher, no other catcher in camp was assured of a roster spot and a spring trade for a starting catcher was “unlikely.”

That means incumbent David Ross, who hit .170 last season and is hitless in 11 at-bats this spring, could lose his job to rookie Dioner Navarro. In 11 plate appearances, Navarro has reached base six times. The team also has prospect Russell Martin and 10-year minor league veteran Mike Rose in camp.

DePodesta said his emphasis on defense at the position and the promise of Navarro and Martin made a trade a less pressing issue. Martin played at Class A Vero Beach last year.

“I’m not sure we’re going to be able to find a catcher who’s better than one of those kids,” DePodesta said.

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Outfielder J.D. Drew homered, infielder Antonio Perez went three for three and starter Jeff Weaver gave up one run over four innings as the Dodgers routed the New York Mets, 16-5.