Jackson Can See Writing on Wall

Edwin Jackson sat motionless in an otherwise empty clubhouse for nearly an hour Thursday, waiting for his teammates to finish up an 8-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

Perhaps Jackson was rehashing his outing, the seven runs he gave up in five innings, including home runs by Juan Gonzalez and Travis Hafner. He continually fell behind in the count and grooved fastballs.

Or perhaps he was coming to grips with the near certainty that he will begin the season in triple A, rather than in the Dodger rotation. Jackson, 21, is considered the best pitching prospect in the organization, but he clearly needs more seasoning.

In 14 1/3 innings this spring, he has given up 19 hits, nine walks and 14 earned runs. He has impressive stuff and has made improvements in his delivery, but he needs to develop consistency.

“When you have an outing like today, you know something like that won’t work at the major league level,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “And there aren’t many days it will work at the minor league level.”

Jackson recognizes that he is a work in progress.

“At times I catch my delivery changing and I go back to what I did before,” he said. “I’m trying not to think about mechanics. I tell myself I can throw all my pitches on any count with conviction.”

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Jeff Kent pulled a first baseman’s mitt out of the locker, put it on, smiled and said, “I’m ready any time.”

Tracy said weeks ago that Kent, the starting second baseman, would work out at first to give the Dodgers another option on days first baseman Hee-Seop Choi doesn’t play against left-handed pitchers.

However, Kent has yet to play an inning anywhere but second.

“We won’t leave here without Jeff Kent seeing some first base,” Tracy said. “Jeff and I had a talk about that.”

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When shortstop Cesar Izturis is talking on his cellphone, there’s a good chance the person on the other end is former teammate Alex Cora.

“I think my wife is getting jealous,” Cora joked before the Dodgers played the Indians, his new team.

“I talk to at least one Dodger every day, Izzy or [Wilson] Alvarez or Olmedo Saenz. We don’t talk about baseball. We talk about our families.”

Cora, 29, was in the Dodger organization from the time he was signed in 1996 through last season, when he batted .264 with 10 home runs while platooning with Jose Hernandez --who also signed with the Indians.

The Dodgers didn’t want Cora back, and he became a free agent Dec. 20. “When they signed Jeff Kent, they said he could play first or third, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out he’d play second,” Cora said. “When Jose Valentin signed, I knew I was odd man out.”

Cora said he never heard from General Manager Paul DePodesta.

“I heard from Kim [Ng, the assistant general manager],” Cora said. “Kim works for him, so that was good enough.”

Cora signed a two-year deal with the Indians for $2.7 million. He is in a utility role, playing behind All-Star second baseman Ronnie Belliard and highly regarded young shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

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Brad Penny, who hasn’t pitched in a game since Sept. 22 because of a biceps nerve injury, is scheduled to pitch one inning today against Dodger minor leaguers. ... Odalis Perez will probably make only two more spring starts so that he will have ample rest should the Dodgers want him to start the second game of the season.