Weak Arm Will Delay Start of Alvarez’s Season

Left-hander Wilson Alvarez said Friday he did not expect to begin the season with the Dodgers because he needed to build back arm strength after sitting out the last week because of shoulder tendinitis.

Alvarez, who had lingering shoulder problems for years with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, said he would pitch in minor league games before pitching in a regular-season game. That could keep him off the roster until at least mid-April.

“I need to get some innings,” he said. “I feel no strength in my arm. There’s no pain, but no strength.”

The loss of Alvarez, combined with Brad Penny’s slow recovery from a biceps nerve injury, the trade of Kazuhisa Ishii and the ineffectiveness of Edwin Jackson, means that the No. 5 spot in the rotation will go to swingman Elmer Dessens or non-roster invitee Ryan Rupe.

The schedule favors the Dodgers. A fifth starter will be needed the first week of the season, then not for two weeks because of days off. By then, Penny or Alvarez could be activated.

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Penny took another step forward, throwing 30 pitches to Dodger pitchers with bats in their hands. Counts were kept and Penny sat for about 10 minutes after throwing 15 pitches to simulate a game.

He had been scheduled to pitch in a minor league exhibition game, but he told pitching coach Jim Colborn that he preferred the simulated environment. Including warmup tosses, Penny threw 82 pitches and was upbeat afterward.

“I’m ready to pitch competitively,” he said. “The next phase is facing hitters, major or minor league, it doesn’t matter.”

Tracy said there was a chance Penny would pitch in a Grapefruit League game before the Dodgers break camp Thursday.

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Don Fehr, head of the players’ union, conducted a two-hour meeting with Dodger players. Not surprisingly, the focus of the discussion was increasing penalties for steroid use.

“This meeting was no different than in other years except for the steroid issue because that is at the forefront,” second baseman Jeff Kent said.

Fehr meets with every team every year. He said he covered several aspects of the collective bargaining agreement with the Dodgers and acknowledged that the steroid issue was at the top of the list.

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Scott Erickson had another effective start, giving up one unearned run in five innings of a 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.... Kent made diving plays to his left and right.... Chin-Fen Chen and Henri Stanley, outfielders expected to begin the season at triple-A Las Vegas, homered.... Tracy said cuts would be made today.