Perez Is Put on Third Watch

Officially, Antonio Perez is on a rehabilitation assignment, but it more accurately could be called a get-acquainted session with third base.

Perez is spending three weeks at triple-A Las Vegas after coming off the disabled list for a hamstring injury. He is getting his share of at-bats, but the Dodgers already know he can hit. He is getting opportunities to steal bases, but the Dodgers already know he can run. He will play some second base, but the Dodgers already know he is proficient there.

The question coming out of spring training was whether Perez was ready, willing and able to play third base, the position General Manager Paul DePodesta determined during the off-season he would play against left-handed pitchers.

Turns out, Perez didn’t particularly want to play third and didn’t appear comfortable when put there. Manager Jim Tracy became uneasy with the arrangement, and was reluctant to use Perez at third when the season began.

Perez’s injury enabled the Dodgers to call up Norihiro Nakamura to platoon with Jose Valentin at third. However, both Nakamura and Valentin are batting under .200, so all eyes again are turned to Perez.

“He’ll play more [third] than anywhere else,” Tracy said of the rehab assignment, which will end May 18.

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Eric Gagne has appealed his two-game suspension for being on the Dodger bench in uniform while on the disabled list.

Gagne was ejected from an April 6 game for arguing a call and Major League Baseball determined that he was banned from the dugout for the remainder of his time on the disabled list. However, the Dodgers said they never were notified of the ruling.

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Gagne hasn’t needed his trademark goggles while sidelined because of a sprained elbow, but somebody else strapped them on and gave a characteristic sneer to the camera Monday.

USC quarterback Matt Leinart probably would have liked to have worn the goggles while he threw out the first pitch. He settled for trying them on in an empty clubhouse while Dodger players were in meetings.

Leinart wore a Gagne jersey he said he bought during a Dodger playoff game in October. After the players’ meetings, Gagne gave Leinart a tour and had several teammates sign a bat for him.

Times staff writer Tim Brown contributed to this report.