Warthen Already Pays Dividends

Dan Warthen made his first contribution as a Dodger coach before he was even hired.

During his interview, General Manager Ned Colletti asked about two New York Met pitchers Warthen had coached last year at triple-A Norfolk -- Jae Seo and Tim Hamulack.

“I liked them both,” Warthen said. “I was very much for that trade.”

Colletti made the deal, shipping relievers Duaner Sanchez and Steve Schmoll to the Mets.

Oh, and he hired Warthen as bullpen coach.

Of the three newcomers, only Seo showed up at Dodgertown toting a Met equipment bag. But once the South Korean right-hander was properly outfitted with Dodger gear, he resumed working on the cut fastball and split-finger fastball Warthen taught him last year, pitches that enabled him to post an 8-2 record with a 2.59 earned-run average after the Mets promoted him.

“I’m glad to be a Dodger,” Seo said. “I’ve been a fan of the team since Chan Ho Park played with them.”

Seo, 28, was a hard thrower until having elbow surgery and missing the 2000 season. Now he gets by on location, changing speeds and a competitive nature. The Dodgers have him penciled in as their fifth starter.

“He was a two-pitch pitcher in the big leagues and was relatively successful,” Warthen said. “But he needed a strikeout pitch for right-handed hitters and a pitch to throw inside to left-handers. The cutter and the splitter made sense, and he has picked them up well.”

Hamulack is battling fellow left-handers Kelly Wunsch, Hong-Chih Kuo and others for a bullpen spot. He also has battled injuries and said he pitched without pain last season for the first time in several years.

The results were good: He posted a 1.13 ERA in 49 games split between double-A and triple-A before making six appearances with the Mets, his first major league games in 11 pro seasons.

“Sometimes left-handers mature later,” Warthen said. “He has above-average stuff.”

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Sitting at a book store in Arizona in December, Andre Ethier answered his cell phone and was told he would begin a new chapter in his career.

On the line was David Forst, the Oakland Athletic assistant general manager, calling to say Ethier had been traded to the Dodgers. At first he thought it was a prank.

“I’d just been put on their 40-man roster,” he said. “I thought I was sitting pretty, then I was gone.”

Ethier, an outfielder who was the double-A Texas League player of the year last season, was acquired for Milton Bradley and Antonio Perez. He will compete against Jason Repko for a reserve role, although he probably will begin the season at triple-A.

“The A’s are known to move guys up quick, but I think I have a better opportunity here,” he said.

He also might be a better fit in the clubhouse than the troubled Bradley and brooding Perez. Ethier received the sportsmanship award in the Arizona Fall League, which goes to the player with “a solid work ethic, great sportsmanship and a humble personality.”

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Ramon Martinez, who will compete with Oscar Robles and Willy Aybar for the utility infield spot, has decided not to play in the World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico.... Julio Izturis, 16, brother of Dodger infielder Cesar Izturis and Angel infielder Maicer Izturis, signed with the San Francisco Giants for $60,000.... Eric Gagne will throw a bullpen session today. He hasn’t thrown off a mound since Thursday.