DODGERS HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS GAGNE'S EAR INJURY TURNS OUT NOT TO BE AS SERIOUS AS FEARED.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

The Dodgers didn't waste anytime laying a potential landmine for new manager Grady Little to cross Friday on their first day back in Los Angeles.

At mid-afternoon, Little was under the impression closer Eric Gagne had suffered a ruptured left ear drum, and just like that Little was dealing with the prospect of starting the season without the services of the premier closer in the National League.

By early evening, Gagne's status had been upgraded to an inner and outer ear infection, a problem doctors expect to solve over the next 48 hours with the use of antibiotics.

Gagne arrived at Dodger Stadium an hour before the start of Friday's Freeway Series against the Angels, then surprised everyone when he took the mound in the fifth inning.

``Just a little annoying, but I'll be fine,'' said Gagne, who surrendered a home run to Garret Anderson on his second pitch.

Friday's game ended in a 6-6 tie, as it was called after seven innings due to rain.

The Dodgers can only hope Gagne's sudden turn for the better is a sign of improved fortunes this year compared to last, when rarely a day went by without a key player going down with a debilitating injury.

Gagne was the poster boy for the Dodgers' bad luck last year, his season cut to 14 games because of a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. But he was hardly the only player who fell victim.

J.D. Drew played just 72 games with an assortment of troubles - a broken left wrist the most serious - and shortstop Cesar Izturis was cut down in September after undergoing Tommy John surgery in his right elbow.

In all, the Dodgers tallied 1,366 days on the disabled list, the second highest total in the National League and third most in baseball.

Those injuries contributed mightily to the Dodgers fall to a 71-91 record and fourth place in the National League West after winning the division the season before.

Which explains the concerned looks when Little was first told of Gagne's latest trouble.

Of course, that mood brightened just a short while later, and it has to be great comfort to Little that the Dodgers are better equipped to handle injuries this year after new G.M. Ned Colletti spent the winter revamping the roster.

Had Gagne's setback been more serious, Little would have turned to new set-up man Danys Baez, who was brought to the Dodgers from Tampa Bay in an offseason trade.

Baez is a closer by trade, having saved a career-high 41 games last year. His role with the Dodgers is to take care of the eighth inning and hand things over to Gagne for the save, although he can easily step into Gagne's role if need be.

``We know to be successful we need (Gagne)'' Baez said. But I'm ready. I have to be ready late, anyway, so it's no big difference whether it's the eighth, ninth, whatever.''

Gagne said he felt discomfort in the ear Thursday when the Dodgers were in Las Vegas playing the Seattle Mariners. He awoke Friday morning with even more pain, prompting a visit to the doctor.

``I really wasn't concerned about it being anything too serious,'' Gagne said. I just thought I had some (stuff) in my ear and needed to get it cleaned out.''

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

The Angels' Jeff Weaver pitched against his old team in the opening game of the Freeway Series.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer