DODGERS NOTEBOOK: ASHBY'S ELBOW STILL A PROBLEM.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

The Dodgers might discontinue Andy Ashby's throwing program because the right-hander continues to experience soreness in his pitching elbow. In the past week, he's had a pair of bullpen sessions canceled and his time frame for a return is unknown.

Ashby has been on the disabled list since April 16. He spoke with team physician Dr. Frank Jobe prior to Tuesday's game against Florida, and the club is contemplating another MRI later this week.

Ashby, who signed a three-year, $22.5 million deal in the offseason, hasn't pitched since April 12 because of a muscle strain in the elbow. Ashby acknowledged it could be a few more weeks before he pitches again, though he said there's no timetable for a return.

``I think I'm fighting a losing battle,'' Ashby said. ``I don't know if I'm doing more harm than good trying to throw and not giving the muscle time enough to heal because I'm trying to throw to keep my shoulder in shape. I don't know.''

Ashby said he injured the elbow throwing curveballs, but he hasn't thrown one since the injury. He played catch with pitching coach Jim Colborn before the game and wasn't enamored with the results.

``It's a little unusual (to take so long to heal), but as you remember, he had significant injury when he got hurt,'' Jobe said. ``I'm not worried about it yet, but it's longer than we had hoped for.''

Ashby had an MRI on April 13, which was negative. Jobe said another might be ordered if the elbow is swollen today. Ashby's already missed 23 days and had a couple setbacks.

``It's frustrating for everybody,'' said Ashby, who's 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA. ``You say be a little more patient, but I've already been out 3 1/2 weeks, four weeks, and you're still feeling it. And there's pressure and you feel like (garbage) because they bring you over here, and you're excited to be over here, and you haven't pitched in four weeks.''

--Nunez designated: Left-handed pitcher Jose Nunez was designated for assignment by the Dodgers, who purchased the contract of right-hander Giovanni Carrara from Triple-A Las Vegas.

But the saga of Nunez, a Rule V draft pick from the Mets in December, isn't over. In the next seven to 10 days, the Dodgers must place Nunez on waivers. If he clears, he must be offered back to the Mets for $25,000. However, Dodgers interim general manager Dave Wallace has been negotiating with the Mets for the past week to try and work out a deal to keep Nunez in the organization.

Though Nunez was 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in six games, the club is high on the 22-year-old rookie. A source said the Mets want a player on the Dodgers' 40-man roster not in the big leagues, but the Mets are willing to work out a deal.

Carrara, who was 0-1 with a 12.83 ERA in eight games with Colorado last season, was 1-2 with a 3.10 ERA with Las Vegas.

More sale denials: Reports of the Dodgers being for sale to a group that includes former owner Peter O'Malley continue to surface, but the Dodgers and the Fox Group, both subsidiaries of News Corp., refuted the reports for a second time in three weeks.

``(Dodgers CEO) Bob Daly spoke to (News Corp. president and COO) Peter Chernin, who assured the Dodgers that Fox has never contacted Peter O'Malley or the Wasserman family about purchasing the team,'' Dodgers senior vice president Derrick Hall said.

Odds and ends: Right-hander Kevin Brown said his left knee was sore a day after getting hit with a line drive, but he didn't expect it to cause him to miss his Saturday start against Atlanta. ... Infielder Tim Bogar, on the disabled list since April 4, said he could begin a rehab assignment with Las Vegas this weekend and perhaps join the team on the next road trip in either Montreal (May 15-17) or New York (May 18-20). ... Third baseman Adrian Beltre went 0 for 2 with a walk and hit-by-pitch with Class A Vero Beach. He played eight innings. Beltre will join Las Vegas either today or Thursday and is expected to make his Dodgers season debut Saturday.

DODGERS VS. FLORIDA

Time: 7:10 p.m., at Dodger Stadium.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Dodgers right-hander Chan Ho Park (3-3, 3.55 ERA) has had no more difficulty with the back spasms that forced him from his last start and will make the start. He allowed two runs, struck out eight and walked none before leaving in the seventh inning Friday in Chicago. Park is 3-2 with a 4.50 ERA against the Marlins. Florida right-hander Ryan Dempster (3-3, 4.67) is 1-0 with a 0.60 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers. He struck out eight and allowed three runs in 7 2/3 innings Friday in beating Milwaukee.

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs FLORIDA