DODGERS NOTEBOOK: BROWN TO GET A FULL EXAM.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

SAN DIEGO - The Dodgers won't know the extent of Kevin Brown's right-elbow injury until he undergoes an extensive examination, including an MRI, today in Los Angeles.

But with minimal swelling and no points tender to the touch during Sunday's examination, the organization believes the injury is not as severe as initially feared. The club was unwilling to discuss a possible stint on the disabled list, nor would they address whether Brown could start Thursday against San Diego, though that appears unlikely.

The Dodgers are confident the ``burning'' Brown experienced on his 46th pitch in Saturday's start was scar tissue stretching and not a strain of the muscle in his surgically repaired right elbow.

``(Minimal swelling) suggests that there is very little problem that occurred,'' Dodgers trainer Stan Johnston said. ``That swelling could just be from throwing. Every pitcher has swelling, after they pitched, in their forearm and their shoulder. It's a great sign.''

Brown exhibited none of the characteristics - point tenderness, pain with resistance to motion - associated with a muscle injury during Dr. Greg Schwab's examination, Johnston added.

``I don't know how to explain it to you, other than to say it feels better,'' Brown said. ``I'm shooting (to return) as early as my arm will let me, when they all agree it's time for me to go.''

Brown, who had the flexor muscle in his right elbow surgically repaired Sept. 27, will be examined in Los Angeles by Dodgers physical therapist Pat Screnar at 10:30 a.m. Brown will undergo an MRI at 1:30 p.m. and then be examined by team physicians Dr. Ralph Gambardella and Dr. Frank Jobe, who performed the surgery.

``Obviously, it's encouraging he doesn't have pain today,'' Dodgers general manager Dan Evans said. ``It's encouraging when everything that they believed to be last night looks to be the same today. It's very encouraging for us.''

However, Evans said the club will wait until examination results before deciding whether Brown will start Thursday, go on the disabled list or be pushed back in the rotation.

Johnston said it is not normal for pitchers to feel a ``burn,'' as Brown described it, while pitching, but said that could be the result of scar tissue stretching. Brown's fastball was clocked at 96 mph, which is his highest since the surgery, at times against the San Diego Padres. That could have created the burning sensation.

``There's nothing that's jumping out at you,'' Schwab said. ``(The burning) may be a sign that it just hasn't completely finished the healing process.''

If Brown does not make his next start, manager Jim Tracy said reliever Omar Daal would take his place.

--Ashby's lament: Brown's injury gave some uneasy moments to everyone in the organization, but teammate Andy Ashby really felt the brunt of it. Ashby and Brown are close friends from their days together in San Diego, and Ashby underwent the same surgery as Brown in June.

Unlike Brown, Ashby didn't experience the stretching of scar tissue during his rehab process. Or through his first two starts.

But Johnston said that could be a product of Ashby's timetable, compared to the one Brown kept. Ashby had surgery June 15, which gave him three more months than Brown to get ready.

``I want to say I won't (do anything different), but you're going to think about it, especially going through the same procedure and everything else,'' Ashby said. ``The main thing is just to try and block it out and not think about it. I don't think it's easy to do it. You just have to do it.

--Leadoff deficiency: Much of spring training was used to determine a leadoff batter and center fielder. Dave Roberts emerged the victor, but has struggled through the first two weeks. He's batting just .206 with a .270 on-base percentage and hasn't ignited a lackluster offense that scored 42 runs in 12 games.

Tracy said the most important aspect for a leadoff hitter is on-base percentage. A year ago the Dodgers were next to last with a .306 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot. They entered the day 12th with a .277 on-base percentage.

However, Tracy said he wasn't prepared to alter his lineup to get Marquis Grissom more at-bats, though Grissom is hitting .429 and is tied for second with five RBI despite having only 14 at-bats.

``His role is very good right now,'' Tracy said. ``I think he's excelling at it.''