DODGERS NOTEBOOK: BROWN UNABLE TO LEAVE HOSPITAL.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

DENVER - Dodgers right-hander Kevin Brown remained hospitalized Tuesday night with a protruding disc in his lower back, too sore to undergo a full examination and diagnostic testing. The Dodgers remained unable to rule out surgery as an option and several members of the organization said the best-case scenario would have Brown out for a month.

Brown, on the disabled list with a right-elbow injury, received an epidural and intravenous medication, which manager Jim Tracy said alleviated much of the pain.

Back permitting, Brown will undergo tests today and Thursday, with the Dodgers hopeful for a course of treatment, or decision on surgery, to come soon thereafter.

``They are continuing to observe him and within the next day or so they will decide the course of action that needs to be taken,'' Tracy said. ``What will take place in the next 48 hours, I have no idea.''

Brown, who was admitted to Centinela Hospital Medical Center on Monday, was examined by back specialist Dr. William Dillin and team physician Dr. Frank Jobe on Tuesday.

According to Tracy, Brown injured his back Wednesday while ``wrestling'' with one of his sons on his bed in his Los Angeles home. Using a scale of 1 to 10, Tracy said Brown's discomfort level was initially ``between 9 to 9 1/2'' but the epidural and medication reduced the pain level to ``about a two.''

The protruding disc is pinching a nerve in Brown's back. If he underwent surgery, his recovery time could be two weeks to a month (plus time to regain his pitching form) for a micro-disectomy, which is a procedure in which a portion of the disc is removed. Or he could be lost for the season if a more invasive procedure is needed. Brown and the Dodgers also could opt for physical therapy, using exercises and medication to shrink the disc.

Either way, the Dodgers are likely to insist Brown go on a rehab assignment before rejoining the club.

``Right now, the only option ... is to let him rest, break that pain cycle and then see how he comes out of that,'' Dodgers trainer Stan Johnston said.

There is added concern in the organization about the back injury because of the torque Brown generates in his lower back in his pitching delivery. During the last two seasons Brown experienced back pain several times and received a cortisone shot in his side recently.

``My main concern continues to focus on the elbow,'' Tracy said. ``Until I heard about this at the end of last week, as far as his discomfort was concerned, my concern was that there was fluid on the back of the elbow and we won't begin to think about beginning to toss again until that fluid subsides.''

--Tracy (not Jim) drafted: Bryan Tracy, eldest son of the Dodgers manager, was selected in the 21st round (631st overall) by the Dodgers. Bryan, a right-handed pitcher for Claremont High, is 6-foot-4, 170 pounds and throws 85 to 89 miles per hour but should fill out and see his velocity increase.

``I'm extremely proud of him,'' Jim Tracy said. ``He's made a lot of progress over the last couple of years. He still has a long ways to go, but he's a very nice project in that he's almost 6-foot-5, has great big hands and a pretty good delivery to work with. There's some potential there, but he's the guy that has to take it the extra mile.''

But Bryan, 18, accepted a scholarship to UC Santa Barbara, where he plans to major in pre-med. He said he likely will still do that. Indications were Bryan would go to Santa Barbara, but Dodgers amateur scouting director Logan White said he would follow Bryan throughout the summer and perhaps try to sign him before college.

``Bryan throws fine and easy and loose. Bryan Tracy was not a courtesy pick,'' White said. ``If he chooses to go to Santa Barbara, I'm OK with that. We know a couple of teams were going to draft him and we wanted to keep him in the family.''

--Mulholland activated: Left-hander Terry Mulholland, out since May 3, was activated from the disabled list and Thousand Oaks High product Bryan Corey was placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to May 29). Corey sprained his left ankle when he caught a cleat warming up Monday's game. X-rays on his ankle were negative.

DODGERS vs. COLORADO

Time: 12:05 p.m., Coors Field.

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

Dodgers LH Omar Daal (4-1, 1.91 ERA) is in the rotation for the foreseeable future given the injuries to Kevin Brown, but he is coming off his worst outing of the season in which he allowed six runs in six innings. Daal is 3-3 at Coors Field, but he has an 8.90 ERA. He is 3-6 with a 7.25 ERA lifetime against the Rockies. Colorado counters with rookie RH Jason Jennings (6-2, 4.70), who is 4-0 with a 4.55 ERA at home.

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. COLORADO (see text)