DODGERS NOTEBOOK: DOCTOR HAS NO QUICK FIX FOR DREIFORT.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

The pain in Darren Dreifort's arthritic right knee isn't going to go away any time this season. So now the Dodgers can only hope to get Dreifort through the season.

Dr. Frank Jobe examined Dreifort's knee Friday and found no solution other than rest and pain tolerance. The Dodgers will try to manage the situation by restructuring the rotation around off days, but if Dreifort's condition worsens or he can't pitch through pain, it would be a big blow to baseball's best pitching staff.

``Arthroscopic knees don't usually get better,'' Jobe said. ``You sort of have to play with it and learn. We're taping it. Hopefully, he can wear a little brace on there to support it. If you do all of those things and use medication, we can get him through the year.''

Dreifort has had two surgeries on the knee. One has to wonder if his knee can hold up the rest of the season.

``The tough part would be after two innings if he has to come out, but he never wants to do that,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``We want to get to a point where he feels comfortable that this thing is being managed from a pain-threshold standpoint as much as it possibly can be. We've had starts early in the year that were like that.''

Tracy said Dreifort wouldn't be on pitch counts and that none of the other starters would have to pitch on less than five days of rest because of Dreifort's condition.

Jobe said Dreifort's knee hasn't responded to treatment and surgery isn't an option. Dreifort is scheduled to pitch again June 7 and would have at least a week of rest between each start over the next month.

Dreifort has been in rehabilitation for the better part of two years because of elbow and knee surgeries. He has pitched well this year and is 4-4 with a 4.03 ERA. But this latest setback hurts, especially for those who have watched Dreifort's tireless work to come back.

``You train yourself to deal with the unexpected,'' Dodgers pitching coach Jim Colborn said. ``We all should be that way. That's the way Dreifort is. We'll make the best of it.''

--Brohawn surgery: Left-handed reliever Troy Brohawn will have arthroscopic surgery on his left rotator cuff. Brohawn, who was placed on the disabled list May 13, said the shoulder wasn't responding to treatment.

If it's just loose cartilage, Jobe said Brohawn could be back within three or four weeks. Brohawn figures he won't be back until August.

--Injury report: Tracy's pregame interview is dominated by a laundry list of injuries. The swelling in left fielder Brian Jordan's wrist has decreased. Jordan did some work in the batting cage Friday but didn't start. ... Daryle Ward had an MRI on his right hand, which was negative. Jobe said Ward has synovitis, which is inflammation in the joint from overuse. ... Dave Robers was 0 for 3 in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.

--First start: Bubba Crosby made his first major-league start in left field Friday at Dodger Stadium.

``It's exciting,'' Crosby said. ``Since I got drafted, I've been thinking about this. My whole professional career I've been with the Dodgers, and when I got my opportunity, I wanted it to be here.''

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- Jill Painter