DODGERS NOTEBOOK: FURCAL HAS BACK SPASMS.

Byline: Tony Jackson Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal suffered back spasms after diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt in the first inning of Tuesday's Grapefruit League game. He stayed long enough to score the first run, then left the game and underwent about three hours of treatment, leaving his status for Monday's season opener in question.

``I think I'll be back as soon as possible,'' Furcal said. ``I'm going to try to make it back by Opening Day.''

Furcal is expected to miss a week at the most, which means he should be able to avoid the disabled list. But on the day club officials trimmed the spring roster by two, optioning infielder-turned-outfielder Joel Guzman and third baseman Willy Aybar to Triple-A Las Vegas, Furcal's injury further clouded a picture that was beginning to clear up.

There really were only two questions left to be answered on the Opening- Day roster, one being whether to carry 11 or 12 pitchers and the other being whether the last middle-relief job would go to Yhency Brazoban or Franquelis Osoria. But if Furcal isn't available for the first couple of games, the club might be forced to keep utility infielder Oscar Robles, who is expected to make it anyway if the club carries only 11 pitchers.

Furcal led off the bottom of the first against Detroit's Jason Grilli with a single to left, raising his average for the spring to a sizzling .440 (11 for 25). Furcal hurt his back when Grilli tried to pick him off, and the first sign to Little and trainer Stan Johnston that he was in pain was when Furcal rounded second base awkwardly on J.D. Drew's double.

``We could tell something wasn't right,'' said Little, who after coming out with Johnston to check on Furcal decided to leave him in the game for the moment.

Grilli then threw a wild pitch, and Furcal, back spasms and all, made an ill-advised, headfirst slide into the plate.

--No worries: For the seventh time in eight appearances this spring, closer Eric Gagne's fastball topped out in the 92-mph range, well off its normal pace before he underwent season-ending elbow surgery last June.

Not that anyone seems to care.

``It's too early for that,'' said Gagne, who is expected to pitch again today against Washington, marking his first back-to-back appearances. ``I'm not worried about it right now. It's more about how I feel the next day and how I bounce back.''

--Trade winds: Cincinnati special assistants Scott Nethery and Bill Wood attended the Dodgers' major-league game and two minor-league intrasquads Tuesday, but there don't appear to be any specific trade talks going on between the two clubs. The Dodgers would like to upgrade in left field, but that need is made less urgent by the emergence of Guzman and fellow prospect Andre Ethier and the likelihood that either one could be ready sometime this season.

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com

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- Tony Jackson