DODGERS NOTEBOOK: NO PAIN IS PROGRESS FOR ALVAREZ.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - There were times the past three seasons left-hander Wilson Alvarez knew the pain would be severe every time he threw a pitch.

Alvarez wasn't particularly sharp in pitching two innings of Tuesday's intrasquad scrimmage, but he was pain-free. And he knew that would be the case long before he took the mound.

Now, with his focus solely on pitching, Alvarez can concentrate on finding that 15-win form of his past as he tries to win a job in the Dodgers bullpen. Or the back of its rotation, depending on the health of others.

``Last year, the first couple of times I threw off the mound, I was sore,'' Alvarez said. ``The first couple of times off the mound were good, so I knew it was fine. It was here (in the mind). I was thinking every day, `It's going to hurt, it's not going to hurt. It's going to bother me.' Now, I know it's fine.''

Alvarez pitched two innings and gave up a solo homer to Larry Barnes, but his control was good and his velocity (86 to 88 mph) was encouraging. He has impressed the Dodgers staff so far.

``I remember what it looked like in Game 3 of a series in Tampa Bay last June, and what we saw (Tuesday) for the first time out was much better,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``He didn't even come close to that when he started that game last June.''

Alvarez has pitched in 23 major-league games since 1999. All were last season, and 13 were in relief. After he signed a big free-agent deal with Tampa Bay before the 1998 season, he injured his shoulder. He pitched through the pain for much of 1999 before undergoing surgery. Alvarez didn't pitch in the major leagues in 2000 or 2001.

Now, the Dodgers are hoping he can be this season's Omar Daal. Inevitably, a sixth starter will be needed, and the Dodgers would prefer a left-hander. A year ago, Daal did the job to near perfection, going 9-8 with a 4.45 ERA in 23 starts. But he signed a free-agent deal with Baltimore.

``You can tell this guy knows how to pitch,'' Dodgers senior vice president and pitching guru Dave Wallace said. ``So I just thought it's just common knowledge that if he's OK from a health standpoint, he's a pretty good pitcher.

``The hardest part when you're coming back from an injury, I call it the last 5 percent, because you finally get it through your mind that it's OK. The anticipation is there of when is it going to hurt? When is it going to prevent me from what I want to do? That is so difficult from a psychological standpoint, to really accept the fact that I'm OK.''

--Dreifort's latest hurdle: For the first time in 20 months, Dodgers right-hander Darren Dreifort pitched with no batting cage near home plate and a full complement of fielders behind him. And all went well.

Dreifort, coming back from his second elbow reconstruction and a second knee surgery, allowed two hits in two scoreless innings. He didn't walk a batter, struck out two and reached 94 mph on the radar gun.

``It's nice to actually be out there throwing to hitters and to have guys playing behind you,'' Dreifort said. ``It gives you a pretty good read on how you're doing.''

Dreifort wasn't pleased with all of his pitches, but he did rate his spring to this point when it comes to a health standpoint.

``On a scale from one to 10, just to be where I'm at right now, 10 because everything feels normal,'' Dreifort said. ``I'm not having to work around injuries or anything like that. As far as where my pitches are at, I definitely still need work. My slider was up. I threw one changeup, and it was up. I think my arm was dragging a little bit. None of my sliders were where I wanted them to be. It's just a feel thing.''

--Hermansen behind: Outfielder Chad Hermansen, competing for the fifth outfielder's spot, continues to rehabilitate his surgically repaired right (throwing) shoulder but admits he won't be ready when the Grapefruit League season begins Thursday.

``It's going to be a while before I play in a game,'' Hermansen said. ``I think I'll be able to DH if they ask me, but that's it.''

--Working left: Shortstop Cesar Izturis lost his starting job for the second half of last season largely because of his inability to hit from the left side. The switch hitter batted .306 from the right side but just .195 from the left.

Izturis worked on hitting from the left side all winter and continues to do so in spring training. He has changed his stance slightly, keeping his hands higher so there is less movement to take the bat through the hitting zone.

``(Izturis) needs to improve his bunting, strike-zone command,'' Dodgers batting coach Jack Clark said. ``He needs to look at hitter's counts, what the count is on every pitch and understand whether he's hitting second or eighth.''

--Odds and ends: Hermansen ($312,500) and outfielder Wilkin Ruan ($300,000) each agreed to one-year contracts. ... Right-hander Kevin Brown (back) participated in all the fielding drills for the first time this spring and will throw another bullpen session today. However, he is unlikely to see his first Grapefruit League action until next week. ... Left-hander Odalis Perez highlights a group of starters who will pitch Friday against Detroit in Lakeland, Fla. Dreifort and Alvarez both will pitch Saturday.

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Photo:

The Dodgers' Hideo Nomo, left, talks with senior vice president Dave Wallace after throwing on the practice mound Tuesday.

Rick Silva/Associated Press