DODGERS NOTEBOOK: ROCKY OUTING FOR JACKSON.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

VIERA, Fla. - Edwin Jackson said he felt better physically than he had all spring. He also said he threw a higher percentage of fastballs than he would in a regular-season game, which might explain why he was torched for five runs and six hits in two rocky innings.

The Dodgers right-hander, trying to win a spot on the opening-day roster, can only hope his forgettable start Monday against the Washington Nationals will be judged more on those factors than on the results. At any rate, it won't affect his spring statistics. The game at Space Coast Stadium was rained out after 2 1/2 rather one-sided innings.

``I felt great,'' Jackson said. ``I felt like I couldn't be touched. But, sometimes, the days when you feel like you have your best stuff are the days when you get hit.''

Jackson has had an otherwise impressive spring (two appearances, 2.84 ERA), although even he acknowledges he has walked too many batters (seven in 8 1/3 innings). His first-inning problems Monday started when he fired a pickoff throw down the right-field line, allowing Cristian Guzman to go all the way to third. He then threw a wild pitch, enabling Guzman to score. In the second, Jackson simply got lit up.

With the sky growing increasingly dark and the ballpark lights coming on, Jackson issued a one-out walk to Brian Schneider. After a single by Jamey Carroll, Jackson threw another wild pitch, moving runners to second and third. Tomo Ohka, in the midst of throwing three perfect innings, singled home one run. Endy Chavez brought in another with a groundout. And, after a walk to Guzman, Nick Johnson smoked a double off the right-center field wall to score two more.

The game ended with the Nationals leading, 5-0.

``I thought (Jackson) threw some good fastballs,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``He had some good changeups, and he threw a lot of strikes. I think the other thing you have to consider is that the conditions got brutal after the first inning. It got extremely dark and windier than (heck). The conditions got bad very quickly.''

--Penny update: General manager Paul DePodesta still won't officially commit to placing right-hander Brad Penny on the 15-day disabled list to start the season. But it is clear that is where Penny is headed.

``I don't like to make definitive statements like that with three weeks to go,'' DePodesta said. ``But I think you all know where we are (on that).''

Penny, who missed most of the final two months of last season with a nerve injury in his right arm, threw curveballs off a mound for the first time in his side session Monday.

``To a certain extent, I definitely think that's a hurdle (cleared),'' Tracy said. ``There is no question that it is.''

Although club officials are hopeful Penny can pitch in some Grapefruit League games before the Dodgers break camp in 16 days, there are no immediate plans for him to do anything except keep throwing side sessions every two or three days.

--First cuts: The Dodgers dispatched eight players to the minor-league clubhouse on Monday, all of whom were in camp simply to get a taste of the major-league life and had no chance of making the team.

Pitchers Joel Hanrahan, Ryan Ketchner and Derek Thompson were optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas. Pitcher Orlando Rodriguez and infielder Delwyn Young (Littlerock) were optioned to Double-A Jacksonville. Non-roster outfielders Jon Weber, Tydus Meadows and first baseman James Loney were reassigned to minor-league camp.

The 40-man roster players are required to be optioned to a specific affiliate, but the clubs to which they were optioned aren't necessarily the clubs with which they will open the season.

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com

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- Tony Jackson