DODGERS NOTEBOOK: SCHMIDT IS STRUGGLING.

Byline: TONY JACKSON 

Staff Writer

After watching veteran right-hander Jason Schmidt struggle with his mechanics, struggle with his command and, ultimately, struggle with himself for the second time in threestarts since he returned from a seven-week stay on the disabled list, Dodgers manager Grady Little was asked how certain he was that Schmidt's right shoulder is healthy.

"I'm not sure," Little said.

A few minutes later, Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt was asked the same question.

"I can't answer that," Honeycutt said.

Both Little and Honeycutt said it was up to Schmidt to tell them if anything is wrong. Both Little and Honeycutt said Schmidt can be trusted to do just that. And both Little and Honeycutt said Schmidt hasn't complained about any discomfort since he was activated June5 following an extended absence with bursitis in his pitching shoulder.

Schmidt himself told a gathering of reporters at his locker after Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Angels that he is feeling no shoulder pain. He then was asked if that absence of discomfort translates to being absolutely certain that his shoulder is sound.

"It's not for me to decide," Schmidt said. "I don't know."

If you think his answer was confusing, try figuring out the way he has pitched his past twotimes out. Although Schmidt did shut out the Angels on three hits over the first fourinnings -- all while his fastball velocity never got much higher than 90 mph -- he tired noticeably in the fifth, when the Angels scored all their runs.

Little lifted Schmidt after 78pitches. Most pitchers run out of gas at around 100.

"We have concern, but we have to try to get him through this," Little said. "I feel like we will continue to run him out there and see if he can't get it going and keep building up his stuff and his stamina."

Schmidt's dwindling velocity, and the accompanying health concerns, were the reasons he was sent for an MRI on April 16. When that test showed the bursitis, Schmidt was shelved.

But trainer Stan Conte said at the time there was no guarantee the drop in velocity was related to the bursitis or that the velocity would return to normal when Schmidt became healthy.

"I'm not going to open a can of worms on this thing," Schmidt said. "This is what it has been since the beginning of the year, and you just keep dealing with it."

Honeycutt said the issue has impacted the approach Schmidt takes against hitters.

"Without a doubt," he said. "It takes certain arm strength to throw all your pitches. Basically, his slider and his curveball, he isn't using as much as he probably would in normal circumstances, and he doesn't have his normal fastball. He isn't Jason Schmidt right now."

For now, Schmidt is slated to make his next start Thursday at Toronto.

Another MRI for Brazoban: Reliever Yhency Brazoban, who suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from a strained right shoulder, said he will undergo an MRI when he meets with doctors Monday.

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ANGELS vs. DODGERS

- Tony Jackson