DODGERS NOTEBOOK: TORRE: SCHMIDT'S VELOCITY IS DOWN.

Byline: Tony Jackson 

Staff Writer

CHICAGO -- Although Dodgers right-hander Jason Schmidt's third rehabilitation start for Single-A Inland Empire on Monday night was a success by every standard club officials were using, manager Joe Torre said Tuesday that Schmidt might not regain his normal velocity until sometime next season.

Torre stopped short, however, of saying Schmidt will have to become a different kind of pitcher in the interim.

"I think we may not get the best of him until next year," Torre said. "(Until then), I think we'll just get what he is.

"It's more the quality. It's about movement. Velocity is important, but I think he can still pitch as long as he is capable of throwing 89-90 (mph) and keeping people off balance a little bit."

Schmidt, who in his prime routinely hit the mid-90s with his fastball, topped out at 91during his latest rehab stint, a 45-pitch effort against Bakersfield in which Schmidt gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits over 3 1/3 innings.

Schmidt is 18days into what is expected to be a 30-day rehab assignment.

Although Torre said Schmidt's as-yet-unscheduled fourth appearance also will be at Inland Empire, there is a chance Schmidt will move up after that, possibly to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Gopher balls

Reliever Scott Proctor gave up his sixth home run of the season Monday, an eighth- inning backbreaker to Aramis Ramirez that turned a one-run deficit into a 3-1 hole with Chicago Cubs closer Kerry Wood warming up for the ninth.

Those homers have come in just 24 innings, putting Proctor well ahead of his usual pace.

"I just know I'm giving up too many," Proctor said. "I just have to execute pitches better. It could be because I throw a lot of strikes, but that means they're not quality strikes. Right now, I'm missing over the middle (of the plate) way too much."

Proctor already has given up half as many homers as he allowed in 861/3 innings last year.

Standing pat

The Dodgers will stick with a 12-man pitching staff for now, even though last weekend's callup of Clayton Kershaw gives them five set starters for the first time this season, their offense is struggling and could possibly use an extra bat, and Chan Ho Park and Hong-Chih Kuo seem to be filling similar long roles out of the bullpen.

"(This is the) safest (way to go)," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "It gives Joe a little flexibility. We might go back to 11 if our starters start to give us more (innings). But in my mind, we have only had one good complete turn (through the rotation)."

That would be the most recent one, in which all fivestarters went at least six innings.