DODGERS NOTEBOOK: WEAVER SHAKY AGAIN.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - The Dodgers' season-opening starting rotation might not be set, after all.

Newcomer Jeff Weaver continued to get knocked around, giving up four earned runs on eight hits over five innings in an eventual 9-6 victory over the Florida Marlins on Thursday. Veteran left-hander Wilson Alvarez followed with three solid innings, striking out five.

Weaver, penciled into the third spot in the rotation since before spring training, has a 7.07 ERA in four starts. Alvarez, who has insisted all spring that he has no problem with pitching out of the bullpen and that at this late stage of his career all he wants to do is win a championship, now has a 3.38 ERA in three appearances.

``Pitching-wise, Weaver was OK,'' Tracy said. ``Sometimes, it has nothing to do with stuff and everything to do with choices. He had the eight-hole hitter (Wilson Valdez, who singled) in an 0-2 hole and then flipped a two-strike breaking ball right into the zone.''

That is as close as the perpetually upbeat Tracy has come this spring to being critical of a player, and even that was followed by the usual slew of positives.

``What (Weaver) did that I was so pleased with was pitch off his fastball,'' Tracy said. ``He didn't do that his previous two outings. It was a definite improvement. When he's down in the zone with his fastball, he's very effective.''

But on this day, Alvarez was more effective. And when pressed after the game, Tracy declined to say that the five names assumed to be in the Dodgers' starting rotation - Hideo Nomo, Odalis Perez, Weaver, Kazuhisa Ishii and Edwin Jackson - are cemented there.

``I will say right now that those five guys are in line to be our starting pitchers,'' Tracy said. ``But I don't want to be quoted as saying they're completely locked in.''

If Weaver pitches himself out of the rotation, it won't be the first time in his once-promising career that the former Simi Valley High star has been banished to the pen. Before trading him to the Dodgers in December, the New York Yankees made him a reliever last season, partly because he had a 5.73 ERA as a starter.

The decision proved fateful in the World Series, when Weaver gave up a 12th-inning, walk-off homer to Florida's Miguel Cabrera in a pivotal Game 4.

Alvarez, meanwhile, continued to stay politically correct. ``I would like to start, but I'm ready for anything,'' he said. ``It's going to be hard to go the whole year with only five guys in the starting rotation.''

--Trade talks: The Dodgers' search for another hitter has taken them to, among other places, Cincinnati, where Dodgers officials are said to be keenly interested in Reds left fielder Adam Dunn.

Although he is strikeout-prone, Dunn has a career on-base percentage of .379, meaning he fits what new Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta presumably is looking for.

Two years ago, Dunn walked 128 times. Two sources familiar with the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the Dodgers' pursuit of Dunn. But one of those sources said the Reds aren't likely to part with him unless the Dodgers are willing to give up Edwin Jackson, their top pitching prospect and the man Tracy has named his fifth starter for the upcoming season.

Previous GM Dan Evans considered Jackson untouchable.

--Still leaving: Dodgers vice president for communications Derrick Hall would not confirm a report that owners Frank and Jamie McCourt are trying to convince him to withdraw his recently placed resignation.

Hall did indicate he won't change his mind. ``I'm not planning on it,'' Hall said. ``I gave Frank 30 days' notice, and I'm going to fulfill that obligation.''

--More cuts: Although there were no surprises, the Dodgers on Thursday made their most significant round of cuts this spring.

Gone from big-league camp are pitchers Jason Frasor, Joel Hanrahan and Yhency Brazoban and infielder Willy Aybar, all of whom were optioned to the minors; and catcher Edwin Bellorin, infielders Ricky Bell, James Loney and Nick Theodorou and outfielder Franklin Gutierrez, all of whom were reassigned to minor-league camp.

Tracy said Aybar, a third baseman, will play a lot at second base the rest of the spring, beginning a possible conversion.

Loney, one of the Dodgers' top prospects, will rejoin the big club for the annual Freeway Series April 2-4 before starting the season at Double-A Jacksonville.

``He had a great spring, and he deserves an opportunity to do that,'' Tracy said. ``It's a chance to be on the field in a ballpark like that, in front of a fairly large house.''

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com

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The Dodgers' Jeff Weaver gave up four earned runs on eight hits over five innings Thursday.

Rick Silva/Associated Press

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