DODGERS NOTEBOOK: WERTH MIGHT NOT PLAY OPENER.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - For the first time since Dodgers left fielder Jayson Werth suffered a broken radius bone in his left wrist on March 2, manager Jim Tracy on Saturday allowed for the possibility that Werth might not be ready by the time the regular season opens.

``I certainly hope that doesn't happen,'' Tracy said. ``But if he comes out here and experiences discomfort or something like that, we'll have to see.''

At the time of the injury, Dodgers trainer Stan Johnston said Werth would be sent for a second CT scan within two weeks. But team medical officials have since decided against that because they don't believe it will tell them anything they don't already know.

Meanwhile, Tracy said Werth is still several days from being able to participate in Grapefruit League games, which won't leave him very many days to get ready for the season.

``He's progressing, and I'm encouraged by it,'' Tracy said. ``If he gets back to the point of being able to swing a bat, we can get him a lot of extra at-bats by sending him to minor-league camp and having him lead off every inning while he's moving back and forth from Field 5 to Field 6. We can get him 30, 40 or 50 at-bats if the situation cooperates.

``But if not, then obviously we'll have a decision to make.''

Because the tiny fracture is just above his glove hand, where he was hit by a pitch from Florida's A.J. Burnett, all Werth can do is throw. When he does, someone else catches the ball for him and lobs it to him.

If Werth is healthy enough to play, the Dodgers can't put him on the disabled list at the start of the season simply because he hasn't had enough playing time in spring training to get properly prepared. But Tracy said that won't be an issue.

``Once we get him back out here, the time will be there to get him ready,'' Tracy said.

Werth, 25, has suffered four significant injuries in the past 12 months, although the strained oblique he suffered in batting practice last April is the only one that landed him on the DL.

--First time: Two weeks after suffering a strained medial collateral ligament in a routine fielding drill, closer Eric Gagne threw off a mound for the first time this spring.

Although he probably won't appear in a game before Saturday, he declared the session a success.

``It went well, a little better than I expected,'' Gagne said. ``I threw more strikes than I thought I would. It felt like the ball was coming out of my hand good, and my release point was good. I never pitch in games before (March) 15th, anyway, so I don't think the injury will be any kind of setback at all.''

Meanwhile, left-hander Odalis Perez threw off a mound for the first time since being sidelined several days ago with biceps tendinitis. Perez said his session went well, that he will throw another one on Monday and that he hopes to pitch in a game either Friday or Saturday.

Finally, Brad Penny threw his 12th side session of the spring, which by all accounts was his best one yet.

``From what I have been told, his effort was in the 85-90 percent range,'' Tracy said.

--Johnson ill: Former Dodgers outfielder Lou Johnson, now a member of the club's community relations staff, was transported by ambulance to Indian River Hospital on Saturday morning after experiencing pain in his chest and abdomen in his room at Dodgertown.

Doctors determined that Johnson did not have a heart attack. As of Saturday evening, he was resting comfortably and expected to be held overnight for observation.

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com

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Dodgers pitcher Russell Martin slides safely into third with a two-run triple against the New York Mets on Saturday.

Rick Silva/Associated Press

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