Perez Accepts Role in Bullpen

Carlos Perez accepts life in the bullpen, though he still hopes to return to the Dodger rotation.

The left-hander had his fourth strong relief performance Sunday in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 9-6 victory, pitching 5 2/3 scoreless innings after Ismael Valdes was pounded in his first start at Dodger Stadium since being reacquired from the Chicago Cubs.

Perez has a 1.00 earned-run average as a reliever, having given up only two runs in 18 innings. Overall, Perez is 4-6 with a 5.41 ERA.

Manager Davey Johnson plans to keep Perez in the bullpen because Perez had consecutive poor outings on the recent trip and because Perez became upset when Johnson removed him from his last start against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.

Perez said Johnson yanked him from the rotation too quickly, and that Johnson should have told him about the move instead of leaving reporters to tell him. But such is life, Perez said.

“I’m not going to complain no more,” Perez said. “I’m going to do whatever they want. If they’re happy doing what they’re doing, then that’s fine with me.

“Whatever they do, I’m going to put on my uniform and try to win. To me, I’m doing good in the bullpen, but I’m still angry and want to have my starting spot back. But like I said, no more complaining.”

Perez is especially upset about the Aug. 2 move because Johnson did not tell him.

“That was a big surprise to me when you guys [reporters] came and told me that,” Perez said. “I don’t think that was the right thing.

“If you’re a manager, you’re supposed to tell me. At least call me into your office.”

The timing of Johnson’s decision bothered Perez because he had pitched well before going 0-2 with a 16.71 ERA during the trip.

“To me that was a quick decision,” Perez said. “I was pitching great, I had two tough games in Colorado and Pittsburgh and he takes me out.

“Anyone can have a rough game or two or three. There are a lot of guys struggling this year.”

Perez is making $5 million this season and is owed $7.5 million next. Perez and his agent, Adam Katz, are not pushing the Dodgers to do anything at this point.

“I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen, but I’m not going to go out there with my head down,” Perez said. “I’m not worried about the money they have to pay me next year, I just want to pitch good.”

*

Second baseman and leadoff batter Eric Young returned to Dodger Stadium for the first time since being traded with Valdes to the Chicago Cubs in December.

Young is having a good season and enjoys playing in Chicago, but he sometimes wonders about what could have been.

“I don’t dwell on it, but I do follow some players on their team and think about things,” Young said. “With the year I’m having, and the year [Mark] Grudzielanek is having, it would be something with us hitting in front of [Gary] Sheffield, [Shawn] Green and [Eric Karros] for the whole season.

“There’s no question that with us in front of those guys, they would be three or four games ahead [in the National League West] instead of three or four games behind. No question.”

*

The Dodgers are trying to remain optimistic about Valdes after he gave up eight hits and seven runs in only 1 1/3 innings Sunday.

“It hurt him as much as anybody,” Johnson said. “He’s a good pitcher and he’ll come back and pitch well.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

DARREN DREIFORT

(8-7, 4.61 ERA)

vs.

CUBS’

PHIL NORTON

(0-0, 5.40 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net 2. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Johnson gave Dreifort an extra day’s rest because shoulder problems sidelined Dreifort in September the last two seasons. The right-hander experienced pain after pitching 180 innings, and Dreifort is at 178 2/3 this season. Dreifort, 4-0 with a 2.67 earned-run average in his last four starts, is 1-1 with a 4.12 ERA against the Cubs.

* Tickets--(323) 224-1448.