Jordan Might Not Get to Face Braves

Frustration simmered at both ends of the Dodger clubhouse Thursday. And the first pitch hadn’t even been thrown.

At one end, outfielder Brian Jordan stood by his locker stall, knowing that he was about to sit out his fifth consecutive game because of stiffness in his back caused by a protruding disk. He is also facing the possibility of not playing in the three-game series beginning tonight against his former team, the Atlanta Braves.

“My back is my back,” Jordan said. “It doesn’t change. I could be playing [Friday] or I might not be playing until the next day or the next day. It is frustrating, not being able to play against my former team.”

Jordan said, however, that after having received an epidural injection last week, he won’t undergo another one.

“The best thing is rest and rehab,” he said. “I am not going force anything because of my back. This is a career thing.”

The Dodgers are not going to force the issue by putting Jordan on the disabled list, according to Manager Jim Tracy. Putting him on the DL now would force him to sit out 15 days, minus the time he has already been out.

“It’s been mentioned, but we are going to take another day or so,” Tracy said. “We do not want to lose him for an [additional] nine or 10 days because of a rush to judgment.”

At the other end of the clubhouse, right-hander Kevin Brown, returning from elbow and back surgery, was just as frustrated. In his second relief appearance since coming off the disabled list, Brown gave up three runs and seven hits in three innings Tuesday night against the Florida Marlins.

“All I can do is work every day and when it’s right, it’s right,” Brown said. “I would like to be my old self when I walk out on the mound, but that is obviously not the case.”

Brown said that neither mechanical problems nor his previous ailments were causing him to struggle.

“I would trade a little pain to pitch better,” he said. “Last year, my elbow felt like it was hanging by a thread, then [this season], my back hurt, but I was pitching better. It’s hard to understand.”

*

Mikki Hoffman, mother of Dodger coach Glenn Hoffman and San Diego Padre pitcher Trevor Hoffman, received the George and Barbara Bush Little League parents-of-the-year award Thursday, honoring both her and her late husband, Eddie, at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

During the 15 years one or all of the Hoffman brothers--Glenn, Trevor and Greg--were involved in Northwest Little League in Anaheim, Eddie spent time serving as league president, umpiring, landscaping the park and singing the national anthem, while Mikki worked the snack bar or served as team mom.... Announcer Vin Scully missed a second consecutive game because of laryngitis.

ON DECK

Opponent--Atlanta Braves, three games.

Site--Dodger Stadium. Tonight--7.

TV--Channel 13 tonight and Saturday; ESPN Sunday.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Records--Dodgers 73-54, Braves 81-45.

Record vs. Braves--2-1.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ODALIS PEREZ

(11-8, 3.12 ERA)

vs.

BRAVES’

GREG MADDUX

(11-5, 2.63)

Update--Gary Sheffield, who had a stormy stay in Los Angeles, will play in Dodger Stadium tonight for the first time since being traded in the off-season. “The Braves are coming into town,” Tracy said. “He’s on the team.” End of discussion. This is the Braves’ only trip to Los Angeles this season.

Saturday, 1 p.m.--Andy Ashby (9-9, 3.46) vs. Tom Glavine (16-6, 2.65).

Sunday, 5 p.m.--Kazuhisa Ishii (13-8, 4.05) vs. Damian Moss (7-5, 3.31)