Baseball

Gonzalez to look for 'good things'

PHOENIX - The Diamondbacks went through an optional workout Wednesday, hoping an early return to the field will generate some second-half momentum. Ace pitcher Randy Johnson, the subject of intense trade speculation, skipped the workout - not because a trade is imminent, but to prepare for his start tonight against Los Angeles. "He threw one inning in the All-Star Game," manager Al Pedrique said. "I don't think he threw a lot of pitches, so he should be able to go." The start will be Johnson's first since Friday, when he allowed six hits and three walks in five innings of an 8-3 loss in San Francisco. Johnson seethed when left fielder Luis Gonzalez dropped a bases-loaded liner by Edgardo Alfonzo that allowed the go-ahead runs to score in the fifth, and the two exchanged words in the dugout between innings. Pedrique said everything was back to normal after a team meeting, and he planned to hold another tonight. "We still have the second half to go," he said. "A lot of good things can happen if we take care of business." Gonzalez said no one on the team wants to see Johnson traded, but all understand that side of the game. "We're in last place, and obviously the value for him is very high right now because there's a lot of teams in contention that want him, but Randy holds the ace card," Gonzalez said. "He gets to veto any trade." The Diamondbacks went into the All-Star break with the worst record in baseball (31-58) after losing 19 of their last 23. They begin the second half with an 11-game homestand. The year has been marked by injuries, notably season-ending shoulder surgery on first baseman Richie Sexson and the loss of closers Matt Mantei and Jose Valverde. Gonzalez has a 50 percent tear of the ligament in his right elbow and hopes to decide soon whether to have Tommy John surgery and end his season. He said he wants to be 100 percent by spring training, and the recovery time for a position player is usually figured at about half the 12 months normal for a pitcher. "I've never been with a team that got so many players hurt," said utilityman Carlos Baerga, on the disabled list since June 10 with a calf strain. "Now in the second half we're going to have Brent Mayne again, and Shea (Hillenbrand) - I hope he's OK - and myself coming back. We need to have a good second half."