"It was show time and Edinson Volquez was scrambling around his locker, tossing aside t-shirts and shorts and socks and mumbling, "Where's my spikes? Been so long since I work 'em I can't find 'em."

He found them and was he laced them on he said, "Whoa, they feel tight. But I'll make 'em work."

Then Volquez walked to the Dodger Stadium visitors' bullpen with pitching coach Dick Pole for his first on-the-mound session since he went on the disabled list June 2.

"I directed him to the mound and showed him which direction to throw," said Pole.

Volaquez threw 30 pitches, "At about 67 percent effort," said Pole. "He threw with no effort and no distress. I was surprised how well he located after not throwing for so long off a mound."

Volquez will step it up Wednesdeay, more pitches (35 or so) and more effort, then step it up again Friday. If all goes well he'll head out on a rehab assignment.

"No timetable," said Pole. "It'll be like spring training — three innings the first time, then maybe five.""