Howe Will Soon Pitch Again for Dodgers, Source Predicts

While talks between the Dodgers and Steve Howe’s attorney, Jim Hawkins, continued Tuesday, a source close to the situation predicted that Howe will pitch again for the Dodgers and “much faster than anybody thinks.”

“I hope this will be resolved in a day or so,” the source said. “Yes, it’s my impression (that he will pitch with the Dodgers again). It’s not quite the way it appeared.”

At the moment, Howe remains on baseball’s restricted list, which makes him unavailable to play until the Dodgers request that he be reinstated by the commissioner’s office. Howe was placed on the list after he failed to appear for last Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves and was declared “incapable of handling his assignment as a member of the Dodger team” by Fred Claire, executive vice president of the Dodgers.

Dodger publicist Steve Brener confirmed talks were continuing.

“We’re still putting the pieces of the puzzle together,” Brener said. “We were in contact with Jim Hawkins today, but that’s all we can say at this time.”

Hawkins, contacted at his home Tuesday evening, had no comment.

“I’m not going to give any comments,” Hawkins said. “I’m tired. I’ve been called from 5 in the morning until midnight.

“Yes, we have talked with the Dodgers, but the Dodgers are making all comments. Me and my office are simply not able to cope with this.”

All indications are that the Dodgers are satisfied with the results of the urine test Howe took Monday, which did not detect any drug use.

“My information is that they’re satisfied with all tests to demonstrate no drug relationship,” said Donald Fehr, the executive director of the Major League Players Assn., who has been in contact with Hawkins.

“Whether there is occasion for us to get involved remains to be seen.”

Earlier, Fehr had told reporters he might consider filing a grievance on Howe’s behalf if the Dodgers kept him on the restricted list indefinitely, saying such action would be improper. But Fehr appeared to be backing away from doing so Tuesday.

There is increasing speculation that Howe--who was hit hard in his last two relief outings--may be suffering from depression.

“He cried like a baby after he gave up that home run last Friday,” another source close to the team said. “He was utterly depressed. And people do a lot of bizarre things when they’re depressed.”

Another Dodger player said he had not talked to Howe but had spoken to a mutual friend. When asked if he thought Howe might return to the Dodgers, the player said: “I don’t know if he wants to.”

One source said that Howe asked the Dodgers for some time off.

“That’s my understanding,” the source said. “ . . . We’re talking about a fragile personality. A lot of people need a few days off when things get to ‘em. But when you’re a baseball player you can’t, especially someone with his (Howe’s) background.”

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said he has not spoken to Howe. Asked if he tried to call Howe, Lasorda said: “I’ve been busy all day.” Asked if he intended to call Howe, Lasorda said: “Yeah.”

Dodger pitching coach Ron Perranoski, a friend of Howe’s, said he, too, has not heard from the left-handed reliever. At this time, Perranoski said, he is proceeding under the assumption that Howe won’t be available in the near future.

Dodger owner Peter O’Malley, who attended Monday’s meeting with Howe and Hawkins, continues to be involved in negotiations, a team official said.