Hershiser, Andujar to Pitch in Game 2

Orel Hershiser, undefeated at Dodger Stadium this year, will start Game 2 of the National League playoffs for the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight, with Joaquin Andujar going for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Hershiser, who posted a 19-3 record with a 2.03 earned-run average, was 11-0 at Dodger Stadium with a 1.08 ERA. He was 1-1 with a 3.10 ERA against St. Louis in three starts, but defeated the Cardinals, 2-1, in his only decision against them at Dodger Stadium.

He will be making his first post-season appearance.

Andujar was 21-12 with a 3.40 ERA, but he lost four of his last 12 decisions and did not pitch very well in the last month of the season.

Andujar, however, has a perfect 3-0 record in post-season play, with a playoff and two World Series victories in 1982.

He was 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA in three starts against Los Angeles.

“Joaquin is a great competitor,” said Hershiser. “He’s a gamer and he throws a lot of strikes. I kind of view myself that way. I don’t walk a lot of people. I go after people. Both of us strike out the same amount so I think that it’s going to be a good matchup.

“I hope both of us are going to be on our game.”

From deep in the hole or from a spot behind second base, Bill Russell was accustomed to catching the ball and throwing it. Wednesday night brought new ground for the 16-year veteran to cover.

While his teammates were readying themselves for the opening of the National League playoff series with the St. Louis Cardinals, Russell, the dean of the Dodgers, was an outsider feeling like an insider.

Russell, the link between past and current champions, was asked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch from the pitcher’s mound. An eye ailment forced the Dodgers to remove the 36-year-old player from their 25-man post-season roster.

“I’m basically going to be a coach, something I’ve done the whole season,” Russell said. “I won’t do much instruction. I’m going to remind the guys not to get down. That’s what I did earlier in the season. When we were going bad, I told the young guys, ‘Don’t get down. Times will change.”’

They have. The Dodgers, nearly forgotten before summer, surged to the top of the NL West with a blistering run.

Now, in the midst of a battle for their first pennant since 1981, the Dodgers have made Russell an ineligible player. The soft-spoken veteran, who has a .337 average in five playoff series, has been hampered by blurred vision in his right eye.

“I noticed it the last time we played New York here,” Russell said. “It was the Sunday game (Sept. 8) and my depth perception was off. I’d never noticed it before. The doctors say it’s gonna go away eventually, but it’s going to take a little time.”

Russell said the Dodgers consulted him before replacing him on the roster with shortstop Dave Anderson.

“I made the decision,” he said. “I don’t have depth perception, it’s that simple. Everything now (in the post-season) is so crucial. If I were there, I wouldn’t be doing the team or myself justice. I would be fooling myself.”

By his own admission, Russell is no longer a key Dodger. He played in just 76 games, batting .260. Team management has kept him around for the leadership and stability he brings.

“The other (winning Dodger) teams were power teams,” he said. “In ’77 and ‘78, you were expected to win. This team was not expected to do this well this early. At the beginning of the season, we didn’t do the little things to complement the pitching staff. We couldn’t even make the routine play and it hurt us.

“Then we all kinda pulled together. Pete (Pedro Guerrero) got hot and he set off a chain reaction.”

Converted second baseman Mariano Duncan is now the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop. His play was critical in the team’s turnaround.

“He has really adjusted to the role,” Russell said of the rookie. “After two months, he was calling and he was covering. He had a tendency to play deep and when it came to cover second base on a steal or play, he was a little late. But we talked to him and he remembered.

“He has made better plays than I ever thought I’d make.”

While the days of watching Russell at shortstop are winding down, the days of seeing him in uniform are not.

“When retirement happens, coaching is in my plans,” he said. “I don’t want to manage. I’m not qualified. I want to be a coach and get my feet wet.”

Sixteen seasons in the major leagues might prove to be the perfect classroom.