Dodger Notebook : Guerrero Is Once Again Expected to Make a Late Entrance

They say that baseball players gather here in the spring, like so many migrating birds. If that’s true, some birds take wing later than others.

There’s always a reason, of course. A leaking roof, perhaps, or maybe an expired passport. And you can imagine how Dominican Independence Day can wreck your flight plans.

So if Pedro Guerrero, who has encountered all of the above in his travels, doesn’t arrive with the rest of the Dodgers when the full squad reports today, don’t be surprised. The Dodgers won’t.

“He said his plans weren’t settled yet, but he probably will be in March 1,” said Dodger Vice President Al Campanis, who spoke to Guerrero by telephone last week.

“He said he had some business matters to take care of. I’m not worried about it.”

Neither, it appears, is Guerrero, who technically has until March 1 to report without being late, under the terms of the Basic Agreement.

The Dodgers aren’t taking any chances with two other Dominican players on their roster, Mariano Duncan and Jose Gonzalez. They’ll be coming in from Los Angeles, where they underwent physicals.

Fred Claire, the Dodgers’ executive vice president, said he still has received no word on the status of Enos Cabell, who was interviewed by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth after testifying in last summer’s drug trial in Pittsburgh. A spokesman for the commissioner’s office said no announcement would be forthcoming Monday, and probably not today, on what disciplinary action, if any, Ueberroth plans to take against the players involved or named in the Pittsburgh case.

Tom Lasorda, on Dick Williams’ resignation as manager of the San Diego Padres: “Why would he wait till now? I’m surprised, certainly, at the timing of it. Dick is a former teammate, a former Dodger. I thought he was a heckuva competitor and did a good job. He created a good rivalry down there.”

Lasorda, on the problems Williams had last season with his players and management: “I couldn’t figure out what was going on, what the problems were, but I certainly didn’t expect this.”

Bill Russell: “I don’t think they (the Padres) will have a problem. They’re a good veteran team. It might help over there, the way the attitude was.”

Campanis is flying back to L.A. for the funeral Wednesday of Jim Sogoian, the president of the carpenters’ union of Southern California. “My best friend,” said Campanis, who often invited Sogoian to sit in his private box at Dodger Stadium. Campanis, who also is nursing a heavy cold, is planning to return by Thursday. . . . Two Dodger players remain unsigned: Duncan and Franklin Stubbs. Campanis talked to Stubbs’ agent, Richie Bry, on Monday, and said that Duncan’s agent, Tony Attanasio, was backed up by the Greg Brock arbitration case. . . . Several Dodgers lifted the “Wide Load” sign off a trailer-pulling van and placed it above the locker of relief pitcher Ken Howell, who weighed in at 231 pounds last week. His listed weight is 216. . . . Tom Niedenfuer, scheduled to throw batting practice Monday, quit after just a few pitches because of a stiff back. He did run, however, and Dodger trainer Bill Buhler said he should be OK shortly.