Spring Training / Dodgers : This Season, Gonzalez Gets a Good Jump on His Outfield Competition

Jose Gonzalez, last season’s supposed rookie phenomenon who fizzled in spring training, seems to be showing the talents that Dodger Vice President Al Campanis said he has possessed all along.

Saturday, in the Dodgers’ first intrasquad game of spring training, Gonzalez improved his standing as a contender to unseat Ken Landreaux as the starting center fielder. Gonzalez, 22, had a single and an RBI and made two running, tumbling catches in right field.

Most impressive, however, was when Gonzalez scored from second base on a deep sacrifice fly to center field in the fifth inning. The speedy Gonzalez, considered the fastest player in camp, easily beat the relay throw from shortstop Dave Anderson to catcher Mike Scioscia.

In the press box, Campanis was gloating. For more than a year, he has been pushing Gonzalez as a future star, even though the 6-foot 2-inch, 196-pound Dominican hit just .059 last spring and .277 last season at Albuquerque.

The way Campanis is talking, Gonzalez has the potential to beat out Landreaux and non-roster longshot Mike Ramsey for the job in center field. At the very least, he’ll be in competition with Ramsey, Ralph Bryant and Reggie Williams for the fourth outfielder spot.

“Once every 25 years, a scout comes across a guy like this,” said Campanis, who watched the teams play to a 3-3 tie in the six-inning game. “He has all the tools. You know, he wins the 60-yard dash here every year. I think he’s going to be a great player. You don’t give up on a guy like that. I hope he makes it soon.”

Said Gonzalez: “I feel a lot more confident this year. I tried to do too much (last spring) and I didn’t take advantage of the chance they gave me. I put too much pressure on myself.”

Gonzalez also sprained a wrist that not only bothered him throughout spring training but remained sore all last season and in winter ball.

The Dodgers are attempting to change Gonzalez from a power hitter to a contact hitter who can reach base and then use his speed. Gonzalez says he likes his new role. “I feel good about that,” he said. “I’ve been working just to hit the ball up the middle. I’ve been working on bunting a lot, too. They just want me to get on the bases.”

About scoring from second base, Gonzalez said: “This is the first time I’ve done that. When I saw (Landreaux) running back so fast (for the ball), I thought I might have a chance. I just kept running.” Landreaux, the incumbent center fielder who says he does not yet consider Gonzalez a threat, said he didn’t really try to throw out Gonzalez after running down Alex Trevino’s deep fly.

“Yeah, I knew he could score,” Landreaux said. “I would’ve had to stop on a dime, turn and throw to get him. I’m not going to do that (in spring training). I would break my legs doing that.”

Lasorda also is impressed with Gonzalez, though not to the extent Campanis is.

“He’s got a lot of talent, and if he does his job like we think he’s capable of, he can make the club,” Lasorda said. “He can field and throw and run. I think he’s one of the fastest guys in camp.”

To be exact, the speedy Gonzalez has won the Dodgers’ annual 60-yard dash five straight springs.

In an incident that was both comical and symbolic, Campanis, 70, wrestled relief pitcher Ken Howell, 26, to the ground and pinned him Saturday in a good-natured scuffle on a practice field.

That confrontation typifies the position in which Campanis and the Dodgers have Howell during contract negotiations. Howell earned $175,000 last season, and the Dodgers want to cut his pay by $20,000. Howell, who went 6-12 and had a 3.87 earned-run average, wants a slight raise.

If the sides don’t reach a compromise by Monday, the Dodgers have the option of renewing Howell’s contract for as low as $140,000. Campanis said the club will renew Howell’s contract as soon as they can, but they won’t renew it any lower than their original offer of $155,000.

Howell has voiced his displeasure with the negotiations several times during camp. So, when he and Campanis were rolling on the turf, teammates were urging Howell to take out his frustrations. Instead, he sort of let Campanis pin him.

Fellow reliever Tom Niedenfuer provided these words of comfort to Howell afterward: “You could probably make a lot more money from workmen’s comp if you had got hurt.”

Pedro Guerrero update: Guerrero played all six innings on the same field in which he suffered his fateful left knee injury last spring.

Guerrero went 0 for 3 but made contact each at-bat. His last at-bat, though hit hard, was a game-ending double-play ball.

In the field, it was a different story. Guerrero lost a routine fly ball in the overcast and raised his arms in exasperation while the ball fell to the ground. Jack Perconte, who hit the fly, wound up at third base. They gave him a triple.

Dodger Notes

Matt Young, the Dodgers’ new left-handed short reliever, made his debut Saturday. Young pitched two innings, allowing a walk, two singles and no runs. Young said he was nervous. That was evident when Young walked the first batter he faced on four pitches. He settled down after that and impressed Lasorda. “I thought his ball had a lot of movement,” Lasorda said. Young’s self-evaluation: “I had good velocity, but no idea (of location). I think sooner or later this spring I’ve got to show them it was a good idea to get me. But the first couple of times doesn’t mean that much.” . . . Pitcher Orel Hershiser strained his right knee in workouts Saturday, but trainer Bill Buhler said it is not serious. “He just twisted it,” Buhler said. “We’ll have the doctor check him again (today). He should be able to throw.” . . . Shortstop Mariano Duncan missed the game with a migraine headache. . . . Third baseman Bill Madlock missed the game after visiting a doctor and being fitted for orthotics for his feet. But Campanis said he was under the impression Madlock had a sore shoulder. . . . The Dodgers will hold an intrasquad game today. Pitchers expected to see action are Hershiser, Rick Honeycutt, Jerry Reuss, Shawn Hillegas, Tim Leary and William Brennan.