Dodger Notebook : Pena Delivers Some 90-M.P.H. Pitches, Too

Don McMahon, the Dodger coach who sits behind home plate and charts the pitches, didn’t need to consult the radar gun to know that Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets consistently threw faster than 90 m.p.h. Friday afternoon against the Dodgers.

But McMahon probably had to check twice to make sure there wasn’t an error when the gun showed that Dodger pitcher Alejandro Pena, still trying to come back from major shoulder surgery in 1985, threw pitches at 90 m.p.h. during his two innings of work.

Pena said he feels close to regaining the velocity and movement on his pitches that he had in 1984, when he was the National League’s earned-run average leader at 2.48.

“I feel strong, like before,” he said after giving up one unearned run and no hits in two innings of the Dodgers’ 5-2 loss to the Mets. “I’m not afraid to let it out and pitch at full strength. I have my confidence. I think I can be back like I was before.”

Pena, battling with Tim Leary and Jerry Reuss for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, has been the subject of trade rumors. When he made his spring debut Monday, scouts from three teams watched him pitch. Cleveland is said to be very interested.

“It doesn’t bother me,” Pena said of the trade rumors. “I’m glad somebody’s looking for me. A lot of guys lose jobs and don’t have other teams interested. But I’d like for it to work out here. But if (the Dodgers) want to trade me, they can.”

Ron Perranoski, Dodger pitching coach, was impressed by Pena.

“That’s what we are looking for from him, that velocity,” Perranoski said. “I don’t think he has the consistent movement he had (in 1984), but the biggest thing is for him to have the confidence that he can pitch like that again.”

As promised, Pedro Guerrero apologized to his Dodger teammates Friday for missing Thursday’s game against Houston. Guerrero said he overslept and missed the bus to Kissimmee by four hours.

In a brief team meeting several hours before Friday’s game, Guerrero told the players the same thing he told reporters and Dodger management Thursday night. Guerrero, fined an undisclosed amount by the club, said it would not happen again.

This was not the first meeting the Dodgers have had concerning the conduct and attitude of Guerrero, a chronic late arrival. Last season, some players grumbled because Guerrero missed games and practices while rehabilitating his injured left knee.

“We’ve had enough of that negative feeling stuff in the past,” said Dave Anderson, the club’s player representative. “We don’t need it now, especially here in spring training when we’re trying to get ready for the season. It’s over. We’ll try to forget about it.”

Guerrero had a hit Friday, making him 3 for 13 this spring.

“I want to get some hits,” Guerrero said. “But I really just want to be ready for the season.”

Add Gooden: After being knocked around for nine runs in two innings of his first spring appearance last week, Gooden started Friday’s game with a 40.50 earned-run average.

He reduced that to 16.00 by pitching four scoreless innings against the Dodgers. He gave up hits to Mike Marshall, Mariano Duncan and Chris Gwynn.

“I felt a little more relaxed,” Gooden said. “That first game, it had been a long time since the World Series and I was anxious to pitch again. Maybe I looked forward to the first outing a little too much. This time, I just worked on some things.”

Dodger Notes Third baseman Bill Madlock has been bothered by a sore shoulder and did not play Friday. Said Manager Tom Lasorda: “I’m hoping Madlock can play. He means a lot to us.” . . . Bob Welch, bothered by an annual bone spur flare-up in his right elbow, will make his spring debut today in a B game against the Montreal Expos. . . . Fernando Valenzuela will start and probably pitch three innings in today’s regular game against the Expos. . . . The Dodgers had a poor defensive game Friday, making five errors. They weren’t red hot on offense, either. Mike Marshall was the only bright light with two hits and an RBI.