Marshall Is ‘Shocked’ by Guerrero’s Outburst

A muscle strain in his left thigh sidelined Mike Marshall again Friday night.

A malingering accusation pained Marshall more.

“I’m not happy about it. I’m kind of shocked by it,” the Dodger right fielder said. “Anyone who questions my willingness to play really disappoints me.

“I just don’t feel I have to defend myself.”

Marshall almost had to defend himself with more than words in the wake of the Dodgers’ 1-0 loss to the Houston Astros Thursday night.

Pedro Guerrero, reportedly frustrated by the fact that he had walked three times as Houston pitcher Jim Deshaies took advantage of Marshall’s absence to pitch around Guerrero, confronted Marshall near the trainer’s room, verbally attacked his manliness, according to sources, and had to be restrained by Mickey Hatcher.

Guerrero’s shouting drew Manager Tom Lasorda and the media from his office. The involved players were hustled into the trainer’s room and the door was slammed.

There were virtually no comments when the door opened 30 minutes later, and only Marshall delved into it Friday, though Lasorda held a team meeting in which he reportedly told his players to put a lid on it and put it behind them.

“Things like that happen ever day--not only in baseball but in life,” he said. “By talking about it I would just make more of it than should be made of it. There’s nothing to it.”

Guerrero feigned ignorance.

“Nothing happened,” he said. “Who said something happened?

“The only problem we had was with the pitcher. I have no problems with any of my teammates.”

Marshall didn’t sound so sure.

“This incident is over,” he said, “but I don’t think the attitude that some people have toward me will change.

“If Pete missed my bat in the lineup, that was all he had to say. He doesn’t have to accuse me of faking an injury.

“I don’t think I can be charged for losing a game. I don’t think I should have fingers pointed at me.

“The only thing I can say for Pete is that he came at me in a direct way. Most of the time it’s you guys (the writers) who bring me anonymous quotes or I can read the attitude on a guy’s face. I can just tell what he’s thinking. There’s been a lot of incidents.”

Guerrero simply gave voice to the whispers, erupting after Marshall was a late lineup scratch Thursday when he experienced the muscle strain during batting practice.

Marshall missed most of the second half last year with a mechanical back strain. Now he has missed another 25 games because of surgery for the removal of a wart from the base of his left index finger, a recurrence of the back problem and the leg strain.

He also missed 27 games in 1985 following an appendectomy and spent three weeks on the disabled list in 1984 following surgery for a nerve problem in his foot.

“With the exception of the back,” Marshall said, “every time I say something is wrong with me they end up cutting it out. I don’t make it up.

“I’m on a one-year contract and have nothing to gain by sitting out. I’m trying to put up numbers for myself and the team. I can’t do that when I’m hurt. I want to be out there.

“I mean, I came back (from the surgery to remove the wart) earlier than anyone thought I would. I worked hard. It was supposed to be three weeks and I was playing in 17 days. I mean, I was playing hard and playing well.

“Last night I stepped into the batting cage and felt the strain in the muscle. I wasn’t able to play, but I guess some people weren’t able to accept that.

“It’s just a shock. To be charged with not wanting to play is ridiculous.”

It may be more than that.

There could now be a residue of tension and bitterness. Some might call it dissension.

Said Vice President Fred Claire:

“Any time you have an exchange between two players you have to be concerned, but I’m satisfied with the way Tommy has handled it and I’m not overly concerned.

“I think you have to consider the competitive nature of the players involved. I don’t think it will linger. At least, I’m hopeful it won’t.”