Dodgers : Balk Rule Comes Back to Haunt L.A. in 7-6 Loss to Astros

Before submerging his right elbow in a vat of ice water in the trainer’s room, Dodger pitcher William Brennan held the arm just above the surface for about two seconds.

Had he held his hands at his belt that long before starting his delivery with two outs in the ninth inning and the winning run on third base Thursday, the Dodgers might not have lost to the Houston Astros.

Brennan, sent out to protect a 6-5 lead in the ninth, was called for a balk because, home plate umpire Larry Poncino said, the Dodger right-hander did not bring his hands to a complete stop while keeping his feet planted before beginning his delivery.

The result was a 7-6 Houston win over the Dodgers, previously unbeaten in exhibition play.

So, what had been a routine spring game was transformed into another example of the heightened awareness by umpires in both leagues of enforcing the balk rule.

John McSherry, the crew chief in Thursday’s game, said the balk rule has not changed but there is more emphasis on two aspects of it: (1) That both feet must be planted when the pitcher’s hands come to a complete stop, and (2) that the pitcher must completely stop, “not a change of direction, like it used to be.”

Before Brennan’s balk, Dodger reliever Jay Howell had balked in a run from third base while trying to protect a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning. Also, Houston reliever Dave Smith was called for a balk in the top of the ninth, and Dodger pitcher Tim Leary was tagged with one in the fourth.

In the wake of the Charlie Hough episode earlier this week, in which the Texas Rangers’ knuckleballer was called for nine balks in one stint, many of the Dodgers were left confused by the sudden attention to the balk rule.

Brennan said there was no reason for a balk to be called on him.

“I don’t know if (the umpires) wanted to go home early, or what,” Brennan said. “I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. How much longer could I have sat there? I was set for two seconds. If I stop for two seconds, my leg is not going to be moving.

“What do they want us to do, count to 10 and say we wish we were in Kansas? This is the way I’ve always pitched and I’ve only had one other balk called on me, ever.

“We had a meeting the other day with Ed Vargo (the supervisor of umpires), but he didn’t say anything special about it. I don’t know whether he’s trying to make us think harder.”

Ron Perranoski, the Dodgers’ pitching coach, said he doesn’t know what the umpires’ motivation is behind the increase in balk calls. But he said it is not unprecedented.

“One time, back in the ‘60s, they called 52 balks in the first two weeks of the season,” Perranoski said. “Then, they decided to stop all that and go back to the way the rule was. The umpires are trying to prove something to somebody. I don’t know who.”

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda also was brooding.

“If they are all of a sudden going to call it now, they should call it during the season, too,” Lasorda said. “The rule has always been in effect. They are just calling it more now, for some reason. It was a hell of a way to lose a game.”

Alex Trevino is in the midst of his third spring with the Dodgers, so he figures it is about time that talk would begin about his possible departure.

The nomadic catcher, who has played for five teams in nine seasons, is battling veteran Rick Dempsey for the job as Mike Scioscia’s backup. It’s thought that the Dodgers would prefer to keep Dempsey and trade Trevino, who is starting the final season of his contract. Trevino has been through all of this before, and it doesn’t seem to faze him.

One rumor is that the Houston Astros, in need of a right-handed-hitting catcher, are interested in trading for Trevino. Bill Wood, the Astros’ general manager, said he has not talked with the Dodgers this spring about Trevino, but it doesn’t seem a total coincidence that Trevino’s two spring starts have been against Houston.

Trevino played 6 innings and went 0 for 3 Thursday.

One reason Trevino does not seem especially concerned about his situation, unlike other Dodgers competing for roster spots, is that he has a guaranteed contract. He will earn $300,000 this season, plus $250,000 that the Atlanta Braves owe him under terms of a previous contract.

Although Trevino has financial security, he doesn’t have job security.

“I believe that I’m not in any type of competition,” Trevino said. “They are the ones who are going to decide. Actually, I think (Dempsey) is the one who’s going to have to prove himself. He didn’t play much (in Cleveland) last year. I think they’ll basically get the same out of me as (Dempsey), so they got to decide what’s best for them.

“I’m in a good situation to wind up somewhere,” Trevino said. “You can say it’s a dream situation. I’m in the last year of my contract, so I’m a free agent (next season). The contract is guaranteed. A lot of guys have nice contracts, but they aren’t guaranteed.”

If the Dodgers do, indeed, prefer to keep Dempsey, they would either have to trade Trevino or put him on waivers and pay him the balance of his $300,000 if another club picked him up for the $62,500 minimum.

“It’s tough to trade people in the last year of their contract, so they usually get waived,” Trevino said. “The Dodgers did it last year with Jerry Reuss and they had to eat a million and a half dollars. I’m not saying that’s going to happen to me, but . . . “

But Trevino has heard the trade rumors. The talk of a trade with Houston, however, has not even progressed much into the talking stage. Wood has expressed a greater interest in Milwaukee backup catcher Bill Schroeder and is trying to pursue a trade there.

“To me, it makes me feel great when they say that (a team is interested) in me,” Trevino said. “When they stop wanting you, then it’s time to find a new job. A guy like me is good for a team. I’ve never been trouble to anyone and I do my job.”

Dodger Notes

Pedro Guerrero, Steve Sax, Mike Marshall and Alfredo Griffin did not make the trip to Kissimmee. . . . Fernando Valenzuela pitched three hitless innings, and Tim Leary gave up one run and two hits in three innings. Reliever Tim Crews had his first rough outing of the spring, giving up four straight singles and three runs in the eighth inning. . . . John Shelby, who had been 2 for 17 before Thursday, had 2 hits and 2 RBIs.