Dodgers : Ken Howell Tries to Sell Tired Arm

As the dark clouds rolled into Dodgertown at noon on Sunday, Dodger pitcher Ken Howell stepped off the mound after pitching three innings of a “B” game against the Atlanta Braves that eventually would be called because of darkness.

Howell, it seemed, was working under apt meteorological conditions. The forecast for Howell earning a spot in the Dodger starting rotation--before and, especially, after--Sunday’s outing continues to be gloomy with a slight chance of partial clearing.

Against a collection of a few Brave regulars but mostly minor leaguers, Howell threw nearly 60 pitches in 3 innings, giving up 4 runs and walking 3. In a four-run first inning alone, Howell threw 32 pitches.

Despite the poor effort, neither Howell nor pitching coach Ron Perranoski seemed overly concerned. Maybe that is because Howell is working under different conditions than the other pitchers battling for a spot in the rotation. Howell is coming off surgery to remove the tip of the clavicle from his right shoulder, and his spring progress has not exactly been swift. Knowing that other Dodger pitching aspirants have better statistics so far in the spring, Howell said he is trying to concentrate more on results and less on rehabilitation.

“I don’t want to make every outing an experiment,” Howell said. “It’s the time now where I have got to worry about getting guys out. I’ve been out three times now, just worrying about my release point and mechanics and everything except getting guys out.

“It’s been tough. Already, when I came down here, I was a step behind. And here I am trying to get the strength back in my shoulder and make the club with only two weeks left (in spring training). When you’re in a position to make the club, it just isn’t good to work on specific mechanics and not concern yourself with results. Because, in the end, the runs you gave up might be a determining factor in their decision. And that’s not right.”

Howell didn’t expect an easy comeback following surgery. He has found that, despite having close to the same 90-mile-per-hour speed he had before the operation, his shoulder tires easily. The three innings he pitched Sunday were tough on him, Howell said.

“By the third (inning), it was starting to get tired,” Howell said. “But I was experimenting a lot, especially with the curveball. When I’d go 2-and-0 on a hitter, I’d try to get the curve over because they were looking for the fastball. Doing things that way, I know I’m going to throw a lot of pitches. So, it’s not like I’m shocked when I throw 30 or 40 pitches in an inning.”

Since he tires after two innings, Howell is nowhere near logging the minimum five or six innings necessary to be an effective starting pitcher.

Perranoski said the Dodgers consider Howell only a candidate for a starting spot, not bullpen work. Howell, however, is lobbying for a stint in the bullpen to start the season as an alternative to returning to Triple-A in Albuquerque to build strength in his arm.

“I don’t see no reason to go back,” Howell said. “I don’t want it to seem like I have a snobby attitude, but I just want to pitch in the major leagues. That’s not to say I’m uncoachable. But I’m not getting younger, and I’ve got to work at getting my career going again.”

Once, Howell and Tom Niedenfuer were the Dodgers’ right-handed short relievers. Howell pitched himself out of that role midway through last season and was optioned to Albuquerque on Aug. 17 to learn how to become a starter. In two starts, Howell pitched 13 scoreless innings. But he suffered the shoulder injury in late August and, after eight weeks of rest, underwent surgery on Oct. 27. “People were shocked when they heard I threw 13 scoreless innings down there,” Howell said. “Why were they shocked? Didn’t they think I could do it? I don’t really think going back would help. There isn’t the competition down there for me.”