Dodgers : Orosco Says He Isn’t Worried, It’s Only Spring

There is little correlation between Jesse Orosco’s self-evaluation and the cold, hard results of his recent pitching outings. Of course, such gulfs sometimes exist in the spring, but this seems to be developing into an extreme case.

Orosco, the Dodgers’ recently acquired million-dollar reliever, had another rough stint Friday in the team’s 6-5 exhibition victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Sent in to preserve a one-run lead in the ninth inning, Orosco gave up a home run to John Russell.

The Dodgers won it in the bottom of the ninth, Orosco getting credit for the win. But that is one of the few favorable statistics next to Orosco’s name during spring games. Orosco has allowed 8 earned runs and 19 baserunners in 10 innings. He has given up 11 hits, including 2 home runs, and has walked 8. But he does have 1 save and 2 wins.

If Orosco looked closely at his spring statistics, which he doesn’t, he might find them disconcerting. But he maintains that he still is experimenting.

“During the season, I’d be angry after something like this,” said Orosco about Thursday’s performance. “But not now. I’m just doing my job, working on the things I need to get ready for the season. I’ll be ready.

“I don’t care what people think. I don’t think I’ve ever had an ERA under 7 in the spring. Maybe in the last week or so, I’ll start putting things together and get away from the big hits.”

If Manager Tom Lasorda and pitching coach Ron Perranoski are worried, they are masters at concealment.

Said Lasorda: “He’s not putting the ball where he wants to, but everybody gives up runs during the spring, I think. Like any relief pitcher, he’s got to build up his arm.”

Said Perranoski: “I really don’t worry at all about that, unless the guy complains of a sore arm. And he hasn’t. I’ll tell you something: Years ago, Larry Sherry (former Dodger relief pitcher) did not give up a run all spring and then couldn’t get anyone out during the season. So, what does that tell you?”

After each outing, Orosco has shrugged off the result and spoken only in generalities.

“I thought I threw well today,” Orosco said. “I threw mostly fastballs this time. Last time (Tuesday, when he gave up four runs against Montreal in Puerto Rico), I threw mostly breaking pitches. I try to work on something different each time. If (opponents) start hacking on me, well, that’s fine.

“The only thing I’m not happy with is the control on my fastball. But I just have to be ready when I leave. When you first get between the lines at the start of the season, you never really know whether you’ll have a good season. But if you work on specific things in the spring, you can eliminate some of the problems and hope to pitch better.”

Dodger Notes

Tim Belcher said he didn’t consider it a slight or anything, but he was wondering why he pitched only four innings Thursday, not five, as most other Dodger starting pitching candidates have done. Belcher allowed two earned runs and seven hits in four innings and said he felt he could have easily stretched it another inning. “It could be good or bad why I didn’t go five,” he said. “Maybe they’ve seen enough of me and want to see somebody else. I just figured a few other guys have gone five, and I thought I would, too.”

Pitching coach Ron Perranoski had the reason. “He threw 64 pitches,” Perranoski said. “That’s enough. And his spot in the (batting) order came up. He’ll go five Tuesday (against Cincinnati).”

Belcher, who came to the Dodgers from the Oakland organization last fall with a reputation for wildness, has walked only 2 batters in 14 innings. Belcher said he thinks the Dodgers will wait as long as possible before deciding which pitchers will fill the openings in the starting rotation. “I don’t know what to expect, because I’ve never been through this type of situation before,” he said. “Now, a few of us have had a rough outing, so it’s still wide open. You’d think they’d want to commit themselves soon, but I guess a lot can happen in two weeks.”

Tim Crews, battling Brian Holton and William Brennan for the 10th spot on the pitching staff, pitched two hitless innings Thursday. Brad Havens gave up four hits and one run in two innings. . . . Craig Shipley had a pinch single Thursday and scored the winning run on Mike Devereaux’s single. Shipley is 8 for 11 in his last five games. . . . Steve Sax extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a first-inning single.

Mike Davis said his ankle injury is healing rapidly and he hopes to return to action in less than a week. “I feel that good, like I can play in a few days,” Davis said. “The progress has been extreme.” But assistant trainer Charlie Strasser said that Davis still is a week to 10 days away from returning. . . . Mickey Hatcher took batting practice and had a limited workout. He is hobbled by a strained left hamstring. . . . Among the fans at Thursday’s game: Steve Garvey, President Bartlett Giamatti of the National League, and Bowie Kuhn, former baseball commissioner.