Dodgers : Orosco, Jay Howell Finally Provide Relief

At this stage of spring training, performances and results of pitchers are scrutinized as much as their physical well-being, which is why Dodger relievers Jay Howell and Jesse Orosco wanted to feel and throw well here Thursday.

Howell, coming off surgery on his right elbow, has had a sprained back, a tender right forearm and the flu this spring. But none of those problems surfaced during his two scoreless innings in relief of Fernando Valenzuela during the Dodgers’ 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox.

Orosco, meanwhile, had suffered only from a swollen earned-run average, 7.20, going into Thursday’s appearance, his seventh of the spring. This time, however, he struck out the side in the eighth inning in what clearly was his best spring performance.

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, who previously had been hesitant to criticize his short relievers but was also unable to praise them, said that both are now on schedule, with the start of the season less than two weeks away.

“I like to see them the last three or four games of spring, where they can go after them like they should during the season,” Lasorda said. “Sort of like the situation we brought in Howell (for) the other day (Tuesday in Plant City). A guy on second. Two outs.”

Howell struck out Nick Esasky of the Cincinnati Reds in that situation but had to leave the game with tenderness in his right forearm.

Although he had maintained that the soreness was not serious, Howell seemed relieved Thursday after giving up a hit and a walk.

“I felt a lot better the second inning I pitched than the first, but it was a good effort,” Howell said. “The first four weeks of spring training, you’re just trying to get your arm in shape.

“You’re just heaving the ball at the start of the spring. You can’t expect to have pinpoint control. Of course, I’ve never had pinpoint control, so what am I talking about? I’m making progress now. I just want to keep it going.”

Despite his medical problems, Howell has yet to give up an earned run in eight spring appearances spanning 8 innings.

“That’s miraculous,” Howell said, rolling his eyes.

Although he’s new to the team--he came from the New York Mets via the Oakland Athletics in the Bob Welch trade--and coming off surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow, Howell said he has not felt the need to prove himself this spring. “I didn’t want to come to camp and rush myself into shape and try to do something dazzling,” he said. “Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise, my being hurt. I haven’t rushed it. (Taking himself out of Tuesday’s game) might have been the first smart thing I’ve done, post-surgery.”

Orosco had had nothing but problems before Thursday. He had allowed 8 earned runs in 10 innings, and had given up 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks in a 4-inning game against the Dodgers’ triple-A team. All along, though, Orosco has said that he was merely working on elements of his pitching mechanics and was not concerned with the results. He retained that posture Thursday, even though the results were good.

“I did try to throw more strikes today than before,” Orosco said. “I had been trying to move the ball in and out, experimenting.

“The first four weeks of spring is to get your arm in shape and make sure that you’re not hurt. Now, I have to be ready. But then, even if I go out and get shelled on the last day of spring, it still won’t matter.”

As did Howell, Orosco refused to accept, or even acknowledge, any pressure that might come with being a Dodger short reliever.

“People are going to get what they see with me,” Orosco said. “They’ll get the best I can give them. I don’t worry about that. I’m going to have fun this season. I’m ready. I feel good about myself again.”

Dodger Notes

Steve Greenberg, agent for third base candidate Jeff Hamilton, is expected to meet with Fred Claire, the Dodgers’ executive vice president, today in Vero Beach, Fla., possibly to discuss a trade. “I will be meeting with Steve,” Claire said. “I don’t know the purpose of the meeting. This is the time of the year when I’ve met with a lot of player agents.” Said Hamilton, who had a single Thursday: “I can’t say anything now, but there should be some news tomorrow.” . . . Ben Hines, the Dodgers’ roving minor league hitting instructor last season after spending 1985 and ’86 with the major league team, will travel with the Dodgers full-time this season. Hines, who has helped Steve Sax and several other Dodgers this spring, will work with hitting coach Manny Mota. . . . Fernando Valenzuela, scheduled to pitch seven innings Thursday, lasted only five, partly because 10 Red Sox hitters came to the plate in the 4-run second inning. Regardless, Valenzuela said that his arm and shoulder felt fine and that he was reasonably pleased with his performance. . . . Pitching coach Ron Perranoski said that Orel Hershiser, who left his last spring start early with a twinge in his right elbow, will pitch only three or four innings today against Atlanta at Vero Beach, Fla. Perranoski said Hershiser will try to extend himself to six or seven innings next Wednesday, the final day of spring training before the Freeway Series. That would be Hershiser’s last appearance before the start of the season.