Dodgers : Guerrero Getting Into the Swing of Things as Season Nears

Spring training is not useless, Pedro Guerrero explained here Monday. It just is not his idea of a good time.

Guerrero figures that he needs only a couple of weeks--three at most--to get ready to start the season. This belief was reinforced in Guerrero’s play this spring. His batting average lingered in the low .200s for most of the spring but, with the regular season approaching, Guerrero’s bat suddenly has awakened.

His two hits Monday, in the Dodgers’ 8-5 win over the Montreal Expos in 11 innings, improved Guerrero’s average to .266.

Not great, but considerably better than when Guerrero last played against the Expos here March 19. That day, he went 0 for 4 and his batting average dropped to .218.

That day, when Guerrero passed Manager Tom Lasorda’s office after the game, Lasorda yelled encouraging words to Guerrero about his fielding. Guerrero’s retort was that the Dodgers pay him to hit, not field.

Now that he has raised his average to a respectable spring level, Guerrero says none of it matters.

“I feel ready for the season; let’s start it,” he said. “(Spring training) is too long. I believe the pitchers, they need the time. All I need is two or three weeks to get ready, unless I’m overweight. This spring, I came in in shape.

“I don’t care about average. I only notice it because you guys write about it. I know the kind of player I am. Nothing counts except the way I feel. And I feel I’m ready.”

Nonroster veteran Rick Dempsey seemingly cemented his spot as backup catcher to Mike Scioscia Monday. Dempsey doubled home the tiebreaking runs in the top of the 11th.

As part of his contract agreement with the Dodgers, Dempsey, 38, said the club will tell him today whether he will make the team. He is considered a better handler of pitchers than Alex Trevino, his competition for a roster spot, and lately his offense has been better.

Since Trevino already has demanded a trade--or a release--and has strongly criticized management, Dempsey seems a lock.

“I’ve done a little bit of everything,” he said. “I’ve driven in a few runs, worked with some pitchers, threw out a couple runners. Maybe they’ll keep me around.”

The Dodgers could have staged an old-timers’ promotion here Monday. Not only did 42-year-old Don Sutton pitch and 38-year-old Dempsey catch, but Lasorda was forced to use coach Bill Russell and special assignment scout Joe Ferguson as pinch-hitters in extra innings.

Only Lasorda could run out of players in a spring training game. He brought only 16 position players on the trip.

Ferguson pinch-hit for pitcher Shawn Hillegas in the 10th inning and grounded into a double play. An inning later, Russell grounded to second.

Had the game continued, Lasorda’s only choices would have been hitting instructor Ben Hines, bullpen coach Mark Cresse or equipment man Dave Wright.

Russell, who retired after the 1986 season, said he had not hit since last July, when he took batting practice before a game.

“It’s been a long time,” he said. “It felt strange.”

Sutton, meanwhile, extended himself to six innings for the first time this spring. He gave up three runs and seven hits, walked two and struck out one.

Six innings at a time were about as many as Sutton pitched last season with the Angels, but he said Monday that he felt strong.

“I could have even gone back out there,” Sutton said. “But there was nothing to prove by doing it. I felt good. Each time out, there’s been an improvement, as far as velocity and working on my mechanics.”

Dodger Notes

Tim Crews and Shawn Hillegas, two of four pitchers battling for the final spot on the 10-man pitching staff, threw Monday. Crews gave up one run and three hits in one inning, and Hillegas pitched two scoreless innings. . . . Fernando Valenzuela will make his final spring appearance when the Dodgers play the Kansas City Royals today in Vero Beach.