Dodgers : Jay Howell Given Extra Work, and He’s Satisfied

Jay Howell was the only Dodger player wearing a white uniform instead of a blue pullover jersey here Tuesday, but that wasn’t the only reason he stood out.

Howell, the Dodgers’ new right-handed short reliever, had agreed to pitch three innings for the Dodger triple-A team against Minnesota Twins minor leaguers. Howell was there, according to pitching coach Ron Perranoski, simply to log more work before the Dodgers leave today for Los Angeles.

Howell allowed a run and 5 hits in 3 innings, which didn’t seem so bad to Perranoski. “I thought he threw all right,” Perranoski said. “You’ll have to ask Jay what he thought. He’s worried about all sorts of different things he shouldn’t be worried about. I just wanted him to get the innings in, and he did it.”

Howell had struggled somewhat in the first two innings but pitched well in the third. He was concerned about breakdowns in his delivery, which he said he corrected in the third inning.

“(Perranoski) thought (pitching in the game) would be a pretty good thing to do,” Howell said. “I guess they wanted to give other guys work in the (regular) game. I felt the strongest in the last inning I threw. My mechanics were not right the first couple innings, but I’m satisfied.

“He said he wanted me to get the innings in, but maybe they wanted to see how I’d do stretching it out and how I’ll feel the next day.”

Pat Screnar, the Dodgers’ physical therapist, said Howell reported some forearm stiffness.

“(Wednesday) is when we’ll really tell,” Screnar said. “We’ll see how he bounces back, and we’ll go from there. I don’t think the three innings will really affect him. He threw two innings in his last outing. Perry just wanted to extend him. He tolerated it well, from what I can see.”

Before Tuesday, Howell had pitched 9 times but only for 9 innings and had not allowed an earned run.

Is that enough work to be ready for the season?

“It could be, or it couldn’t be, depending on the individual,” Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said. “If he’s healthy the next day after three innings today, then he’ll be ready. We’ve got a little less than a week left. Maybe we won’t need him the first three or four games, so that gives him more rest.”

Until his last two starts, Fernando Valenzuela had enjoyed one of his best springs. But Valenzuela was hit hard last week by the Boston Red Sox, then Tuesday gave up 7 runs and 9 hits in 6 innings in the Dodgers’ 10-9 win over the Kansas City Royals in 10 innings.

So, in his last two starts, Valenzuela’s earned-run average has jumped from 1.06 to 4.50. Assistant trainer Charlie Strasser said that Valenzuela has not complained of shoulder stiffness or arm pain.

Valenzuela still is expected to be the Dodgers’ opening-day pitcher, although Lasorda has yet to announce his choice.

Right fielder Mike Davis made his first appearance since spraining his left ankle March 15 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Davis went 0 for 4 but hit the ball hard twice. He said that his ankle was relatively pain-free.

“Last night, (the ankle) felt kind of tender,” Davis said. “But I’m pleased with the way she felt today, except she got a little tired at the end. I’ve been doing cutting and baserunning and I feel OK.”

Fred Claire, the Dodgers’ executive vice president, said he will announce today whether the club will keep nonroster catcher Rick Dempsey as the backup.

Dempsey has outplayed Alex Trevino, but Trevino has a $300,000 guaranteed contract.

Claire and Dempsey met Tuesday morning and plan to meet again today.

“Rick has worked hard, done everything we’ve asked,” Claire said. “It’s not an easy decision because we’re only going to keep two catchers.”

Said Dempsey: “I don’t know what he’s going to do. He was very vague with me in the meeting.”

Claire also met recently with a scout from the Seattle Mariners, but he denied that he is working on a trade. The Mariners had previously expressed interest in Pedro Guerrero, Mike Marshall and Alejandro Pena.

“There are a lot of calls I get from GMs at this time of year because the clubs have cut down rosters and are looking at players in other organizations,” Claire said. “I don’t have any thoughts in mind as related to significant trades. This is it. This is the team I want. I think we’ve got the right group.”

Pena, sidelined for two weeks with a strained groin, threw on the side Tuesday for the second time in four days and felt no discomfort, according to trainers.

Perranoski said that Pena, slated for either long relief or the disabled list, will throw batting practice today and pitch during the Freeway Series.

If the pain persists, Pena will be put on the disabled list, and two of the four relievers vying for the 10th spot on the pitching staff will be retained.

Dodger Notes

Highlights from the Dodgers’ 10-9 win Tuesday night: Jeff Hamilton hit a 3-run homer off former Dodger Ted Power in the ninth inning to send the game to extra innings. The Dodgers rallied in the 10th, Power walking in the winning run with the bases loaded and one out. . . . Dodger reliever Jesse Orosco had another rocky outing. He walked three in one inning, forcing in a run.

Pedro Guerrero, Mike Marshall and John Shelby each had two hits. . . . Kirk Gibson was held out of the lineup with a strained right quadriceps muscle but pinch-hit in the 10th. The injury is not viewed as serious. . . . William Brennan and Tim Crews, two of the four pitchers battling for the final spot on the pitching staff, also pitched Tuesday. Brennan gave up 2 hits and an unearned run in 2 innings, and Crews pitched a scoreless 10th, picking up the win.

Donald Fehr, executive director of the players’ association, spoke to Dodger players for two hours Tuesday morning. The main topic was the state of the second collusion case for players eligible for free agency in 1986. Fehr said that arbitrator George Nicolau’s ruling is expected between April 15 and June 15. . . . The Dodgers will play their final Florida exhibition game today, against the Montreal Expos, then will return to Los Angeles tonight on a charter flight. They will have Thursday off before the start of the 3-game Freeway Series Friday at Dodger Stadium.