Gibson Says He Won’t Be Ready by April 2 Opener

The negotiations’ battle between baseball’s owners and players has recorded its first Dodger casualty. Kirk Gibson said Friday that because of reduced spring training time, the team will have to start the season without him.

“I didn’t think I was going to be ready with a full spring. . . . Now, if they are just going to give us three weeks, for sure I’m not going to be ready,” said Gibson, the Dodger outfielder who is recovering from knee surgery performed last August.

“You have to understand, I haven’t picked up a bat or ball in months. I’m recovering from major surgery, and I’m not going to rush it like last year, no matter what.

“I’m going to make sure I’m healthy . . . and that is going to take more than three weeks.”

Admitted Fred Claire, Dodger vice president: “I do have a concern about Kirk because time is short. . . . Things will definitely not be normal for anybody.”

That means Kal Daniels, who said he has recovered from last summer’s arthroscopic knee surgery, probably would start the season on April 2 in left field. Hubie Brooks, who was being considered as a third base candidate, would stay in right field.

Gibson said he continues to strengthen his legs in gyms near his home in Michigan. But he is sticking to his plan of not playing until he can benefit from the facilities and supervision at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla.

“I am staying in shape, but even if I was retired, I would be staying in shape,” he said. “I’m just not fooling with baseball until I get down there. That has been the plan all along. I’m not taking any chances this time.”

As the owners’ lockout drags past its 23rd day, even the physically sound Dodgers are having workout problems.

“We’ve lost our motivation. We’ve lost people to work out with,” said Mickey Hatcher from his desert home, an hour’s drive from Phoenix.

Hatcher’s workout schedule?

“I run up and down my driveway,” he said. “I lift some barbells in my house. I go in the back yard and swing against this machine that soft-tosses the ball to you.”

Any throwing?

“With whom?” he asked. “There’s nobody in the desert to throw to. I could play catch with my wife, but there’s not enough windows in the house.”

Dodger Notes

Pitcher Tim Belcher’s contract was unilaterally renewed Friday for about $450,000. He had asked for $850,000. “I feel like I’ve been sat on a little bit,” said Belcher, a two-year player who was renewed at $225,000 last season. “Next year, I will make sure I get exactly what the market says I’m worth, and if it means getting into an adversary relationship with the team, so be it.”

The Dodgers also renewed the contracts of pitcher Ramon Martinez and outfielder Jose Gonzalez and signed pitchers John Wetteland and Tim Crews to one-year contracts.