DODGER NOTEBOOK : Hershiser Doesn’t See Opener as an Honor

As surprises go, it will rank right up there with the Dodgers showing up in blue. As Orel Hershiser’s priorities go, it doesn’t rank at all.

But always in the mood for a challenge, Hershiser has agreed, if able, to be the Dodgers’ opening-day starting pitcher April 9 against San Diego and likely starter Bruce Hurst in Dodger Stadium.

“If things go fine, I’ll be there,” Hershiser said Saturday, confirming what would be the second opening-day start of his six-year career. “Of course, I’d rather be able to sit back and enjoy it. I’d rather be with everybody else watching the bands and the balloons. There will be a playoff atmosphere with no playoff value, and that will make it tough.

“But if they think it’s best for the team--which I guess they do if I’m ready--then I’ll be there.”

Of course, he won’t be there for long. Because of the abbreviated spring training, he will probably pitch just four innings, and will be followed by another Dodger starter.

“I really don’t know how long I’ll be able to go,” Hershiser said. “Ask me after I throw an inning or two.”

Those two innings will come Wednesday in Hershiser’s first spring appearance, against the Atlanta Braves in Vero Beach. He will probably pitch twice more before opening day, and will know before the April 6 beginning of the Freeway Series in Anaheim whether the arm is strong enough. If it is, he will remain behind in Vero Beach for at least a day to prepare for the April 9 start.

Not that he will be thinking about the start by then.

“I don’t draw my self-worth from an opening-day assignment,” he said, noting how last season, despite coming off his dream 1988 year, he missed his opening day start because of flu.

“On opening day you are still learning your body, still learning your pitches,” Hershiser said. “Considering the kind of hype surrounding the game, a pitcher is not necessarily ready for all that. I would rather have my first game of the year be something a little more low-key.”

And after all, Hershiser said, it is just one game.

“Everybody gets nervous, but the game itself does not count any more than the other 161 games,” Hershiser said. “Even with all the commotion, it’s just one game.”

In Hershiser’s only opening-day start, in 1987, he allowed the Houston Astros three earned runs in seven innings en route to a 4-3 loss. Entering this season, Fernando Valenzuela has started six of the last nine Dodger opening days, with the other three assignments going to Jerry Reuss (1982), Hershiser (1987) and Tim Belcher, who allowed six runs in 2 1/3 innings in a 6-4 loss to Cincinnati last year.

“It would not bother me not to start opening day again,” Belcher said. “Particularly not if I was going to get hammered again.”

In grooming Jim Gott to eventually share right-handed stopper duties with Jay Howell, the Dodgers are taking him back to his past. Gott is relearning a curveball from that noted teacher of the pitch, Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda.

“You can tell, he loves to teach it,” Gott said earlier this week after spending time on the mound working with Lasorda. “They will want me to work hand in hand with Jay, like Ken Dayley works with Todd Worrell in St. Louis, or like Jeff Robinson worked with me in Pittsburgh. And to do that, I have to get consistency on my curveball, to go with my fastball and slider.”

Dodger Notes

Two of the three extra players who will remain on the roster for the first 21 days of the season could be non-roster minor leaguers. Leading contenders for the positions are pitchers Jim Neidlinger and Don Aase. The other player will probably be a position player from the roster. . . . Dodger fans got a close look at the future Saturday when all three of last June’s No. 1 draft picks played at the Dodgertown complex. Pitcher Kiki Jones allowed a group of Montreal minor leaguers just two hits in three innings, and pitcher Jamie McAndrew allowed three runs in 2 1/3 innings. Outfielder Tom Goodwin went three for five with two triples and a stolen base. All three are scheduled to begin the summer at Class A Bakersfield. . . . Kirk Gibson remains unable to take batting or fielding practice while recovering from an inflamed left knee. . . . The pitchers for the Dodgers’ first spring game Monday against Minnesota in Orlando will be John Wetteland, Ray Searage and Tim Crews.