Baseball ’90 PREVIEW : Dodgers: Injuries Still Key Question : Preview: Team hopes solid pitching and new offensive punch can overcome aging and poor health in quest to return to the top.

We know you’ve got questions. You watched the Dodgers go from world champions to fourth place in 12 months, so naturally you are wondering, what can they possibly do now?

You’ve heard them talk all winter about improving their offense. You’ve heard them hope for a healthy Kirk Gibson and Kal Daniels. You’ve heard them brag about their new acquisitions and predict that, if healthy, this team is a contender.

But now that opening day has sneaked up on you, just seven days later than scheduled, you’ve got some last-minute questions.

Go ahead. Shoot.

Q: Just how old are the Dodgers?

A: You’ve heard of the Gas House Gang? The Bash Brothers? Meet Team Thirtysomething.

Moving around the infield, Eddie Murray is 34, Willie Randolph is 35, Alfredo Griffin is 33, Rick Dempsey is 40, Mike Scioscia is 31.

Now to the outfield, where Kirk Gibson is 32 and Hubie Brooks is 33.

On to the bullpen, where Ray Searage and Jay Howell are both 34.

You know, that’s not a very nice question.

Q: Just how hurt are the Dodgers?

A: Already, three potential members of the final roster are on the disabled list. Several other active players will need to be watched.

Kirk Gibson could return to the outfield as soon as mid-April following knee surgery last August. Jim Gott could join his new bullpen by the end of the month after going on the disabled list following last summer’s elbow surgery. Pat Perry likely will not be available for the bullpen for at least a month following last winter’s shoulder surgery.

Then there are the healthy ones.

Kal Daniels, also recovering from surgery, will have to watch his repaired knees while running around left field. It might be several days into the regular season before he can play a full game. Brooks suffered a slight hamstring pull in spring training, and will be watched in right field.

Shortstop Griffin has been fighting back spasms all spring, and will need to be monitored. Considering his past shoulder problems, pitcher Fernando Valenzuela will always be watched. Pitcher Mike Morgan sometimes has problems with a surgically repaired big toe.

Outfielder Mickey Hatcher strained his hamstring twice last season. Outfielder Chris Gwynn ended the season on the disabled list because of foot and knee problems. Searage was disabled last year with back problems.

And Manager Tom Lasorda learned this spring that his right knee will require surgery if he wants to continue normal activities.

Other than that, the Dodgers are as fresh as a spring chicken.

Q: How are Juan Samuel and Hubie Brooks going to help?

A: The Dodgers’ two notable off-season hires were acquired for one reason. And despite all the position controversy, it’s got nothing to do with where they are standing in the field.

It’s about bats. It’s about base hits and stolen bases and runs.

The Dodgers hope Samuel will give them something they went through nine players without finding last year--a leadoff hitter. They want somebody who will single, steal second and score on another single.

They want somebody to ensure that they will not finish last in the league in runs scored again, or last in stolen bases again, or first in runners left on base, with 1,171.

If he’s happy, Samuel could be that man. He is one of only four players with 30 or more steals in each of the last three season. He bats well leading off an inning, hitting .327 in that position last year. As poorly as he did with the New York Mets in the second half of last season, batting .228 overall, the team was still 16-16 when he batted leadoff.

And, if nothing else, he can certainly do better than last year’s Dodger center fielders, who combined to hit .214 with 28 runs batted in, the lowest total by starting center fielders in the major leagues.

The Dodgers believe in Samuel’s positive energy such that they have resigned themselves to enduring the negative stuff.

Like how he tied the major league record by leading the league in strikeouts four consecutive years, from 1984-87. And how he has drawn more than 40 walks only once in his career. By comparison, Willie Randolph, a patient hitter, has never drawn fewer than 40 walks in a season.

Brooks’ role is simple. He will bat fifth behind Eddie Murray and keep pitchers from throwing Murray junk, or not throwing to him at all. Last season Murray batted just .233 with one homer while leading off an inning. He hopes Brooks will make sure pitchers have to give him something to hit, or risk putting him on base for a big RBI man.

Brooks, who has hit at least .270 with runners in scoring position for seven straight years, has the statistics and temperament for that role.

Q: But Samuel and Brooks still have to play the outfield. And with Kal Daniels in left, won’t that mean trouble on defense?

A: The Dodgers will admit that over 162 games, the outfield defense could surface as the team’s most damaging weakness. But team officials wonder, how many outfield assists win games, anyway? How many times is a guy thrown out at home to end a game? How many times is a diving catch made to end a game?

They figure, not many. So they will be happy if Brooks and Daniels and eventually Gibson can cut off balls in corners and hold runners to singles. They will be happy if they do not miss cutoff men on throws.

And they will be happy if Samuel, who should chase down a lot of balls in center field, stays happy enough to remain a good leadoff hitter.

Q: Just a thought, but what if both Kal Daniels and Kirk Gibson are healthy at the same time? Where do they both play?

A: An important thing to remember: Dodger officials have vowed that if both are healthy, both will play. Daniels will probably remain in left and Gibson will likely move to right field.

Brooks is the only one of the three who can play the infield. Look for him to move directly to third base if Jeff Hamilton is not matching Brooks’ numbers. This places the pressure directly on the young third baseman whose time must be now.

Of Hamilton’s 56 RBIs last year, only 12 either tied a game or put his team in the lead. It was the worst ratio of any league player with more than 50 RBIs. With runners in scoring position with two out, he batted .213. Those two numbers must improve. And it doesn’t help that Hamilton is the only major leaguer with 1000 or more plate appearances yet to steal a base.

This spring, Hamilton looked stronger and his swing much smoother. The Dodgers hope that look continues.

Q: Of all the things they could want, why is the Dodgers’ biggest need a left-handed reliever?

A: Because the one they have, Searage, hasn’t had a major league save since 1987. He hasn’t had a National League save in nine years, since he recorded his only NL save for the New York Mets in 1981.

The answer here could eventually be Perry, signed as a free agent from the Chicago Cubs during the winter after undergoing shoulder surgery. He has been put on the disabled list, and will likely see his first action on a rehabilitation assignment in the Dodger minor league system-A Albuquerque within a month.

Although Perry has only six career saves in four big league seasons, he has set up some of the game’s best stoppers--St. Louis’ Todd Worrell, Chicago’s Mitch Williams--and could be moved into that role.

Q: What about this team’s reserves? Didn’t they lose our favorite, Dave Anderson?

A: Yes, Anderson went to the San Francisco Giants. But in his place the Dodgers have more speed and versatility.

Take Lenny Harris. He can play all infield positions but first base, plus the outfield. Take Mike Sharperson. He can play all infield positions, including first base. And he can catch. And he can play the outfield. And both guys can be suitable pinch runners.

Then there’s Mickey Hatcher, one of only eight players who has hit .275 or higher each of the last seven years. He can play nearly everywhere, including the front row of the box seats.

Rick Dempsey, entering his fourth decade in baseball, is the ideal backup catcher in that the staff’s earned-run average pitching to him last year was lower than when pitching to starter Mike Scioscia, 2.28 to 3.20. The opponents’ stolen base rate was also lower with Dempsey, .520 to .603.

Reserve outfielders Chris Gwynn, Jose Gonzalez and perhaps John Shelby can all provide late-inning defense and pinch hit.

Q: Will we be hearing about Fernando Valenzuela’s shoulder all season again?

A: Not likely. A more highly discussed area likely will be his wallet.

After going 10-9 with a 2.96 ERA in his final 23 starts of last season, proving that his shoulder is fine, Valenzuela engaged in a sometimes heated contract dispute. It ended with the Dodgers giving him a one-year deal worth $2 million, with $500,000 in incentives.

Considering Valenzuela originally wanted a three-year deal, he was not thrilled. But part of the agreement was that Valenzuela can become a free agent again next season. So this year, hoping to prove the Dodgers wrong and find more bargaining power on the open market, look for him to pitch like a man with a debt to settle.

Q: In 25 words or fewer, what can we expect from the Dodgers this season?

A: If the Dodgers can outrun age and injuries, they could win the West Divison. Or more. If not, they could finish fourth. Or worse.

CATCHER

Mike Scioscia will play 130-135 games, Rick Dempsey will play the rest . . . Scioscia had a career high 10 homers last year with 44 runs batted in, second-highest figure in his career . . . Scioscia led all National League catchers in putouts, assists and total chances. . . . Dempsey will be entering his fourth decade in pro baseball, one of only three catchers to reach that mark. Tim McCarver and Carlton Fisk are the others . . . Dempsey hit just .179 last year, the second-lowest mark of his career, but threw out a fine 21 of 47 baserunners.

FIRST BASE

Eddie Murray will play every game, if possible, keeping alive his 359 consecutive-game streak . . . Dodgers are so sure of his durability, they just traded the team’s only other natural first baseman, Franklin Stubbs, to Houston . . . Murray had 20 homers and 88 RBIs last year, the 12th time in 13 years he has had at least 20 homers . . . He ended the season with a 111-game errorless streak . . . Murray is backed up, in name only, by Mickey Hatcher, who will pinch-hit and back up the outfielders, too. . . . Hatcher led the Dodgers with a .295 average last season in 94 games.

SECOND BASE

Willie Randolph returns as the team’s 1989 most valuable player and one of its four All-Stars, along with Mike Scioscia, Orel Hershiser and Jay Howell . . . He will be backed up by Lenny Harris, who can also play shortstop and third base . . . Randolph’s .282 average last year was the fourth-highest of his career . . . He struck out only once every 12.4 at-bats, sixth-best in the National League . . . Harris batted .252 after joining the Dodgers in a midseason trade from Cincinnati. . . . Harris was one of seven league players to have five hits in a game.

THIRD BASE

Jeff Hamilton begins his third full big league season . . . Last year he had a career-high .245 average with 12 homers and 56 RBIs . . . Led the team with 35 doubles . . . Best asset is his arm, which is so strong he could be a pitcher . . . Last year his fastball was clocked at 90 m.p.h. while he pitched 1 2/3 innings and received the loss in the Dodgers 5-4, 22- inning loss to Houston . . . Backup is Harris . . . It has been widely speculated that Hubie Brooks could return to third base, but thus far the Dodgers have maintained that Hamilton is their third baseman.

SHORTSTOP

Alfredo Griffin returns after his best offensive season as a Dodger with a .247 average . . . He had a career-high 27 doubles, and tied for fifth in the league with 11 sacrifice bunts . . . He will be backed up by Harris and Mike Sharperson . . . Sharperson is trying to turn his career around after being the opening day second baseman for Toronto in 1987 . . . Sharperson hit .250 in 27 games with Dodgers last year, while hitting .309 in 98 games at Albuquerque.

LEFT FIELD

Kal Daniels will start the season in left, but because of knee surgery recovery probably will not play an entire game for several days. Backed up by Chris Gwynn, who will also back up right field . . . Daniels joined the Dodgers in a mid-season trade from Cincinnati, but appeared in just 11 games before experiencing knee problems . . . Hit .342 in 38 Dodger at-bats, with two homers and eight RBIs . . . Has stolen 77 bases in 377 big league games . . . Gwynn was a .300 hitter in the minor leagues, but has just a .225 average in 61 big-league games.

CENTER FIELD

Juan Samuel begins his first Dodger season in center, after being acquired last winter in a trade with the New York Mets . . . A former All-Star second baseman, Samuel began playing center field last season, during which he hit just .235 for the Mets and Philadelphia Phillies while worrying about his fielding . . . Stole 72 bases during 1984 rookie season in Philadelphia, and at least 33 every season since . . . Backed up by John Shelby and Jose Gonzalez. . . . Gonzalez batted .268 in 95 games with the Dodgers last year. . . . Shelby batted .183 and was demoted to triple-A Albuquerque.

RIGHT FIELD

Hubie Brooks begins his first Dodger season after signing last winter as a free agent from Montreal . . . Last season he hit .268 with 14 homers and 70 RBIs . . . He was seventh in the National League last season with 164 hits . . . Has had fewer than 70 RBIs just once in the last five seasons . . . Last year was only his second season in the outfield after converting from shortstop . . . If needed, he can return to the infield to back up, or even start, at shortstop or third base . . . That could happen when Kirk Gibson returns to the lineup either later this month or in May.

STARTING PITCHING

Orel Hershiser, Tim Belcher, Fernando Valenzuela, Ramon Martinez, Mike Morgan, John Wetteland . . . First four starters are set, with either Morgan or Wetteland going to the bullpen to start the season . . . Hershiser finished second in the league with a 2.31 ERA . . . Belcher led the major leagues with eight shutouts . . . Valenzuela had a 2.94 ERA over his final 17 starts, showing recovery from shoulder problems . . . Martinez threw two shutouts as a rookie with a 3.19 earned-run average, closing the season with a 2-1 win over division champion San Francisco with 11 strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings . . . Wetteland was 5-8 with a 3.77 ERA and 16 wild pitches.

RELIEF PITCHING

Jay Howell, Tim Crews and eventually Jim Gott as the right-handers, Ray Searage as the left-hander, with perhaps three early season extras, including right-hander Don Aase . . . Howell is the ace, having set the Dodgers’ all-time save record last season with 28 saves, complemented by a 1.58 ERA in 58 games . . . Howell blew just four saves in 32 chances . . . Gott should return to the team by May after recovering from elbow surgery that forced him to miss virtually all of last season . . . Gott signed last winter as a free agent from the Pittsburgh Pirates . . . He led the Pirates with 34 saves in 1988, second in the league . . . Crews appeared in a career-high 44 games last season, was 0-1 with a 3.21 ERA and one save, his first since 1987 . . . Searage appeared in 41 games, recording a 3-4 record with a 3.53 ERA. He will be club’s primary left-handed reliever, yet has spent his career as a setup man, having not recorded a major league save since 1987 . . . Aase, who should make the team with expanded rosters, struggled with Mets last season, going 1-5 with a 3.94 ERA.

DODGER ROSTER (FINAL MOVES PENDING)

PITCHERS (15)

No Name B-T Ht. Wt. Born 1989 Club 98 Aase, Don R-R 6-3 222 09/08/54 New York (NL) 49 Belcher, Tim R-R 6-3 223 10/19/61 DODGERS 62 Bittiger, Jeff R-R 5-10 175 04/13/62 Vancouver Chicago (AL) 52 Crews, Tim R-R 6-0 195 04/03/61 DODGERS 35 Gott, Jim R-R 6-4 220 08/03/59 Pittsburgh 46 Hartley, Mike R-R 6-1 197 08/31/61 Albuquerque DODGERS 55 Hershiser, Orel R-R 6-3 192 09/16/58 DODGERS 50 Howell, Jay R-R 6-3 220 11/26/55 DODGERS 64 Maddux, Mike L-R 6-2 180 08/27/61 Philadelphia 48 Martinez, Ramon R-R 6-4 173 03/22/68 Albuquerque DODGERS 36 Morgan, Mike R-R 6-2 222 10/08/59 DODGERS 26 Perry, Pat L-L 6-1 190 02/04/59 Chicago (NL) Iowa 59 Searage, Ray L-L 6-1 201 05/01/55 DODGERS Albuquerque 34 Valenzuela, F. L-L 5-11 202 11/01/60 DODGERS 57 Wetteland, John R-R 6-2 195 08/21/66 Albuquerque DODGERS

PITCHERS (15)

No Name W-L ERA G CG SV IP H ER BB SO 98 Aase, Don 1-5 3.94 49 0 2 59.1 56 26 26 34 49 Belcher, Tim 16-12 2.82 39 10 1 230.0 182 72 80 200 62 Bittiger, Jeff 9-5 2.12 17 6 0 123.0 93 29 40 122 0-1 6.52 2 0 0 9.2 12 7 6 7 52 Crews, Tim 0-1 3.21 44 0 1 61.2 69 22 23 56 35 Gott, Jim 0-0 0.00 1 0 0 0.2 1 0 1 1 46 Hartley, Mike 7-4 2.79 58 0 18 77.1 53 24 34 76 0-1 1.50 5 0 0 6.0 2 1 0 4 55 Hershiser, Orel 15-15 2.31 35 8 0 256.2 226 66 77 178 50 Howell, Jay 5-3 1.58 56 0 26 79.2 60 14 22 55 64 Maddux, Mike 1-3 5.15 16 2 1 43.2 52 25 14 26 48 Martinez, Ramon 10-2 2.79 18 2 0 113.0 92 35 50 127 6-4 3.19 15 2 0 98.2 79 35 41 89 36 Morgan, Mike 8-11 2.53 40 0 0 152.2 130 43 33 72 26 Perry, Pat 0-1 1.77 19 0 1 35.2 23 3 16 20 1-0 6.23 5 0 0 4.1 3 6 6 4 59 Searage, Ray 3-4 3.53 41 0 0 35.2 29 14 18 24 0-1 2.25 2 0 0 8.0 8 2 2 7 34 Valenzuela, F. 10-13 3.43 31 3 0 196.2 185 75 98 116 57 Wetteland, John 5-3 3.65 10 1 0 69.0 61 28 20 73 5-8 3.77 31 0 1 102.2 81 43 34 96

ML Exp No Yrs.Days 98 12.000 49 2.032 62 1.039 52 2.041 35 8.000 46 0.022 55 6.032 50 7.145 64 2.057 48 0.133 36 7.111 26 4.028 59 4.075 34 9.027 57 0.124

CATCHERS (3)

No Name B-T Ht. Wt. Born 1989 Club 17 Dempsey, Rick R-R 6-0 199 09/13/49 DODGERS 25 Fletcher, Darrin L-R 6-2 199 10/03/66 Albuquerque DODGERS 14 Scioscia, Mike L-R 6-2 229 11/27/58 DODGERS

CATCHERS (3)

No Name Avg. G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB 17 Dempsey, Rick .179 79 151 16 27 7 0 4 16 1 25 Fletcher, Darrin .273 100 315 34 86 16 1 5 44 1 .500 5 8 1 4 0 0 1 2 0 14 Scioscia, Mike .250 133 408 40 102 16 0 10 44 0

ML Exp No Yrs.Days 17 17.013 25 0.031 14 9.116

INFIELDERS (7)

No Name B-T Ht. Wt. Born 1989 Club 7 Griffin, Alfredo S-R 5-11 166 03/06/57 DODGERS 3 Hamilton, Jeff R-R 6-3 207 03/19/64 DODGERS 29 Harris, Lenny L-R 5-10 204 10/28/64 Cin./DODGERS 9 Hatcher, Mickey R-R 6-2 205 03/15/55 DODGERS 33 Murray, Eddie S-R 6-2 222 02/24/56 DODGERS 12 Randolph, Willie R-R 5-11 171 07/06/54 DODGERS 27 Sharperson, Mike R-R 6-3 191 10/04/61 Albuquerque DODGERS

INFIELDERS (7)

No Name Avg. G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB 7 Griffin, Alfredo .247 136 506 49 125 27 2 0 29 10 3 Hamilton, Jeff .245 151 548 45 134 35 1 12 56 0 29 Harris, Lenny .236 115 335 36 79 10 1 3 26 14 9 Hatcher, Mickey .295 94 224 18 66 9 2 2 25 1 33 Murray, Eddie .247 160 594 66 147 29 1 20 88 7 12 Randolph, Willie .282 145 549 62 155 18 0 2 36 7 27 Sharperson, Mike .309 98 359 81 111 15 7 3 48 17 .250 27 28 2 7 3 0 0 5 0

ML Exp No Yrs.Days 7 11.081 3 3.034 29 1.031 9 13.000 33 13.000 12 14.064 27 1.074

OUTFIELDERS (7)

No Name B-T Ht. Wt. Born 1989 Club 21 Brooks, Hubie R-R 6-0 205 09/24/56 Montreal 28 Daniels, Kal L-R 5-11 205 08/20/63 Cin./DODGERS 23 Gibson, Kirk L-L 6-3 215 05/28/57 DODGERS 38 Gonzalez, Jose R-R 6-2 201 11/23/64 Albuquerque DODGERS 15 Gywnn, Chris L-L 6-0 216 10/13/64 Albuquerque DODGERS 10 Samuel, Juan R-R 5-11 170 12/09/60 Phi./New York (NL) 31 Shelby, John S-R 6-1 175 02/23/58 Albuquerque DODGERS

OUTFIELDERS (7)

No Name Avg. G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB 21 Brooks, Hubie .266 148 542 56 145 30 1 14 70 6 28 Daniels, Kal .246 55 171 33 42 13 0 4 17 9 23 Gibson, Kirk .213 71 253 35 54 8 2 9 28 12 38 Gonzalez, Jose .267 50 180 32 48 12 4 4 31 10 .268 95 261 31 70 11 2 3 18 9 15 Gywnn, Chris .326 26 89 14 29 9 1 0 12 3 .235 32 68 8 16 4 1 0 7 1 10 Samuel, Juan .235 137 532 69 125 16 2 11 48 42 31 Shelby, John .286 32 126 20 36 7 3 4 21 12 .183 108 345 28 63 11 1 1 12 10

ML Exp No Yrs.Days 21 9.034 28 3.135 23 10.024 38 1.155 15 1.047 10 7.041 31 6.148