Reliever Howell Undergoes Knee Surgery : Dodgers: Torn cartilage will sideline the bullpen ace for at least three weeks. Dodgers open series with the Cardinals tonight.

The Dodgers bullpen lost its heart and saves Monday with the announcement that relief pitcher Jay Howell will miss at least three weeks because of arthroscopic knee surgery.

Howell, who recorded 78% of the team’s saves last season with a club-record 28, was diagnosed as having a partial tear in cartilage in his left knee.

He will undergo surgery this morning and has been placed on the 21-day disabled list, although he could be out longer.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pitch within a month,” said Dr. Frank Jobe, Dodger medical director. “It’s not a real bad problem. It’s not the whole cartilage, just a little tear. We can cut it back and he can come back and not even know anything had ever happen.”

Tennis star Ivan Lendl had similar surgery and was back on the court within three weeks, according to Jobe.

However, the injury is serious for a pitcher because of the use of the legs in delivering the pitch.

Howell, who said the knee had been bothering him late last season, was given a cortisone shot in spring training.

But the knee did not respond.

On Monday morning, the team’s first off day this season, he underwent a Magnetic Resonancy Imaging exam that revealed the tear.

“The knee does not affect me pitching-wise,” Howell said Sunday afternoon before the exam, even though he had allowed two runs in the ninth inning that cost the Dodgers a lead and thegame Saturday night against Houston.

“But it hurts all the time, and I can’t do any conditioning exercises,” Howell added. “It’s been bothering me long enough (to) where I want to get it fixed.”

According to the Dodgers, Howell was unavailable for comment Monday.

He is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three appearances this season after missing the first week with shoulder stiffness.

To replace Howell, the Dodgers will recall a player to be announced today from triple-A Albuquerque.

He may not be a pitcher. The Dodgers already have 11 pitchers due to rosters being expanded to 27 players because of the spring training lockout. A better guess might be middle infielder Jose Vizcaino.

Howell’s loss leaves the bullpen, which has already contributed to half of the team’s six losses, with the following:

--Two rookies, Mike Munoz and Mike Hartley, who have yet to record a big-league save.

--Three veterans, Tim Crews, Ray Searage and Don Aase, who entered this year with a combined three saves in the last two seasons.

--One starting pitcher, John Wetteland, who has one career save and a 12.46 ERA in four games this season.

Which will take Howell’s place? The Dodgers don’t know any more than you.

The answer could be Jim Gott.

“Gott’s role could be a significant one,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president.

Gott’s surgically repaired right elbow is nearly ready to allow him to join the active roster.

He will pitch his third simulated game either Wednesday or Thursday, and if he is ready he likely will be sent to Class-A Bakersfield team for one or two relief appearances.

That process could cover the next 10 days, during which the Dodgers will probably attempt to work the hard-throwing Wetteland into the stopper role, with help from Aase, who has one save this year.

After about 10 days, sources say, the Dodgers will examine Howell’s recovery and Gott’s rehabilitation and determine their next move.

Only as a last resort will that move involve trading for a front-line relief pitcher.

“I’ll be looking, but a closer is not easy to find, and market price is high,” Claire said. “I don’t know if you can find more capable people than somebody like Jim Gott, if he is healthy. Gott could make a very timely contribution.”

Another club source put it differently.

“If we tried to get a stopper now, everyone would put a gun to our head. They would all ask for Ramon Martinez and John Wetteland and (minor league shortstop) Jose Offerman,” said the source. “If this had happened in late August and we were in a pennant race, it might be worth it. But right now, we have time to let the smoke clear.”

It’s not a pretty picture for Howell, who at age 34 already has suffered through elbow surgery and tendinitis in his forearm and, most recently, a stiff shoulder.

If nothing else, the surgery will cut down on the Dodgers’ frequent use of Howell, who, because of his effectiveness, appeared in 56 games last season--most since 1985.

“One of the causes of this is age,” Jobe said. “As you get older, the cartilage gets more brittle. The more you push down on the knee, the more likely it is that something will get affected.”

Tom Lasorda, Dodger manager, also was unavailable for comment.