For Now, Jay Howell Gives Up Stopper Role

Jay Howell temporarily relinquished his role as the Dodgers’ bullpen stopper Tuesday after a meeting with Manager Tom Lasorda.

Howell said an agreement was reached that the Dodgers would not rush his comeback as long as he kept them informed of his ability to pitch. Howell had knee surgery April 24, then had 27 days of inactivity, and has been trying to come back ever since. The hastened comeback has resulted in stiffness in his right shoulder.

Howell will probably remain on the major league roster and be used as the 11th pitcher until his strength returns.

“It might take five innings, it might take 10 innings, I’m close, and I can finish this rehabilitation program on the major league level,” Howell said. “I just wanted them to know that I’m not 100% yet; and to put me into the kind of situations that I have been put into lately . . . it’s like asking somebody to drive while they are blind.”

Howell has pitched four times, all in pressure situations, since returning to the active roster May 18. He has two losses during that time while leaving one game after only two-thirds of an inning because of shoulder stiffness. Summoned from the bullpen to get the final out Monday, he allowed a walk and a game-winning single in a 6-5 comeback victory by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After that game, he complained that his shoulder wasn’t ready for such an appearance. Tuesday, Lasorda heard those complaints.

“I will never, ever subject a player to a situation that he doesn’t feel physically comfortable in,” Lasorda said after their meeting. “Even as bad as I want to win, I will never put a game ahead of a player’s health.”

Howell admitted that, because of his love for pitching, he may have failed to properly inform the Dodgers of his inability to pitch at 100%.

“I’m a competitor, I want to be out there, so I’m as much at fault as anybody,” Howell said. “I’ll accept that.”