DODGERS : Howe’s Reunion Simply Lacks the Spark

They spent six strained seasons together. They loved each other, despised each other, then tossed up their hands and parted company in 1985.

Who would have thought that the reunion of Steve Howe and the Dodgers Wednesday would be so emotionless?

When Howe took the mound for the New York Yankees in the ninth inning of an exhibition game at Ft. Lauderdale Stadium, he didn’t even glance at the Dodgers’ dugout. He stared at home plate. He wore no expression.

Ten minutes later, after he allowed a home run and two singles to finish a 13-9 Yankee victory, Howe’s face still showed nothing.

Even after he hugged Manager Tom Lasorda in the middle of the field, his expression did not change.

“I’ve got no emotion today--zero,” Howe said. “Today they were just guys with bats trying to take my head off.”

Howe is trying to keep that head together this spring while attempting to return to major league baseball for the first time since 1987.

Invited to camp by the Yankees after a two-day tryout last month, he is trying to overcome his history of substance abuse and regain the form that made him a rookie of the year and an All-Star.

Despite being hit hard Wednesday, his chances are good. The Yankees need a dependable 10th pitcher, and Howe seems as competent as any they have, with a victory in two spring appearances. He is competing against unproven Alan Mills and Rich Monteleone.

“Everybody around here is praying for him,” said teammate Steve Sax, another former Dodger.

Howe, who said he has been clean and sober for more than two years, knows the public has heard his story. He says he no longer wonders if they are buying it.

“Some people in Los Angeles are going to say, ‘This is great, I hope he makes it,’ ” said Howe, 33. “Others are going to say, ‘Man, this guy is full of baloney.’

“I honestly don’t care what they think.”

Howe didn’t even find it odd that his comeback brought him in front of the Dodgers Wednesday for the first time since they released him on July 3, 1985.

“Just another uniform now,” he said. “Lots of guys come to the Yankees from other teams and then pitch against those teams. I’m no different.”

Well, maybe a bit different.

When he began seeking major league tryouts this winter after compiling a 1.23 earned-run average in 11 games for Mazatlan in the Mexican League, he called Dodger owner Peter O’Malley and asked for another chance.

O’Malley turned him down.

“He said he didn’t think this was the right environment for me,” Howe said. “I respect him as a baseball man. I respect his opinion. If that’s what he thinks, fine.”

The Yankee uniform is the first major league outfit Howe has worn since pitching for the Texas Rangers in 1987. That stint ended in another substance-abuse violation.

Wednesday, Howe gave up Butch Davis’ second home run of the spring, Jose Gonzalez’s fourth hit of the game and a single by Gary Carter.

“His velocity was better than I thought it would be,” Lasorda said. “As far as how much movement he had on the ball, I can’t say.”

In between puffs of a cigarette, Howe shook his head.

“I’m glad Tommy is pulling for me,” he said. “But I bet if we meet in the World Series, he won’t be pulling for me.”

For the first time since taking the mound, Howe smiled.

Ramon Martinez delivered another speech about how his 11-day holdout has not put him behind schedule.

But this time, he was not so convincing. Moments earlier, he gave up three home runs to the Yankees in leading the Dodgers to their fourth loss in six games. He gave up seven hits and eight runs, two earned, lasting two innings.

“This was just my first game ,” Martinez said slowly, in exasperation. “This is just spring training. I am preparing for the regular season. I will be fine, then.”

He has far to travel. Two of the home runs were hit off hanging curveballs. Another came off a fastball that did not move.

“Ramon hasn’t started changing speeds or hitting his spots yet,” pitching coach Ron Perranoski said. “But he has time. All we care about is if he is ready for the season.”

Dodger Notes

Orel Hershiser will throw in his third simulated game Friday. If he is successful, he will probably pitch in an exhibition game next Tuesday or Wednesday. . . . Darryl Strawberry missed his second game with a pulled right hamstring, and will probably miss today’s game against the Atlanta Braves at West Palm Beach.