DODGERS : Strawberry Will Show Up to Be Shown Off

For the second time this spring, Darryl Strawberry is feeling a conflict between his roles on the Dodgers. And he’s not thrilled.

The Dodgers are asking the injured Strawberry to travel with a split squad to New Orleans Friday for a two-game series against the Oakland Athletics at the Superdome, even though he told them he cannot play because of the artificial turf.

Strawberry, who has missed nine days because of a pulled right hamstring, said he could return to action if he remained with the split squad that plays on grass fields in Florida for the next three days.

“So I offered to stay home, but they told me no,” Strawberry said. “So I guess I won’t be returning to exhibition games until we get back to Vero Beach Sunday.

“I don’t know why I’m going to New Orleans, but I guess I’m going.”

Actually, he thinks he knows why.

“I know that they want to show me off, I understand that,” he said. “And really, I will be able to get my work in down in New Orleans. I will be able to do all my running and therapy and everything.

“The only difference is, I won’t be in a game situation. And if I stayed home, I could be playing. But I’m sure everything will eventually be fine.”

Fred Claire, Dodger vice president, said that the Dodgers would never bring a player to an exhibition game simply because of his marquee value. He noted that Strawberry was already injured when he traveled to Mexico last weekend and his rehabilitation was not affected.

“We want to put forth the best team we can as part of the spirit of the trip,” Claire said. “But that is not an overriding reason to bring somebody if we aren’t helping that player. And I certainly think Darryl benefited from going to Mexico.”

Strawberry said that he feels his injury, which has healed such that he hopes to play several innings in a minor league intrasquad game at Dodgertown today, might have been a blessing.

“I got off to such a great start down here (three home runs and eight runs batted in 10 at-bats), maybe it’s good that I just stopped,” he said. “Maybe that way, I can save some of it for the season.”

The Dodgers will participate in a unique survey Sunday, when they will be asked whether they have used drugs or know anyone who uses drugs.

The survey, which has been administered to several teams this spring, is being sponsored by both the Major League Players Assn. and management. It will involve all 26 teams and include some members of management and support personnel.

“I don’t know what is going to come out of it, we’ll have to wait and see,” said Donald Fehr, executive director of the players’ association. “That’s all I can say about it.”

According to Fehr, the survey was developed by doctors who were involved in a joint drug agreement between the baseball union and management that was eliminated in 1985. Baseball has had no formal drug program since, which has been a point of contention between players and management.

Although it is an anonymous survey, several Dodgers are worried about its ramifications.

“If I don’t like some of the questions, I’m not going to do it,” pitcher John Wetteland said.

Said Orel Hershiser: “If it can help, I’m all for it. But as a lay person, I don’t see the benefits.”

The players were informed of this survey in a meeting Wednesday with Fehr, who also discussed how they would split the recent $280-million collusion award.

Players who feel they were damaged during the period of collusion between 1986 and 1988 must put in claims to Fehr’s office by May 20. The players’ association will rule on the claims and distribute the money. Unhappy players can take their case to arbitrator Thomas Roberts.

Dodger Notes

Orel Hershiser threw 80 long tosses in his first action since suffering a sore shoulder after a simulated game Friday. Hershiser said the shoulder felt fine, but that he would make no long-term plans because of the soreness. . . . For a second consecutive game, the Dodgers used a big inning in a comeback victory. On Wednesday it was a five-run eighth inning that gave them a 7-5 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies. Chris Gwynn had the big hit of the inning, a two-run double. John Candelaria cemented his position as the team’s left-handed reliever by throwing a perfect inning for the victory. Dave Walsh, making only his third appearance of the spring, pitched a scoreless inning for the save. Walsh was thought to have a chance at becoming the left-handed reliever before Candelaria accepted an invitation to camp. Bob Ojeda continued his exceptional month by giving up one run in five innings, his first allowed run in 13 innings. Juan Samuel had two hits to increase his spring average to .433. Kal Daniels was treated for lower back stiffness, which caused him to miss games Tuesday and Wednesday. He took batting practice Wednesday and is scheduled to travel with the split squad that is going to St. Petersburg today and Clearwater on Friday.