BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Griffin Benched; Offerman in Waiting

In what may be the first step toward a change for the Dodgers at shortstop, Alfredo Griffin was benched Saturday.

Mike Sharperson started in Griffin’s place, but Jose Offerman’s back/groin injury has improved enough so that he can return to the triple-A Albuquerque lineup as soon today.

Offerman, who has already spent the mandatory 10 days at Albuquerque, could return to the Dodgers as soon as he proves he is sound again after missing several days with soreness in his back and groin area.

“But we haven’t given up on Alfredo yet,” one club official said. “He will be given more chances.”

Griffin was benched, not because of his .242 average, but because of his five errors, more than any two players on the team combined. The Dodgers are worried that his deteriorating back is affecting Griffin’s play, as it did last year. Doctors say the back can improve only with a spinal fusion surgery that would probably end his career,

“My back does get a little stiff. . . . I am taking pain pills for it,” Griffin said. “But my back has nothing to do with how I am playing. I am just missing the ball.”

Said coach Bill Russell: “Guys can get in fielding slumps just like hitting slumps. We’re just giving him a rest.”

There also has been talk of the Dodgers acquiring San Diego veteran Garry Templeton for one season.

Orel Hershiser said his arm felt good Saturday, one day after throwing 43 pitches in a simulated game. He hopes to pitch another simulated game next Tuesday or Wednesday and could be facing live hitters as soon as May 6 for Class-A Bakersfield, which plays at Visalia that night. If Hershiser does not feel ready to pitch then, he may fly to Vero Beach and pitch for the Class-A team there later in the week in the first of at least three minor league starts. . . . Gary Carter and Jeff Hamilton, among others, have been working out with a football before games. For Hamilton, a former all-state quarterback from Michigan, it helps take his mind off his unhappiness over being platooned with Lenny Harris. Alan Hendricks, Hamilton’s agent, has relayed Hamilton’s feelings to Fred Claire, Dodger vice president. . . . Tim Crews is nursing a sore left knee that was twisted when he dived into first base Tuesday in San Francisco.

Perhaps one of the keys to Mike Morgan’s strong performance Friday was a pregame meeting with junior welterweight boxing champion Greg Haugen. Morgan was at ringside in Las Vegas Feb. 23 when Haugen defeated Hector Camacho for the crown, and so Haugen was fulfilling a promise to watch Morgan.