BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Hershiser Slows the Pace of Rehabilitation to ‘Crawl’

Orel Hershiser, slowing his rehabilitation to a “crawl,” has decided to delay his first minor league rehabilitation start and instead will throw to Dodger hitters Sunday morning.

Hershiser said his shoulder feels fine, but he is unhappy with the changes he has made in his pitching mechanics and will work on them by pitching to a couple of Dodger hitters at game velocity. According to team therapist Pat Screnar, it could be the first of several such sessions.

For the first time, Hershiser acknowledged that he would not be upset if he did not return to the team by the All-Star break in the second week of July. He had said that he thought his career would be in jeopardy if he did not return by then.

“My earlier remark was premature,” Hershiser said. “I have since learned how long this will take. I would not be disappointed if I did not make it by the All-Star game.

“In spring training, we came back 85 to 90%, then we hit a wall. We are now crawling over the last 15%.”

Hershiser said he needs to work on a consistent delivery that will put a minimum of strain on his surgically repaired right shoulder while making the ball move like it used to move.

“Before, I had a wide margin error. I could do just about anything without hurting myself,” Hershiser said. “I can’t do that now. My margin of error is much smaller.”

Brett Butler returned to the starting lineup after missing his first start of the season Wednesday because of an unusual injury.

Butler tore the skin of the little toe on his left foot while playing with his four children.

Butler, pretending to be a shark, was chasing two of his three daughters up some steps. Blake, Butler’s three-year-old son, was on his back.

“I go to make a left turn to grab one of my girls, and I run right into the wall,” Butler said. “Next thing I know, I can hardly walk.

“Just another common injury, huh?”

Kal Daniels, whose opposite-field grand slam gave the Dodgers an 8-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves Wednesday, led the major leagues with 15 opposite field homers last season. Daniels led the league with three grand slams last season and has three grand slams in his past 120 at-bats. . . . The Giants’ pitching rotation rotated again Thursday when Kelly Downs was sent to the bullpen despite a 3.72 earned-run average in two starts and Rick Reuschel became a starter again. The Dodgers are one of only three National League teams to have a winning record against Reuschel, yet Reuschel will start against them Saturday and John Burkett will start on three days’ rest Sunday.