BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Crews Confused by Trade for McDowell

At least one member of the Dodger bullpen is wondering about the wisdom of Wednesday’s trade that brought right-handed relief pitcher Roger McDowell to the Dodgers for reliever Mike Hartley.

“The deal was a right-hander for a right-hander, and I thought we needed a left-hander,” Tim Crews said. “If you look at it that way, it is confusing. I was surprised.”

Crews, whose middle-innings role will not be affected by McDowell, said he thought the new man would not change the look of the bullpen.

“Jay (Howell) is still the main man,” Crews said.

Crews acknowledged, however, that McDowell’s experience would be helpful.

“One good thing about the trade is that Roger has been in a lot of pressure situations,” Crews said. “He’s been in the postseason, he knows what it takes. And that is good for us.”

Even though Mike Scioscia has thrown out only 12 of 56 runners attempting to steal, he had his best throw of the season in getting the New York Mets’ Vince Coleman Monday, and feels his slump is ending.

“The first five or six weeks of the season, I was horrible,” said Scioscia, offering no excuses. “My timing was off, my mechanics were off. But I’ve learned you’ve just got to keep your nose to the grindstone in this game. I’ve been working hard on it, and hopefully I’ve come out of it.”

While some guessed that Scioscia would be platooned with Gary Carter upon Scioscia’s return from the disabled list two weeks ago, it appears Carter will only play against selected left-handers.

“I have no idea what is going on,” Carter said. “But every day I come ready to play.”

Kevin Gross, who has given up only two runs in his last 17 innings in the bullpen, no longer prepares like a starting pitcher in games pitched by Orel Hershiser, contrary to recent reports. . . . Jeff Hamilton’s minor league rehabilitation assignment, which he hoped could begin in triple-A Albuquerque on Monday, might not begin for several days. Hamilton said that his left knee didn’t feel good after he ran on artificial turf for the first time Friday.