BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : ‘Jerks’ Didn’t Try as Hard in Stretch, Strawberry Says

Darryl Strawberry criticized recent opponents of the Atlanta Braves for not trying.

“I know guys who get ready to play against certain teams (more intensely) than against other teams . . . they act like jerks,” Strawberry said. “Those players know who they are.”

Tom Lasorda, Dodger manager, is angry over a recently published poll that showed 25 Cincinnati Reds wanted the Braves to win. The poll was taken before the Braves swept the Reds in three games at Riverfront Stadium.

“To say you want one team to win over another team right before you play that team . . . what would happen to me if I made a statement like that?” Lasorda said.

The nine Dodger free agents are Eddie Murray, Orel Hershiser, Alfredo Griffin, Juan Samuel, Jay Howell, Gary Carter, John Candelaria, Mitch Webster and Mike Morgan. The Dodgers are also facing decisions on Jim Gott, who is eligible for arbitration because his contract has expired, and Bob Ojeda, who has a one-year option remaining on his contract. . . . With his 160th errorless game Saturday, center fielder Brett Butler set a National League record for errorless games. Curt Flood of the St. Louis Cardinals, also a center fielder, set the previous record of 159 in 1966.

Howell threw in the bullpen during the game Saturday, and will probably have a chance to test his arm today. . . . Dennis Cook will start for the Dodgers today instead of Hershiser. The Dodgers don’t want to take any chances with Hershiser’s right shoulder, and he will finish the season with a six-game winning streak.