BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Gross Won’t Change Ways

Kevin Gross said he will return to Dodger Stadium offering no apologies for his angry exchange with fans last September.

He said he hopes a good start--something he did not have last year--will make a difference.

“Who knows? If I don’t get buried early this year, things will be different,” Gross said after giving up one run in four innings during a 3-0 defeat to the Montreal Expos on Wednesday. “But I am not going to act any different than last year. I am not sorry for anything. I am still going to be be myself.

“I respect the fans and their right to express themselves. But they have to respect our right to express ourselves.”

Gross was booed Sept. 19 when he did not run out a ground ball in a victory over the Houston Astros on a hot afternoon. Gross stalked off the field while waving angrily at the fans.

“If the same thing came up during a game, I would run the same way,” Gross said. “I think by that time, people were just looking for something to get on me about.”

The incident overshadowed the fact that Gross was the Dodgers’ leading winner after the All-Star break, going 6-6 with a 3.03 earned-run average even though he was not a full-time starter. He was rewarded this spring by being named the team’s fifth starter, replacing Tim Belcher, who was traded to the Cincinnati Reds.

“As soon as I signed here last year (for three years and $6.4 million), bad things were said about me, like why did the Dodgers get this guy?” Gross said. “Then I got off to a bad start (losing my first three decisions) and I got buried. I had to take all this frustration out to the mound with me, and it was hard.”

Team doctors said tests on Eric Davis showed no muscular or internal problems.

His knees and shoulder are in good shape, and kidney tests showed no lingering effects from his 1990 injury, which bothered him last season.

“He has no health problem we can define,” Dr. Michael Mellman said. “Right now, I would call him perfect.”

Jay Howell threw for 10 minutes Wednesday and hopes to pitch batting practice by early next week. Howell usually needs only a couple of weeks of facing hitters to prepare for the season. . . . Jeff Hamilton did not play Wednesday because his left knee was feeling loose and he wanted to exercise it. “There is also some fluid in there, but I hope that will take care of itself,” said Hamilton, who suffered torn ligaments in the knee last season. . . . Darryl Strawberry threw out Matt Stairs at the plate Wednesday, giving him two outfield assists in five spring starts. Last season he had a team-high 11 assists, sixth in the National League. “People are always talking about how I look funny in the outfield, but I get to a lot of balls other guys don’t,” Strawberry said. “In New York they put the bug in my ear that I couldn’t field, but now I think I’m getting better every day.” . . . Jose Offerman stood out Wednesday when, while running to third base on a throwing error by pitcher Dennis Martinez, he missed first and second base. He was called out for missing first.