BASEBALL: DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Lasorda Celebrates on the Mound

On the 15th anniversary of his first opening day as a major league manager Tuesday, the Dodgers’ Tom Lasorda celebrated by throwing 40 minutes of early batting practice to, among others, star pupil Dave Hansen.

Last season Lasorda, 64, used to throw an hour of early batting practice. But Peter O’Malley, the club’s president, asked him to cut back to 40 minutes this spring, when Lasorda agreed to his one-year contract extension.

“I’m not just saying this to be nice--Tommy was throwing some of his best curveballs ever,” said Hansen, who credits Lasorda’s extra work with his development.

Hansen had one of the Dodgers’ seven hits on opening day--a pinch-single. He had 10 pinch-hits in less than three months last season, one short of the Dodgers’ rookie record.

“Last year, Tommy was relentless in throwing me the early batting practice, but it worked,” said Hansen, who needs a trade before he can fit into the starting lineup. “It helped me keep my swing sharp and helped because I got to see somebody pitch from the left side.”

This season, Lasorda’s protege is probably going to be Eric Karros, who made the team as the 25th man.

Roger McDowell was glad to get through his first appearance Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants, when he struck out four batters in 1 2/3 innings for a save.

He said he was so excited, he was throwing the ball too hard.

“I am not a strikeout pitcher,” he said. “I think it had to do with opening-day jitters. I was nervous, I had butterflies, I was sick to my stomach . . . other than that, I was all right.”

McDowell, whose sinkerball moves best when he throws it with a relaxed motion, said he thinks his velocity caught the Giants by surprise.

“When I struck out Willie McGee with a fastball, I don’t think he believed it, either,” McDowell said. “Usually I don’t throw him that pitch.”

How uncertain is Karros that he will spend the entire season here? He is paying $400 a month on an Albuquerque, N.M., apartment that he will share with pitcher Jamie McAndrew if he is sent down. . . . Eric Davis had never lost an opening-day game before Monday. While with the Cincinnati Reds, he had participated in six consecutive opening-day victories. . . . After the Giants’ Will Clark was walked four times in the two-game series, the Dodgers expressed a sentiment that will undoubtedly be shared by other National League teams. “Their lineup (had) a different look with Kevin Mitchell in there,” Orel Hershiser said. “To be honest with you, we’re going to have to make Kevin Bass and Cory Snyder beat us for a while. Will is not going to see many strikes, at least not from me.”