BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : He Sees Red When Charlton Pitches

Darryl Strawberry, nursing a bruised left elbow, admitted that his threatening gestures toward Cincinnati pitcher Norm Charlton Tuesday were based on a personal dislike for Charlton.

Strawberry would not say that he thought Charlton was throwing at him, even though Strawberry began the disturbance after Charlton hit him in the elbow in the eighth inning.

“It wasn’t that I said he was throwing at me, it was more of a personal thing of me not liking him, period,” Strawberry said. “(Tuesday night) just did it for me. I said, ‘That’s it.’ ”

Strawberry said he has been mad at Charlton since an incident in 1989 when Strawberry’s New York Mets were involved in a brawl with the Reds. After Charlton and then-Met Juan Samuel fought, Charlton phoned the Mets clubhouse to challenge Samuel to another fight.

“I remember picking up the phone and telling Charlton, ‘If you want to box, meet me in the runway,’ ” Strawberry said. “I think he gets a little bit out of control of things.”

Strawberry said that when Charlton admitted to intentionally throwing at Mike Scioscia last season, it made him dislike Charlton even more.

“Guys like Scioscia and I have been in the league a few years, (Charlton) has not been in it that long. He makes those comments, that shows no respect for us.”

Charlton said he had nothing personal against anybody on the Dodgers.

“What has happened in the past is a dead issue,” he said.

Strawberry disagreed.

“It may not be personal on his behalf, but it’s damn sure personal on my behalf,” Strawberry said. “I know I’ll see him again this year. I’ll just have to deal with it then.”

Bip Roberts said he wants to restore peace between him and Scioscia. Roberts, who waved his bat at Scioscia in anger Tuesday night, admitted that his threatening remarks toward Scioscia after a baserunning incident in spring training were not wise. “What I said during the spring was out of character,” he said. “I said it out of anger, and that’s not right. To keep it going between me and Scioscia after that would be unprofessional.” . . . This is the first time in Kal Daniels’ six-year career that he has been benched for four consecutive games without being injured. Daniels, who does not play against left-handers, also will be benched in the Dodgers’ next game Friday against the San Francisco Giants and Trevor Wilson. But he continues to take it in stride. “I would like to play, but it is not driving me crazy because there is nothing I can do about it right now,” said Daniels, who will be a free agent after this season.

Jay Howell gave up one run in one inning with two strikeouts for Class-A Vero Beach against Dunedin Wednesday. He will return to Los Angeles today and be evaluated this weekend in San Francisco. . . . Barry Larkin, the Reds shortstop who is suffering from a sprained left knee, will be put on the 15-day disabled list today, retroactive to April 19. His spot on the roster will be taken by third baseman Chris Sabo, who has recovered from an ankle injury. . . . Tom Browning, the Reds’ starting pitcher Wednesday, is tied with Red Lucas for 12th place on the Reds’ all-time victory list with 109 victory. Red Lucas is the great-uncle of Dodger publicity director Jay Lucas.