BASEBALL: DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Strawberry Admits to Being Scared

Darryl Strawberry was released from Centinela Hospital Medical Center Friday after a five-day stay because of a herniated disk in his back.

Don’t expect him back in the lineup anytime soon.

Although the Dodgers are optimistic that surgery will not be required, Strawberry estimated that in a best-case scenario, he will need four to five weeks of rehabilitation before a possible return.

“Possibly July,” Strawberry said Friday night on a conference call with reporters. “Maybe after the All-Star break.”

Strawberry doesn’t want to think about the worst-case scenario--surgery--but admits that he is scared.

“Yes,” he said. “It’s the first time I’ve ever really been afraid. Having this type of injury. . . Most players that have had this type of injury, some come back, some don’t.”

Strawberry said his hospital stay improved the condition of his back only slightly.

“The pain is still there,” he said. “I can’t move as well as I’d like to move. Bending over is impossible right now.”

The Dodgers’ medical staff is optimistic that surgery will not be required.

“It’s always on the back burner,” assistant trainer Charlie Strasser said. “Everything is going well right now. At this time, it (surgery) is not being considered.”

Strasser said Strawberry will rest at home over the weekend and then meet with Dr. Robert Watkins early next week to begin therapy.

Strasser said he received some encouraging news Friday when he and Clipper guard Doc Rivers spoke at a local school. Rivers said he once had a back injury similar to Strawberry’s.

“He (Rivers) said he had the same thing and never had surgery,” Strasser said.

More on the medical front: Second baseman Juan Samuel, on the 15-day disabled list with two fractured fingers on his left hand, will be re-examined next Friday. Doctors will determine then how much longer Samuel will be required to wear a splint. . . Kal Daniels made his fourth start in left field. . . Shortstop Jose Offerman is the only Dodger to have started all 37 games this season.