BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Davis Is Put on 15-Day Disabled List

The Dodgers on Saturday put outfielder Eric Davis on the 15-day disabled list because of strained ligaments in his left shoulder suffered Friday night while making a leaping catch in right field.

Davis was examined further Saturday by Dr. Frank Jobe, who said X-rays revealed the strain was worse than first thought and that Davis would probably sit out a minimum of three weeks.

“That’s probably the best-case scenario,” Jobe said.

Said Davis: “It’s just something that happens. I see the ball, I go get it.”

Davis joins teammates Darryl Strawberry and Juan Samuel on the disabled list. The three will earn a total of $9.175 million this season.

“They don’t determine the disabled list by the amount of money you make,” Dodger Vice President Fred Claire said.

Davis has played all season despite a herniated disk in his neck and was injured while making a catch most outfielders could not have made.

“That’s the way you want a player to play,” Claire said. “He gave all that he had. There’s always a risk.”

Outfielder Brett Butler said Davis has been a leader in the clubhouse.

“I had heard a lot about Eric Davis,” Butler said. “They talked about him not being a gamer, about him not wanting to play. That’s a bunch of garbage. He plays in pain, he plays when he’s struggling. He’s definitely a guy who can play on my team any day.”

Claire said he did not anticipate making a trade to make up for the loss of three starters now on the disabled list.

“I’m not going to trade a good young prospect for a veteran player,” Claire said. “The help, for the most part, has to come from within the organization.”

Davis was injured while playing right field, the position normally occupied by his friend, Strawberry. Earlier this week, Davis visited Strawberry in the hospital. Saturday, Strawberry called to consol Davis.

“I think the hospital jinxed me,” Davis said. “Either that or right field.”

Not all the news was bad Friday night. Reliever Jay Howell made his 1992 debut against the Pirates and pitched two hitless innings. With no one out in the eighth, he worked out of a bases-loaded jam without giving up a run. Howell, who had a sore right shoulder since spring training, came off the disabled list May 17. . . . Mitch Webster started in right field Saturday night in place of Davis. . . . Butler reached base safely for the 12th time in his last 15 at bats with a single to left field in the first inning. . . . With Davis going on the disabled list Saturday, the Dodgers recalled outfielder Tom Goodwin from their triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque. Goodwin, who will be in uniform for today’s game, was batting .341 with two inside-the-park home runs at Albuquerque, with 17 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.