BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Lasorda Says He’s Worried About Howe

Tom Lasorda said he “loves Steve Howe like a son,” which may explain why Lasorda sounded so hurt Monday when discussing Howe’s seventh drug-related suspension.

“What is he going to do now? What is he trying to prove?” Lasorda said of the former Dodger pitcher. “I still love him, but how much can you love somebody who doesn’t love themselves? How many times can baseball pardon the guy?

“When is he going to wise up? When is he going to realize what drugs do to a person?”

Lasorda said he was worried about Howe as a person and a player.

“I hope all will end up well for him, but I wonder if all will end up well for him because he’s already had so many chances,” Lasorda said. “He has done a very, very irresponsible thing. He has let down his team, his family and himself.”

If nothing else, Howe’s problems might have helped the Dodgers’ organization in its awareness of drugs.

During Howe’s tenure here, from 1980-85, the Dodgers began an extensive minor league drug-testing program and have had no problems at the major league level since.

Darryl Strawberry has been told he is not yet fit enough to accompany the team on the upcoming 11-game trip, severely damaging his chances of returning before the All-Star break.

Strawberry was carrying a bat around the batting cage during early batting practice, but afterward he sounded more frustrated then ever.

“I can’t even swing that bat. It would be very stupid of me to even try,” Strawberry said. “(The back injury) is getting better, but this is going to take time.”

Fred Claire said that even though Juan Samuel has elected to play with his fractured middle finger without considering the option of season-ending surgery, he has not assured himself of returning from the disabled list. Samuel is hoping to return to the active roster this weekend. . . . Ryan Luzinski, the Dodgers’ top pick in the recent amateur draft, and father Greg left Los Angeles last night after meeting with the Dodgers. “We’re apart, but we are negotiating in good faith to get him signed,” said Greg, a former major leaguer. Ryan, who showed line-drive power in early batting practice at Dodger Stadium, will fly to Midland, Ohio, next week to begin playing for a summer all-star team. . . . Steve Wilson was voted the Dodgers’ player representative during a pregame meeting. Eric Davis was the voted the alternate.