BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Harris Latest to Be Injured in Right

Right field at Dodger Stadium has struck again, this time claiming Lenny Harris.

Harris became the fifth Dodger to become injured while playing right field here when he broke the tip of the ring finger on his right hand Monday while making a basket catch. Other victims have been Darryl Strawberry, Todd Benzinger, Eric Davis and Mitch Webster.

Although the Dodgers need to open a roster spot Friday so they can begin recalling the three minor league pitchers who will assist in the doubleheaders, Harris said the injury will not sideline him.

“From what I’m told, he’ll be all right,” said Fred Claire, Dodger vice president. “We aren’t going to place a player on the disabled list and lose him for 15 days when he could be all right in three or four days.”

Claire said he hopes to make an announcement about the roster move today. He is apparently trying to work a trade, probably involving Juan Samuel or Stan Javier. If neither player can be dealt, either could be removed from the roster or a player could be sent to triple-A Albuquerque for the minimum 10 days. If Dave Anderson is that player, he must first give his permission.

Davis’ ability to steal bases will shortly land him in the record books.

He has stolen 12 bases in 13 attempts, giving him 260 stolen bases in 298 attempts, an 87% success rate. He leads active players in that category. With two more attempts, giving him the minimum 300, he will become baseball’s all-time percentage leader. “That is a nice thing to have; it shows that I’m not just a guy who goes out there and runs,” Davis said. “There is an art to stealing bases, and I’ve worked on that my whole career.” The rest of the team has stolen 38 bases in 73 attempts.

Strawberry said he is leaving Sunday for Albuquerque, where he will spend a week testing his injured back against pitchers from Phoenix and Edmonton. “If everything goes well, I’ll be back to right after the All-Star break,” Strawberry said.