So Far, So Good in Dodger Training Camp

There were no contract holdouts, no visa problems and no personal tragedies as all the players on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster reported to camp Wednesday.

Todd Worrell, the hope of the bullpen, threw off the mound for the first time this spring. Shortstop Jose Offerman, second baseman Jody Reed and first baseman Eric Karros, the hopes of the team’s defensive turnaround, took batting practice and fielded together for the first time.

Worrell threw for 15 minutes and said he felt good. “I tried to throw at half speed, free and easy, and I was able to do that,” he said.

Pitching coach Ron Perranoski said Worrell’s mechanics looked good and he did not favor anything.

Meanwhile, Reed, who was acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, wasted no time tutoring Offerman in turning double plays. “In five minutes with Reed, Jose looks better than he did after the first month of last spring,” said Ralph Avila, the Dodgers’ vice president who worked with Offerman this winter.

Offerman said that Reed was the most experienced second baseman he has worked with, and he says it will make a difference. “He knows what he is doing out there and he helped me,” Offerman said. “He told me a couple of things I can do and I feel good about it.”

Offerman made 42 errors last season, but it is often pointed out by the Dodgers that Pee Wee Reese made 44 and Maury Wills made 40 in their first full seasons. Offerman did well at the plate, batting .260 and stealing 23 bases in 149 games.

Still, Offerman can plan on being pushed by Kevin Elster--former shortstop for the Mets--whom the Dodgers invited to camp for a tryout. Elster played in only six games with the Mets last season before undergoing a shoulder operation, the second of his career.

Elster, who has been in camp one week, has impressed the Dodgers with his handling of ground balls, and team officials are beginning to acknowledge that Elster might have a chance if his arm is sound.

Reed, who had played in the Red Sox organization since 1984, said he felt a little awkward his first day with all the new faces. “I miss the comfortable feeling, but I was ready for a change,” he said. “So far, the reception here has been great and the feeling is very positive.”

When Reed took his turn hitting, Darryl Strawberry, watching from behind the batting cage, yelled to him: “You have got to stand up a little bit.” Reed replied: “Sorry, but this is as high as I get.” Reed is 5 feet 9.