DODGERS : Worrell, Hershiser Still Feel Good

Rain spoiled the Dodgers’ field workout Friday, but the players, including reliever Todd Worrell, still got some work done in the indoor batting and pitching cages.

Worrell, who threw harder in his second outing, said he still felt irritation but can tell he is getting better. He said his tendinitis, which used to be in his biceps, is now only at the top of his right shoulder.

“The next step is to continue doing what I’m doing to where I can begin letting the ball go a little bit, because I am going to do that anyway when I get on the mound,” he said. “I have never been able to lay back and throw 80% because my arm may not feel good.

“In the next few weeks I will continue to pitch every other day. When I let myself let the ball go and I like the way I feel and I reach that plateau, then I can get some live hitting.”

Worrell said that unless he pitches against live hitting during the spring, he will have trouble pitching at the start of the season.

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For Orel Hershiser, this spring can’t compare to the last, when he was trying to come back from his shoulder surgery.

“Last spring, the ultimate goal was to get my arm in shape to go five or six innings,” Hershiser said. “This spring, my arm is naturally in shape and I can concentrate on my curveball, my fastball and my changeup.

“The last couple of years everyone has been waiting for a setback and it hasn’t come, and I don’t see a setback in the future.”

Hershiser had surgery on his right shoulder in 1990 and said he never takes his comeback for granted.

“It’s like saying that it’s been three years and I’m supposed to be back,” he said. “But that is like saying someone with a heart attack is not supposed to die. I had a heart attack for a pitcher and I survived.”

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The Dodgers made a counter-offer Friday to Eric Karros’ agent, Jeff Moorad, who is negotiating a second-year contract for the first baseman. The offer is believed to be only slightly higher than the team’s original proposal of $350,000. Karros was seeking $500,000.

The sides remain far apart, Executive Vice President Fred Claire said Friday.

The Dodgers hold the cards because Karros is not eligible for arbitration for two more years. Claire told Karros that if he remained unsigned on Tuesday the team would renew his contract--as well as any other minor leaguer who remains unsigned--at any salary they deem as fair.

Asked if he was disappointed about the negotiations, Karros said: “I have never had any problems with the Dodgers and I don’t expect to have any now.”