DODGERS : Hershiser Says He Will Lead, Not Worry

It was the attitude of Dodger seasons gone by that Orel Hershiser said he hoped to help establish again--that seriousness that Kirk Gibson brought to the Dodgers in 1988.

So when Hershiser took the mound Friday as the starting pitcher for the Dodgers’ spring opener against the New York Yankees, he hoped his performance would cause his teammates to watch him rather than the bullpen. And it did.

Hershiser’s sinker sank with the most consistency since before 1990, when he had shoulder surgery. In three innings, he gave up two hits, no runs and had two strikeouts. Only three balls were hit in the air against him.

“Each step that I’ve made and come back, I’ve said that if that’s all I have the rest of my career, I’ll take it,” Hershiser said.

“If you would have said to me two years ago that I was going to throw like this today, I would have been very surprised. Last August and September, I was elated (with the way he was throwing) and now I come into this year and there is more now than there was then.”

Hershiser saw a few signs during the winter that his arm strength was returning. He could feel a difference when he threw batting practice during the Dodgers’ workouts in January. He would play 18 holes of golf, eat lunch and then hit balls on the range without his arm getting stiff. He even noticed a difference when he threw batting practice to his sons in his driveway using a Wiffle Ball.

That difference is what allows him to think about pitching again, instead of worrying about his arm. It allows him to lead again.

“I wasn’t able to be intense last season because I would hurt myself,” Hershiser said.

“As far as being serious about the year, I would like to see the club have that attitude and, being one of the veterans, I think I can project that. I don’t want to be a leader who leads us down the path of a happy-go-lucky, lackadaisical attitude, so I’m going to really be intense. When the game starts and when it is time for me to take the mound, it will be all business.”

Tim Wallach booted a ball and Darryl Strawberry dropped one to help the Yankees score five runs during the fifth inning and win, 5-4. Strawberry hit a home run to right field during the sixth inning.

“My muscles are just starting to work,” Strawberry said. “With my back problem last season, I couldn’t have bent over if I tried.

“Last year, I couldn’t turn on the ball. With me healthy, I’m not concerned, I’ll hit my 30 (home runs).”

Todd Worrell, who is recovering from tendinitis in his right shoulder, threw live batting practice for the first time this spring. He said that even though he threw harder, his arm felt better than when he threw off the practice mound.

“My arm seems to get in a better position when I increase my velocity and I have less irritation,” Worrell said. “All I did today is throw fastballs, and it went well. I let it go a little easier.”

Eric Karros also hit a home run. . . . The Yankees’ Jimmy Key pitched two hitless innings. . . . Tom Candiotti is scheduled to start against Doug Drabek and the Houston Astros in today’s game at Kissimmee.