BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Strawberry Talks About Back Recovery

Eric Davis walked into the clubhouse before Friday’s game and saw about 10 reporters clustered around Darryl Strawberry.

“Damn, is he going to Cleveland or something?” Davis asked.

Strawberry, who later left the game in the fifth inning because of lower back strain, was animated before the game when discussing his back recovery and the criticism he is drawing for his hitting problems.

“Most people wouldn’t be out there playing, but I’m determined,” Strawberry said. “Write negative about me, I don’t care. I played in New York for eight years and that’s all they did. I accept it. And when I’m doing well--and you notice I didn’t say if, but when--then we will see what you write.”

Even though Dave Winfield, who had the same surgery as Strawberry, told him what was ahead during recovery, Strawberry said he did not expect these struggles. His two-for-24 streak had dropped him to the lowest average among starters, .156, before Friday’s game.