BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Webster Doing Plenty in Reserve Role

Mitch Webster has had to take a back seat more often recently, but he remains a favorite among his teammates, and Manager Tom Lasorda says all he has to do “point him in the right direction and he gets the job done.”

Webster, acquired from Pittsburgh during the 1991 season, has excelled in his role as a reserve outfielder, playing all three positions. In 16 starts this season, Webster is batting .288 with two doubles, a triple, a home run and six runs batted in. Overall, he is batting .244, with six walks and 13 RBIs.

Last season, Webster made 53 starts in the outfield and played the outfield in 100 games overall. But he is best known for his 17 pinch-hits, setting a Dodger record last season for the most pinch-hits in a season. In his 47 pinch-hit appearances, Webster batted .361 with two home runs and 12 RBIs. This season he is two for 16 with two walks as a pinch-hitter.

“For some reason, I think my mind-set this year was leaning more toward wanting to start, and I don’t know why, “ Webster said. “Last season I was resigned to my role of getting spot starts and knew my role would be off the bench.”

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Injury report: Todd Worrell hurt his elbow warming up in the bullpen Saturday night and is day-to-day. The injury is unrelated to his sprained forearm, which kept him on the disabled list for 48 days. Pat Screnar, physical therapist, said the Dodgers will know more after Worrell throws again in a couple of days. . . . Eric Davis, who aggravated his surgically repaired wrist when he attempted a tumbling catch in Saturday’s game, took batting practice Monday and is improved.