BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : DeShields Says He Still Has Headaches

Delino DeShields, who suffered a concussion Saturday night when he collided with Raul Mondesi against the Montreal Expos, is improved but still suffering from intense headaches and might not travel with the team on Thursday when they leave for New York. Plane flights can aggravate head conditions.

“My head is killing me,” DeShields said Tuesday from his home. “It’s like a migraine and it makes me a little nauseated. I saw the doctor today, and I will see him again tomorrow. But if the headache keeps up, I won’t get to go.”

DeShields said he still doesn’t remember anything about the collision, which knocked him unconscious for a few minutes. He was examined Tuesday by neurologist Ronald Andiman and team physician Michael Mellman, who see him again today.

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Darryl Strawberry, who entered a drug treatment center April 7, is doing well, according to his attorney, Bob Shapiro.

“He is doing very, very well in his rehabilitation,” Shapiro said. “He is currently in the process of going through family therapy in order to educate those close to him about his problems, and for the continued course of outpatient treatment when he is released.”

Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, said he does not know when Strawberry will be released. Treatment programs normally run 21 or 28 days.

“I have called Darryl, but the calls do not go through, that is the nature of the program he is undergoing,” Claire said. “I would like to hear how he’s doing and we have talked to baseball’s players’ relations committee to try to find out, and we should be hearing something shortly.

“It’s closing in on three weeks, but I don’t know how long it will be until somebody tells me.”

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It was not Roger McDowell who had the life-size cutout of Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda made, as was reported the other day. This time, the prank was orchestrated by Brett Butler, who initiated the project during the team’s first home stand. Lasorda, who at times is late for the national anthem, was surprised Friday night to take his position in line and find a cardboard cutout of himself in line with the other players. The cost of the prank? $500.