BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Karros Determined Despite Injuries

Dodger first baseman Eric Karros isn’t letting on to anyone. He wants no sympathy, isn’t looking for praise and certainly isn’t seeking publicity.

By all rights, he shouldn’t even be playing. He should be on the disabled list, biding his time until his strained left hamstring and sore left shoulder is healthy.

Yet, Karros’ burning desire to play has confounded conventional wisdom. He not only has played every inning of the three games, but is batting .500 (seven for 14) while playing flawless defense.

“He’s as driven as anybody I’ve ever seen,” said Pat Screnar, Dodger physical therapist. “People think just time has passed, but people don’t realize what he’s done behind the scenes and all of the work he’s put in.

“It goes back to how bad he wants to play, and the will to play drives him.”

Karros undergoes treatment each day before he even arrives at the ballpark. He has no idea when he’ll be fully healthy but realizes that if he pulls his hamstring muscle again he will be out for at least two months.

“It’ll probably be a nightmare for me all season,” said Karros, joking about the extra work, “but it sure beats the alternative. I just want to go out there and not hurt us.

“Am I capable of playing where I ended up last year? Physically, no. But I think I can still help.”

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This hardly was the first impression third baseman Sean Berry wanted to leave about his defensive skills in his first series with the Houston Astros.

Although he went two for four Wednesday with a double and run-scoring single, he made an error and bobbled a potential double-play ball in the season-opener, made another error Tuesday and Wednesday bobbled another potential double-play.

But Berry, of Torrance, might be pardoned for his carelessness.

It has been tough to retain his concentration, he said, because his wife, Linda, is due any moment with their second child.

Berry was scheduled to leave Houston after the game and spend the off-day at home today, when labor will be induced.

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Dodger catcher Mike Piazza twice was hit in the back by shortstop Orlando Miller on his backswing, leaving Piazza with back pain. “I told him to be more careful with that thing,” Piazza said.

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Dodger third baseman Mike Blowers produced his first National League hit with a single in the fifth and saved the baseball. . . . The Dodgers still are listening to trade proposals for backup catcher Carlos Hernandez, and the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox remain interested. . . . Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, said the Dodgers are planning on Chan Ho Park eventually joining the starting rotation but could not provide a timetable.