Hershiser Gets Assignment

Altering the rotation Sunday out of necessity and sentiment, Dodger Manager Davey Johnson selected Orel Hershiser to start the Dodger Stadium opener.

After Sunday’s game with the New York Mets at Shea Stadium was canceled because of a snow storm, Johnson announced that Hershiser, who helped the Dodgers to a world championship in 1988 and is in his second stint with the team, will start against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. Sunday’s canceled game will be played April 24.

Chan Ho Park had been scheduled to pitch in the first game at the refurbished Dodger Stadium, but the plan changed after staff ace Kevin Brown suffered a broken pinkie on his pitching hand during Saturday’s 6-5, 10-inning victory.

Johnson had other options, but only one seemed right.

“He’s certainly deserving,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be special for me and a lot of the fans too. I mean, I want to see his name out there [on the scoreboard]. I want to see him walk to the mound on opening day.”

While pleased about the assignment, Hershiser stressed that the rotation situation, not sentiment, was the primary factor.

“It wasn’t that I wanted to start as much as, baseball wise, it’s better to keep everyone in line [with their days’ rest], and I can use the extra rest at my age [41],” the right-hander said. “But the sentiment of Dodger Stadium, the renovations, the 2000 season, and being back as a Dodger, it will be fun.”

Longtime Dodger first baseman Eric Karros said “it’s only fitting” that Hershiser is the starter for the first game at the stadium that underwent a $50-million makeover during the off-season.

“That’s a good situation,” said Karros, Hershiser’s teammate for three-plus seasons during his first Dodger tour. “For what Orel has meant to the organization, and how important he has been to Dodger tradition, he should open a [refurbished] Dodger Stadium with the Dodgers under new ownership [Chairman Bob Daly]. It should be a good day.”

Hershiser lost to the Montreal Expos, 6-5, last Wednesday at Olympic Stadium, marking his first regular-season start with the club since Aug. 7, 1994. He gave up seven hits and four runs in five innings.

Team officials had considered aligning the rotation during spring training so Hershiser could open at Dodger Stadium, but Hershiser expressed concern about being the focus of the rotation. However, Hershiser isn’t concerned about working on eight days’ rest because of the injury problems.

“I’ll throw on the side an extra time,” he said. “I’ll also do an extra day of weights.”

Park, scheduled to start Sunday against the Mets, will work Tuesday in the first regular-season game at Pac Bell Park, and Darren Dreifort is scheduled to start Wednesday. Rookie left-hander Jeff Williams is expected to be recalled from triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday and start Thursday.

Reliever Gregg Olson will go on the disabled list because of a strained right forearm, opening a spot on the 25-man roster for Williams. Johnson will consult with team physicians before making a decision about Brown.

Brown will be examined by Norman Zemel, the club’ hand specialist, today in Los Angeles. The Dodgers are resigned to Brown being sidelined for at least three weeks.

The Dodgers are expected to recall rookie right-hander Eric Gagne when Brown goes on the disabled list.