Herges Making Most of His Time

Matt Herges understands the situation because longtime minor leaguers don’t take things for granted.

The rookie right-hander spent eight years in the Dodger farm system, hoping for an opportunity to fulfill his dream. He made the most of his first chance last season and is taking bigger strides now after impressing during spring training.

He has been a key member of the bullpen, working middle relief and providing peace of mind for Manager Davey Johnson. But Herges, 30, said he can’t relax because he could still become the odd man out at any moment.

The Dodgers begin a seven-game trip tonight against the Cincinnati Reds at Cinergy Field, and Herges is eager to continue proving himself on the mound.

“After being in the minors as long as I was, you accept that you’re going to have to keep working harder and harder just to hopefully get a chance at some point,” said Herges, who pitched 769 innings in the minors. “If you’re lucky enough to get a break, you’re going to have to work even harder to stick around because you were probably one of the last guys to make the team.

“You don’t want to look at it like every appearance, every inning and every pitch is big, but you know that it could be your last. So you have to keep going out there, and giving everything you have, and hoping that [management] feels you’re doing a good enough job for them to keep you around. You just hope that they’re satisfied with what you’re doing.”

The Dodgers are more than satisfied with Herges.

He has pitched 8 1/3 scoreless innings in five appearances. He could be a bargain at $205,000 this season, and every penny helps with a $90-million payroll.

Team officials had planned to send Herges to triple-A Albuquerque on April 7 to make room for outfielder Geronimo Berroa on the 25-man roster, but Herges’ strong start changed their minds.

“He’s making it very difficult on us to take the ball out of his hands,” General Manager Kevin Malone said. “He’s a bulldog out there with his intensity, his work ethic and how much he cares about the team and about winning.

“He got a taste [of the big leagues] last year when we called him up [July 30], and he’s improving and proving he belongs this year. There’s no doubt about it.”

Chairman Bob Daly wants the organization’s best players on the club, and Herges is among the group, Johnson said.

“He’s in a remarkable situation,” Johnson said. “I liked his arm the first time I saw him last year in spring training, and he didn’t come in with a lot of advance billing. He was very aggressive when we called him up last year; he went right after hitters.

“He went to winter ball and developed a nice little slider to go along with that [93 mph] fastball, and this spring was very important to him. He deserved to be on this team. He deserved it not only because of what he did this spring, but because of how he fit.”

Herges is a good fit. His arm rebounds quickly after outings, and that’s comforting to Johnson because the rotation needs support.

“I need a middle guy I can count on,” Johnson said. “What I liked about him from the start was he had the approach to be successful in the middle.”

The club signed Herges as an undrafted free agent in 1992. He relieved and started while going 35-43 with a 4.55 earned-run average for Yakima, Bakersfield, Vero Beach, San Antonio, San Bernardino and Albuquerque.

Herges caught Johnson’s eye last season after going 8-3 with a 4.73 ERA in 21 starts for the Albuquerque Dukes. He went 0-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 17 appearances with the Dodgers.

“He’s the type of guy who makes this game fun for me because he’s a survivor,” Malone said. “He’s a blue-collar guy who has had to overcome a lot to get to this point, and he’s still overcoming a lot.”

Herges pitched well during spring training despite concerns about his older brother, Toby, who is recovering from brain-cancer surgery. Herges’ performance impressed his teammates, especially reliever Alan Mills.

“Everyone wants to be successful, no matter what line of work you’re in, whether you’re a doctor, baseball player, writer, whatever,” said Mills, among Herges’ closest friends on the club. “But when your family goes through what his family went through, it really puts everything in perspective.

“I’m not saying you don’t care about doing a good job, but it makes it more difficult when a life-and-death situation is going on. That’s why it’s even more impressive what he did.”

Herges realizes he must continue to impress to remain aboard.

“I have to prove I belong every time out,” he said. “That’s just the way it is.”

He’s off to a good start.