Hershiser Relishing His New Role

He moves from one pupil to the next, offering tips learned during 16-plus seasons on big-league mounds.

His advice is well received because Orel Hershiser knows about pitching. And the Dodgers know about Hershiser.

The 1988 playoff hero is making an impact in his second stint with an organization uplifted by his return. Hershiser has taken an active role with the team’s younger pitchers during the first days of spring training at Dodgertown.

A subtle suggestion about footwork for Chan Ho Park; a quick conversation about release points with Darren Dreifort.

Hershiser is working to help them, and others, work more efficiently. But Hershiser isn’t stepping on toes, and he wants that made clear.

He returned to the Dodgers to complete a career more fulfilling than he could have dreamed, and the determined-as-ever right-hander believes he still has something to offer as a player. Hershiser is back to pitch, but helping out is what he does too.

“I’m just here to pitch, but I’m going to be myself,” said Hershiser, reunited with the Dodgers after five years. “I was kidded early in my career by [former pitching coach] Ron Perranoski, and Tommy Lasorda and Don Drysdale and [longtime traveling secretary] Bill DeLury that if you’re around Orel, you’re around a future general manager, future pitching coach, future manager, future financial advisor, a future whatever.

“They were always saying, ‘Orel is always looking to do something. He’s always looking to help.’ Really, that’s how I feel, I am always looking to help. That’s just how I am.”

There has been speculation that Hershiser, 41, will become the pitching coach next season, which disappoints him because of his strong relationship with second-year coach Claude Osteen.

“We have an outstanding pitching coach,” said Hershiser, 203-145 in his career. “What I’ve learned is that all coaching is good coaching because it either finds a solution or it eliminates a path.

“I’ve called on the advice of Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax, Johnny Podres . . . I can go down the list. If someone walked by me [when he was younger] and I knew he had a big-league resume and was a good hitter, I’d ask them, ‘What do you think?’ Ron Perranoski wouldn’t have a problem with that, and I know Claude doesn’t because he came up in that generation too.”

General Manager Kevin Malone has been a fan since the guy Lasorda nicknamed “Bulldog” won the 1988 National League Cy Young Award while leading the Dodgers to a surprising World Series championship. Hershiser left the Dodgers in free agency after the 1994 season, spending the last five years pitching effectively for the Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants and New York Mets.

Malone pursued Hershiser after his contract expired with the Mets, and Bob Daly, managing general partner, provided the resources to put Hershiser in a Dodger uniform again.

“We went after this guy because of everything he represents,” Malone said. “He represents everything the Dodgers have always been about--class, determination and winning. Orel Hershiser is a winner and he’s going to help us in a lot of ways.

“He can help in the rotation, in the bullpen and with showing some of our younger guys what it’s all about. It’s more than about talent. It’s about the approach and working every day, working the right way, to be a winner. Orel is a communicator, and those are the type of people you can’t have enough of. You can’t put a price on the intangibles he brings.”

Which explains why the Dodgers were willing to pay a steep price for someone who might primarily be a middle reliever.

Hershiser will make $2 million this season and the club has an option for $2 million next season or a $500,000 buyout, guaranteeing him $2.5 million. He can make an additional $500,000 per season if he starts at least 24 games.

And teams interested in acquiring Hershiser shouldn’t waste their time. He has a no-trade clause the length of the deal.

Manager Davey Johnson hasn’t determined Hershiser’s role--but he plans to keep him busy.

“You better believe it,” Johnson said. “You don’t waste an Orel Hershiser.”