Dodgers Send Get-Well Win

Foundering in a tie for third place in the National League West with a $90-million payroll, the Dodgers were the recipient of a reality check Sunday when Manager Davey Johnson was checked into a hospital with an irregular heartbeat.

Johnson, 57, experienced dizziness in the morning and was taken to the Verdugo Hills Hospital emergency room by his wife Susan before being transferred to Centinela Hospital Medical Center, according to team physician Michael F. Mellman.

Johnson is being held for observation and will not be released until the test results can be reviewed.

“He’s safe and he’s not in any danger,” Mellman said of Johnson in an impromptu news conference at Dodger Stadium. “He’s very unhappy with being in the hospital, but we’re just observing him and trying to find the cause.

“He did not have a heart attack.”

Mellman also said that Johnson had a similar episode four years ago, before he was hired by the Dodgers.

“It’s not that unusual,” he said of repeat irregular-heartbeat patients. “These things happen. But until I know the cause, I won’t know the recovery time.”

Dodger bench coach Jim Tracy took over as manager in Johnson’s absence. “This is Davey Johnson’s baseball team,” Tracy said. “We just have to do what we have to do until we get him back.”

The Dodgers held two pregame meetings to discuss their manager’s health and the slide the team has been on of late.

Relief pitcher Jeff Shaw, who has had a heart murmur since he was 11 years old, said the clubhouse mood was one of shock.

“An irregular heartbeat is not something that’s that serious,” Shaw said. “But I know it’s scary.”

Said General Manager Kevin Malone: “The health of Davey is more important than anything else right now. Something like this really puts things in perspective.”

There have been reports that Johnson’s job may be in jeopardy because of the Dodgers’ lackluster showing.

“We’re all very concerned and we know what’s going on with a lot of negativism,” bullpen coach Rick Dempsey said. “We need to step back and look at things.

“Davey Johnson cares a tremendous amount about this ballclub. His reputation is on the line, as is most of the coaches’ [reputations]. You don’t find too many managers like him. You just hope the team picks up the slack and starts playing the way it’s capable of while he’s down.”

Dodger Chairman Robert Daly called Johnson’s illness “another surprise, another twist.”

“The most important thing is his health,” Daly said. “It seems to be, if it’s not one thing it’s another.”

Daly bristled when asked if Johnson seemingly fighting for his high-pressure job had contributed to the Dodger manager’s health problems.

“I never said he was fighting for his job. I said we should be doing better,” Daly said. “He can’t hit, he’s not the guy that walked seven. His job is to motivate them to get them to do better. We spent $90 million. You expect a better return for your investment.”