Dodgers Vent Anger by Pounding Phillies

The Dodgers were reluctant to make difficult decisions about Orel Hershiser--so the veteran pitcher made one for them.

Buried in the bullpen and occupying a roster spot, Hershiser stunned the Dodgers by volunteering to pitch at Class-A San Bernardino to make room for reliever Mike Fetters on the 25-man roster. He hopes to regain his command after weeks of inactivity despite starting and earning the victory last month in the Dodgers’ home opener against the Cincinnati Reds.

The right-hander persuaded the Dodgers to agree to the highly unusual move because he wasn’t helping in the role they assigned him, Fetters was ready to come off the disabled list and someone had to make a move.

The 17-year veteran waived his rights, as a player with at least five years’ service time, to refuse being optioned to the minor leagues. Hershiser must remain off the active roster for at least 10 days unless another Dodger is injured, meaning he’ll probably pitch at least twice for the Stampede.

The Dodgers have not determined when Hershiser will return. Moreover, they still have roster problems despite Hershiser’s decision.

The 1988 National League Cy Young Award winner is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday against Lancaster at San Bernardino. Fetters was activated before Friday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies after sitting out since May 4 because of inflammation in his pitching elbow.

Hershiser will work in the minor leagues for the first time since his ’91 rehabilitation assignment after reconstructive shoulder surgery. This isn’t what Hershiser or the Dodgers expected after the popular player returned to the organization in the off-season.

“I’m very used to being useful and contributing and trying to be an integral part of the ballclub,” the 204-game winner said. “As you sit and evaluate the ballclub and every role, I could see, as a team guy, that my spot was being wasted. We were playing one man short.”

Hershiser had pitched only 5 1/3 innings since being bumped from the rotation April 20. He struggled in four relief appearances, going 0-1 with a 15.18 earned-run average. Overall, he is 1-2 with a 10.70 ERA.

Manager Davey Johnson hasn’t used Hershiser since he gave up three hits--including a grand slam--and five runs in one-third of an inning May 9 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. After that game, Hershiser talked about his problems working out of the bullpen.

Uncomfortable not contributing, he approached management with the proposal about two weeks ago and again Tuesday. The Major League Players’ Assn. frowns on players waiving rights, but Hershiser’s request was approved after several discussions.

He considered pitching for Class-A Vero Beach because he makes his off-season home in Windermere, Fla. Hershiser, who will be with the Dodgers when he’s not pitching, settled on San Bernardino because his family is arriving in Los Angeles today.

“It was totally his idea,” General Manager Kevin Malone said. “He saw he wasn’t getting the work he needed, and with Fetters coming back, he volunteered to help the team. We’ve always known who Orel Hershiser is, and what he’s about.”

Johnson concedes that Hershiser, 41, is better suited to start, and believes he would help in the rotation if he had been given enough work to remain sharp. But there weren’t enough innings for Hershiser with the organization trying to salvage Carlos Perez, and committed to developing rookie right-hander Eric Gagne.

So away Hershiser went.

“What Orel suggested and is doing is unbelievable,” Johnson said. “I enjoy having him around here, and he feels he needed to do this to get right to help the club [later in the season]. He’s very committed to doing anything he can to help this ballclub get to where it has to get to. I think what Orel is doing is unprecedented.”

Hershiser, guaranteed $2.5 million under his contract, has a future in Dodger management and wants to remain with the team this season. But he also wants to pitch, saying his arm feels great.

Malone would not rule out trading Hershiser, who would have to waive his no-trade clause.

“We don’t have any plans to trade him, and I want Orel to be here for a long time,” Malone said. “But we can’t ever rule out trading anyone.”

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