Herges Gets Perspective

Dodger reliever Matt Herges’ mood went from one of frustration Wednesday to conciliation Thursday, a visit from his older brother, a cancer survivor, and a meeting with General Manager Dan Evans soothing the disappointment of his failed contract negotiations.

Talks between the Dodgers and Herges on a multiyear deal broke off Wednesday afternoon with the sides far apart and Herges questioning the team’s evaluation of him. “They obviously think I’m just an average reliever,” Herges said, “and I don’t think of myself like that.”

Then Herges’ older brother arrived in Vero Beach, Fla., from Champaign, Ill., Wednesday night. Toby Herges, 34, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor two years ago and was given three months to live.

But he underwent surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., on Feb. 28, 2000, a risky procedure in which doctors had to remove part of Toby’s skull to extract the tumor. The operation was a success, and Toby is in excellent health.

“I woke up [Thursday] and honestly didn’t have any hard feelings,” Herges said. “My older brother came to town, and every time I see him and we talk, it takes me back to reality and puts things in perspective. I woke up and told my wife I wasn’t upset any more.”

When Herges got to Dodgertown on Thursday morning, Evans pulled him aside for a 15-minute private meeting.

“He just wanted to clear the air, and I said there were absolutely no hard feelings, whatsoever,” said Herges, who went 9-8 with a 3.44 earned-run average in 75 games as the Dodgers’ primary setup man last season but will probably be the team’s closer in 2002. “I appreciated him taking time to talk to me. It was very professional of him.”

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Outfielder Mark Whiten, a longshot to win a major league job, hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning Thursday to help the Dodgers to a 3-3, 10-inning tie with the Florida Marlins in a Grapefruit League opener at Space Coast Stadium. The Dodgers had only five hits, including Dave Hansen’s solo homer in the seventh.

Right-hander Eric Gagne and left-hander Odalis Perez, who are battling Omar Daal for the fifth spot in the rotation, each threw two innings. Gagne gave up one hit in two shutout innings, striking out two and throwing several excellent changeups. Perez gave up two runs and three hits, including Mike Lowell’s two-run homer, and struck out three.

“I felt good; I just made one bad pitch, a hanging slider,” Perez said. “For me, I don’t think there’s any competition because Daal has proved he’s a good pitcher, Gagne has proved he’s a good pitcher, and so have I.

“The only guy who has [minor league] options left is me. One way or another, at the end of spring training, they have to make a hard decision. I don’t care if I’m a starter or reliever; I just want to make the opening-day roster.”

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Andy Ashby continued to progress in his recovery from elbow surgery, throwing 70 pitches Thursday, including 51 to Dodger hitters during batting practice. Ashby said he felt great.... No structural damage was found in Alex Cora’s left shoulder after he suffered a bruise while diving for a flare in Wednesday’s intrasquad game. Cora is listed as day to day.... Though most veterans don’t travel to a majority of the early Grapefruit League away games, Dante Bichette, a 13-year veteran, was told he will make most of the Dodgers’ early trips. “His response was, ‘Hey, I’m trying to make a ballclub here,’” Manager Jim Tracy said. “Our [bench] was fairly short from the right side last year, and we didn’t have a complement to [left-handed] Hansen. We’ve got to get Dante out there, see how this puzzle fits together and if it fits together, and he understands that.”