Dodger Notebook : Howell, a Most Unhappy Fellow, Will Have to Accept a Pay Cut

Unless Dodger management changed its new austerity-minded negotiating stance overnight, which is highly unlikely, reliever Ken Howell will have his contract renewed today at a substantial cut in salary.

Howell, who made $175,000 last season but was offered $155,000 for 1987, isn’t happy about his situation. But he has had the entire offseason and nearly two weeks of spring training to prepare for the inevitable.

The Dodgers, under league rules, can renew Howell’s contract for as low as $140,000. But Al Campanis, Dodger vice president, said the club will not go below the $155,000 that already has been offered. Campanis said the club is willing to go “just a little higher” than its original offer, but that Howell still will receive a cut.

Shortstop Mariano Duncan also will have his contract renewed with a 15% pay cut if Tony Attanasio, Duncan’s agent, and Campanis cannot reach a compromise. Howell, who posted a 6-12 record and a 3.87 earned-run average in 62 appearances, has voiced his displeasure the past two weeks.

On Sunday, the last day the Dodgers said they would negotiate, Howell sat dejectedly in front of his locker and admitted there was nothing he could do about the situation.

Because he has less than three years of major league experience, Howell is not eligible for arbitration. So, his only option was to walk out of camp, an action Howell said he considered but did not care to carry out.

“It’s real frustrating,” he said. “It’s a hell of a way to start the season off. I guess they’ve got to make an example out of somebody and they drew my name out of the hat. I just hope I can get it out of my mind (before the start of the season).

“I know it’s going to happen. I don’t know how much of a cut. It could be what I had last year ($175,000). It could be lower. What they are saying is that the 62 games I pitched in don’t mean a thing. I think that’s pretty degrading.”

Howell and agent Steve Greenberg have been trying to convince Campanis and Dodger lawyer Bob Walker that Howell’s statistics were negatively affected by overuse near the end of last season.

Before the All-Star break, Howell had 6 saves and a 2.18 ERA in 33 appearances. After that, though, Howell had 6 saves and a 6.30 ERA in 29 appearances. While reliever Tom Niedenfuer made 14 appearances the last nine weeks of the season because of a hamstring injury, Howell was used 24 times.

“I’m not saying I had an outstanding season,” Howell said. “But 12 saves and 62 games (pitched) is a contribution to the ball club. I had a bad month and a half at the end, and they don’t acknowledge anything but that last month and a half.

“I just don’t think it’s fair that guys (on the Dodgers) were hurt half the season and got raises. That’s what hurts. And I’m supposed to be walking around and smiling? I think it’s hard for me to do that.”

Campanis’ refrain has not changed: “Why reward mediocrity?”

Add Howell: With two years and 101 days of major league service, Howell fell about two months short of being eligible for an arbitration hearing.

This was the first year in which players had to have three years of service to qualify. The change was part of the strike settlement of 1985.

In addition to Howell, notable players affected by the change are Houston’s Glenn Davis, Milwaukee’s Ted Higuera and Cincinnati’s Eric Davis. Boston’s Roger Clemens fell 30 days short of qualifying for arbitration.

“I don’t have any resentment toward the union,” Howell said. “As far as I was told, the situation wasn’t going to affect the guys already in the big leagues. That was the impression I got (at the time).”

There were several notable pitching performances Sunday when the Dodgers held a simulated two-inning game and a four-inning intra-squad game:

--Jerry Reuss, who had offseason elbow surgery, faced seven batters in a drill designed to simulate game conditions. He did not give up a hit and allowed just one walk. Both Reuss and pitching coach Ron Perranoski were pleased.

Said Reuss: “I’m fine. Everything went fine out there. But I haven’t pitched in game conditions yet, so I can’t really judge this.”

Said Perranoski: “He looks real good. He’s pitched consistently well since he’s been down here. He has very good life on his fastball.”

--Rick Honeycutt faced five batters and did not allow a hit in the simulated game.

--Tim Leary, who is in competition with Reuss and Alejandro Pena for the fifth starting pitcher spot, worked two innings in the intra-squad and gave up only a bloop double to Reggie Williams. Other than that, Leary forced the other six batters he faced to hit the ball on the ground.

Said Leary, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in the Greg Brock trade: “I was a little anxious, but it was nothing really different than any other regular game. . . . I wanted to make a good outing and show that I wasn’t just some throw in.

“From my standpoint, coming off (a successful) end of last year, I feel confident of what I can do. No worries in that.”

--Orel Hershiser worked a quick two innings, allowing only a bloop single to Ralph Bryant. Hershiser sprained his right knee a few days ago, but he showed no negative effects Sunday.

Last spring, coming off a 19-3 record in 1985, Hershiser posted a 1-1 record and a 5.88 ERA in six appearances. He had a 14-14 record and 2.85 ERA during the 1986 regular season.

But Hershiser, who received a pay cut from $1 million to $800,000 in arbitration this spring, said he doesn’t take spring-training games too seriously.

“I can’t take these stats (of Sunday) to arbitration,” Hershiser said, joking. “I think I’ll have a better spring this year than last year. Last year, I got hurt carrying Quinton (his young son) across the street and threw out my back. I was out a week to 10 days.”

Will Hershiser make his wife, Jamie, carry Quinton this spring?

“No, we bought a stroller,” he said.

Perranoski, by the way, said he doesn’t take early season pitching performances too seriously, either.

“It’s March 1, and the batters are always way behind the pitchers at this stage. Now, if the pitchers are still looking like this Aug. 1, I’ll be very happy.”

The Dodgers may play another intra-squad game on Wednesday. The club’s spring training opener is Saturday against the Houston Astros in Kissimmee, Fla.