Dodgers : Even With Davis Hurt, Lasorda Uses Preferred Lineup

The Dodgers ventured into the suburbs of San Juan Tuesday night and actually found the conditions quite bearable. No player had to be carried off after pregame infield practice, mostly because it was canceled.

“No infield tonight,” bullpen coach Mark Cresse shouted in the clubhouse. “Let’s save our teeth.”

But a hazard-free field was no help to Mike Davis, who a day earlier had stepped in a New York-type pothole in right field during batting practice before Monday’s benefit game between the Dodgers and Montreal Expos in San Juan and suffered a severely sprained left ankle.

Davis walked with only a trace of a limp while accompanying the club here Tuesday for the second game, which raised money for the Roberto Clemente Sports City. Dodger trainer Bill Buhler said Davis probably will be back in action in two weeks.

All sorts of horrible thoughts went through Davis’ mind, though, as he was carried off the field and taken to a hospital, where he was delayed until they could find an X-ray technician who spoke English fluently.

“It was a real trip, man,” Davis said, shaking his head. “I said, ‘Oh, why me? You and I both know the history the Dodgers have with high-priced free agents. They sign and then they end up hurt or do nothing. I didn’t want to end up like that.

“It scared me. I was thinking it was something pretty bad because it swelled up immediately. I didn’t know whether I broke something and might be out for a long time. I started praying real hard right away.”

Davis was hurt while chasing a fly ball hit by Fernando Valenzuela in batting practice. He said he sensed danger when the ground he was running on started sloping downhill.

“Next thing I know, I’m in the hole,” Davis said. “It’s funny, because just before that, I was complaining to the guys about a few other holes I saw.

“If I get back with 10 days (left in spring training), that’ll be all I need to get ready (for the season). I can get a tape job, work on my balance, and I’ll be ready to go.”

Even if Davis cannot start the season in right field, Manager Tom Lasorda and staff said that they will stick with the preferred lineup, which includes Pedro Guerrero at third base, Mike Marshall at first, Steve Sax at second, John Shelby in center field and Kirk Gibson in left field.

“We wouldn’t move Pete back to first and Marshall back to right,” infield coach Bill Russell said. “Pete needs as much work (at third) as he can get. It’s not that he’s inexperienced. In fact, I think he’s doing a very good job.”

Monday night in San Juan, Guerrero deftly handled several hard-hit ground balls in the rutted infield, prompting Lasorda to say, “Pete’s doing great, and I admire the guy because he’s doing it for the good of the club.”

Tuesday morning, in one of the Spanish-language newspapers, the headline was: “A gusto Guerrero en tercera base . “ It means that a happy Guerrero was on third, and the story’s lead said that Guerrero reacted with levity and humor to playing third base but really would rather play elsewhere.

It appears, though, that Guerrero is set at third base, his blessing or no.

Jeff Hamilton has all but conceded that he has no chance to win the job. Hamilton said Tuesday that he recently met with Lasorda and was told the plan.

“He basically told me he had to get all five of those guys (Gibson, Guerrero, Marshall, Davis and Shelby) in the lineup,” Hamilton said. “Really, there are only two ways I can make it: 1) They can trade Pete or Marshall, which I don’t think they’ll do, or 2) Pete can say he doesn’t want to play there. I don’t see that happening.

“If you really want to know, if I was in charge, I’d probably put those five guys out there, too. I think (Guerrero is) doing good at third. But I’m wondering what he’s going to do when he gets (a grounder) off his chest. He’s not very smooth and goes about (fielding) in a roundabout way, but he gets it done. You’re going to have to give up something to get all that offense, but that’s OK.

“I’m not happy, but they told me not to give up, that there will be other years. I’m too young to throw in the towel.”

Dodger Notes

The Dodgers lost to the Montreal Expos, 7-1, Tuesday night at Juan Loubriel Stadium. Meanwhile, at Port St. Lucie, Fla., the other Dodger team beat the New York Mets, 7-1. . . . The Dodgers’ record is 12-2. . . . Steve Sax extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the fourth inning and a double in the sixth against the Expos. . . . Pitching performances from Puerto Rico: Alejandro Pena pitched four strong innings against the Expos, then faltered somewhat in the fifth. He gave up an unearned run, then Expo pitcher Dennis Martinez homered to left field. William Brennan helped his longshot bid to make the pitching staff, giving up one hit and striking out three in two innings. Jesse Orosco gave up four runs in two innings, including a two-run home run to Hubie Brooks. “Results have nothing to do with it right now,” Orosco said. “I’m working on different pitches. I’ll be ready.” . . . Against the Mets, Don Sutton gave up one run and three hits in four innings. Sutton also struck out three and walked two. . . . Len Matuszek and Gilberto Reyes homered against the Mets. . . . Injury update: Mickey Hatcher still is nursing a strained left hamstring. To make sure that Hatcher would not play with the injury Tuesday, as he did late last season with a similar injury, the Dodgers would not allow him on the bus to the game. Hatcher still is day-to-day. . . . Add the Montreal Expos and Minnesota Twins to the list of the teams that have shown interest in acquiring Dodger catcher Alex Trevino, who started against the Expos Tuesday night. Trevino, however, had three throwing errors and a passed ball Tuesday. . . . Other interesting items from the saturated coverage in Spanish-language newspapers. A screaming headline in one paper read: “Duncan Interesta Que en Cambien. “ The story said that Duncan wouldn’t mind a trade, since it appears Sax will return to second base. Duncan had already told Los Angeles writers that he does not want to return to the minors and that “there are 25 other teams that might want me.” Most of the headlines belonged to Fernando Valenzuela, who pitched five scoreless innings. In 11 innings, Valenzuela has not allowed a run and given up just four hits. . . . In addition to playing two benefit games for the Roberto Clemente Sports City, the Dodgers also donated 10,000 caps and T-shirts to the program, which provides sports and educational facilities to Puerto Rican youth.