BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Howell Isn’t Ready to Return Yet

Eric Karros apparently will do anything to stay on the Dodgers.

During Jay Howell’s simulated game Monday afternoon, Karros hit a ball off Howell’s right calf, raising a bruise that required icing after the workout.

“Hey, man, I figure a right leg must be worth about two more weeks for me,” joked Karros, quickly adding, “Just make sure everybody knows that hit was an accident.”

Despite overwhelming evidence otherwise, Karros is still worried that he will be sent back to triple-A Albuquerque when Howell returns from the disabled list.

But no one on the Dodgers has to worry for probably a week, because Howell didn’t show enough control Monday to warrant his return.

“Physically I felt great and I had good velocity, that was the main thing,” said Howell, suffering from bursitis in his right shoulder. “But I was all over the backstop. I think I even put some holes in it.”

The three Dodger hitters swung and missed only three of his 40 pitches. They hit six others. Of the remaining 31 pitches, many were balls.

“He could not have been in a game tonight,” said Fred Claire, Dodger vice president “But we are not discouraged because he feels good.”

Howell, who has been injured since early spring and has already made five minor league rehabilitation starts, will pitch for Class-A Bakersfield at San Bernardino Wednesday.

If he feels good, he could pitch consecutive days this weekend and be evaluated before the team begins its East Coast trip next week.

The Dodgers’ marked improvement against left-handed pitching--they were 6-3 against left-handers but only 3-7 against right-handers before Monday--can be directly traced to the addition of Eric Davis. Davis is batting .500 in 26 at-bats against left-handers with three home runs and seven runs batted in. Mike Sharperson, who has always done well against left-handers, is batting .429 against them. . . . Last season against left-handers, Eddie Murray batted .217. . . . The Dodgers’ best clutch hitter has been Davis, who is batting .412 with runners in scoring position. Darryl Strawberry is hitting .381 in those situations. Brett Butler has struggled with runners in scoring position, batting .200.

The deadline for the Dodgers to decide whether Rudy Seanez will pitch again this season is Friday, when he will be examined by Dr. Robert Watkins.

If Seanez has shown progress in rehabilitating his sore back, he will be placed on a program that will allow him to start pitching. If there is no improvement, he will be fitted for a brace that he must wear for two months.

Brian Jordan, the St. Louis Cardinals’ outfielder who is also an Atlanta Falcons’ defensive back, missed Monday’s game because of flu. He was also hitless in his last 18 at-bats.