Strawberry Will Try Again With September Comeback : Dodgers: Doctors clear him to play and show he can avoid back surgery. Herniated disk might have healed itself.

Dodger outfielder Darryl Strawberry, never afraid to acknowledge how much he feared a back operation, has persuaded doctors to postpone surgery while he attempts a September comeback.

That’s September, 1992.

It has been a little more than two weeks since the team announced an operation would be necessary for Strawberry, who is suffering from a herniated disk.

But 16 days after that diagnosis, Dr. Robert Watkins said Sunday there is little evidence of the problem.

“The disk is still herniated,” Watkins said. “But you have to understand: Lesions heal, and you can have a herniation that heals and you can get totally well.”

Frank Jobe, the team’s physician, agreed that there was no harm in allowing Strawberry to try to come back.

“He’s as well as he can get by any examination that we know how to do,” Jobe said. “The time has come where he has to resume his life. If he does that, and he gets more symptoms, then we can change our course.”

Watkins said only 25% of patients with Strawberry’s condition require surgery. It appeared Strawberry was in that group.

The larger question is: What if Strawberry’s comeback fails?

Where does that leave the outfielder for the 1993 season, the third of a five-year, $20.25-million contract?

Watkins said delaying the operation about one month, should the comeback fail, would not affect Strawberry’s return for 1993.

“If he has problems and has to face surgery in September, something like that, there should be adequate time for a rehabilitation program that would allow him to return to full function next season,” Watkins said.

Only two days ago, a tentative date of Aug. 21 or Aug. 22 had been set for an operation.

And if Strawberry’s back does not respond, then it’s back to Plan A.

Strawberry is convinced this comeback will be different, but he also knows surgery remains an option.

“I have to show them,” Strawberry said before Sunday’s game. “That’s the real key. Dr. Watkins explained it to me. I do have to show them I can play before going into spring training next season.

“Definitely, I have to show myself, the ball club, the doctors, that I can play. I’m not afraid. I was afraid before when I went out. This time I’m not afraid.”

Strawberry first suffered the injury in May against Philadelphia and spent seven weeks on the disabled list.

He attempted a return in July, but, after his back flared up again, Strawberry returned to the DL on July 21. Nine days later, the decision was made to operate.

Strawberry is batting .237 in 139 at-bats, with five home runs and 24 RBI.

He believed his season was finished.

“The fact is, I’m feeling great, and I’m not having the problems that were causing me not to be able to go out and perform the way I want.

“It makes a big difference in my life--to be full of joy and happiness. Knowing I can go out there symptom-free is a blessing in itself.”

Strawberry will continue his rehabilitation with Pat Screnar, the Dodger physical therapist. No specific timetable was given for Strawberry’s return.

“Sometime around the first of September,” Dodger Vice President Fred Claire said.

“It depends on how Darryl responds. It appears Darryl will be able to play again this season. We’ll use that to make an evaluation as to what happens from that point.”