Pedro Guerrero wants back in the club

When Pedro Guerrero was the Dodgers' main slugger in the 1980s, he apparently partied a lot — "I used to come to the park with a hangover every day," he says in a story by Ken Gurnick at MBL.com. Seems that Guerrero has gone sober (though just for three years) and wants a job in baseball, preferably with the Dodgers. Sounds as if there is some reticence at the stadium, based on Guerrero's past.

Guerrero was about as wayward as they come. He was a five-time All-Star, a tri-MVP of the 1981 World Series, twice runner-up for a batting title -- and a drunk, his work habits were disruptive to team chemistry and his lifestyle a dangerous influence on younger players like Duncan. The club put up with his antics for a decade because he could hit.

"He was a talented ballplayer and a lot of fun to be around, but he took the wrong road," said Hall of Fame manager Tom Lasorda....

"He's got to earn his way back in," said [Maury] Wills. "He has to be visible, doing productive things that prove he's in a good state of being. It won't come on his timetable, it comes on somebody else's and it never seems soon enough. And they won't go on what he says. They want to see it."

Guerrero, from the Dominican Republic, three times hit 32 or more home runs for the Dodgers. He played in L.A. for a decade then was fobbed off on the Cardinals in 1988 for pitcher John Tudor. Guerrero was done at age 36.

Dodgers related: All signs point to shortstop Rafael Furcal heading to the disabled list. MLB