Lasorda claimed Sunday that "everybody who pitches" occasionally uses pine tar on cold and rainy days.
"I was stunned yesterday, when he was ejected," Lasorda said. "Technically, it's the rule. But theoretically, it's not right. He was not doctoring the ball. That's the whole point to the case. Now, if it's a scuff mark, or a nail or a file, he deserves the suspension. But he wasn't helping the ball move in any illegal way."
Lasorda, admitting he is not an unbiased observer, said he would not have suspended Howell for such an offense. He said that he would have merely asked Howell to change gloves and washed the pine tar off his fingertips. Although Lasorda did not criticize Met Manager Davey Johnson for asking to have Howell's glove checked, the Dodger manager reiterated that he would not have used such a tactic. "I would never do it," Lasorda said. "I'm not going to comment on what Davey did."
Lasorda then added: "Now, I'm going to check every glove in the National League--starting tonight."
Times sports writer Ross Newhan also contributed to this story.
