Beltre Unhappy With New Spot

Dodger third baseman Adrian Beltre got off to a rocky start Monday with Manager Jim Tracy, criticizing Tracy’s handling of the batting order.

Beltre said Tracy had blindsided him by dropping him from third to seventh after the arrival of center fielder Milton Bradley in Sunday’s trade with the Cleveland Indians, waiting until opening day to tell Beltre. Beltre also said he was tired of Tracy’s treating him different from other players.

“I’m not happy about this,” Beltre said before going two for five and scoring a run as the San Diego Padres routed the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, 8-2.

“I was told I was hitting third the whole spring,” Beltre said.”Then I get here this morning and find out I’m hitting seventh.

“I’ve been waiting for this day for four months. I get out of my house, and I’m happy. I’ve been thinking all this time about this. This is how he tells me? Like I said, I’m not happy.”

After Sunday’s final exhibition game against the Angels, Tracy and General Manager Paul DePodesta met with players whose positions they wanted to change to accommodate Bradley. Shawn Green, moving from right field to first base; Dave Roberts, going from center to left field; and Juan Encarnacion, moving from left to right field, were briefed. Beltre was not, because his position was not changing.

“I was looking for him [Sunday],” said Tracy, who after meeting with Beltre earlier in his office, had a heated exchange with him on the field during batting practice.

“He’s not an afterthought. This is one game of 162. But we acquired a player less than 24 hours before opening day.”

DePodesta supported Tracy.

“We did talk to some of the guys, but the actual lineup part of it

“Obviously, it was important to talk to Shawn, it was important to talk to Dave and it was important to talk to Juan, because they were all moving positions in the field. That’s a little more permanent than what the lineup looks like on opening day.”

Beltre was not satisfied, saying Tracy owed him more time to adjust to the change, at least as much time as Green, Roberts and Encarnacion.

“He didn’t tell me I would hit third, no matter what happened, but he said if anything changed, he would call me [in advance] and let me know,” Beltre said. “Then he tells me this morning. He calls me into the office today?

“If I knew about it [Sunday], I would have came in today with my mind set [that] I was going to hit seventh. I was thinking I’m going to hit third, about having Shawn Green behind me, and how these guys are going to pitch me now.

“I did the best I could do to make him believe I can hit third. I had my best spring ever. It was my most consistent spring. Then I come in today and I’m not hitting third.”

Beltre batted .305 with three home runs and 13 RBIs, hitting in the No. 3 spot during Grapefruit League play, impressing the Dodgers with his discipline at the plate.

“Obviously, it was a surprise to Adrian, because he was preparing to hit third,” Roberts said. “He had a great spring and worked hard to get to where he’s at right now.

“But being around as long as he has, and he’s a veteran, he understands that things change. I know he’s going to do whatever it takes to help this team win. Whether he’s hitting third or seventh, he’s going to be a productive hitter in 2004.”

Said Green, “Belly is a team guy. He looked tremendous in spring training, and no matter where he hits, he’s going to have a great year.”

Tracy said Beltre was hitting in a good spot.

“In my opinion, that spot right there [No. 7] is as important as the 3 spot,” he said. “If you look at the people that precede him, there are a number of run-producing situations. That is an integral spot in the lineup right now.”

Beltre said he remained committed to his teammates and winning.

“I’m not happy about it, but I’m not going to show it,” he said. “I’m just going to go out and do my job.... But why me? I’ve always been a team guy. I always do what the team wants, but this is my sixth year.

“My first three, four, five years, whatever. But this is my sixth year, and it’s still me. Any time something has to change, it has to be me. I don’t know what it is. I’d just like to know.”