BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Hansen Sits Down, Tries to Stay Upbeat

Dave Hansen remembers what it was like to be shuttled from the major leagues to the minor leagues last season. But he wonders if what has happened to him recently isn’t worse.

“Now the roller coaster is emotional,” Hansen said Monday after he didn’t start for a fifth consecutive game.

Hansen had finally gotten into the routine of platooning at third base against left-handers, and reeled off a .423 average in a 13-game stretch, when he heard the news that Juan Samuel was returning from the disabled list.

Samuel was installed at second base Friday and the platoon of Mike Sharperson and Lenny Harris was moved to third base.

“It looks like I’m back to where I started,” Hansen said, referring to last season, when he was the team’s top pinch-hitter. “I was finally getting a little lucky and then. . . . It’s tough to stay lucky off the bench. But I’ll keep trying.”

Samuel acknowledged that his inability to take ground balls during much of his six-week stay on the disabled list could be hurting him. “It still feels weird at second base right now,” Samuel said. “I’m not making excuses, but I didn’t take ground balls, and so its been hard.” . . . As part of his planned shake-up, Manager Tom Lasorda benched outfielders Todd Benzinger and Kal Daniels. Benzinger had a five-game hitting streak, but is batting .234 in June with one extra-base hit and two runs batted in. Daniels was batting .176 in June with one home run and three RBIs. . . . Eric Davis is still hitting off a tee and from underhand tosses from coaches, but could begin facing live pitching by the middle of the week.