Maybe This Will Be Good for Park

Chan Ho Park has been frustrated this season, making life difficult for himself and the Dodgers.

The young pitcher is serving a seven-game suspension for hitting and kicking Angel starter Tim Belcher last Saturday during a nationally televised interleague game at Dodger Stadium. Park would have started Friday night against the Oakland Athletics at Network Associates Coliseum.

Instead, he watched the game from the stands.

Park acknowledges he has made many mistakes, and he’s viewing his suspension as a wake-up call.

Park is eligible to be reinstated Thursday and is scheduled to start against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium. He hopes that day will be the beginning of something good for him. For a change.

“I feel really bad about doing that [igniting the bench-clearing incident], about everything that has happened [this season],” said Park, who was also fined $3,000. “I don’t want to miss any games because I want to help my team, and seven games is a really long time.

“But I’ve been thinking about everything. Everything has been very hard for me so far, so maybe this can be a good thing for me.”

He has failed to meet expectations to this point, going 4-3 with a 4.84 earned-run average. The No. 2 starter has given up four grand slams this season--matching a major league record.

Park, who turns 26 June 30, said his problems are partly mechanical. He is working on decreasing his leg kick, hoping that will help improve his balance on the mound.

Moreover, he’s working on improving his frame of mind. Park said he has put too much pressure on himself while trying to be the dominant pitcher many have predicted he will become.

“I’m still learning, you know?” Park said. “I’m still learning about the game, trying to get better.

“Maybe I needed this to help me [get back on track]. Maybe this will help me for later. This could be my chance to start a new season. I hope everything will be better.”

*

The team purchased the contract of outfielder Brent Cookson from triple-A Albuquerque and designated infielder Chance Sanford for assignment. Sanford is expected to clear waivers and return to Albuquerque.

Manager Davey Johnson needed outfield help because Todd Hollandsworth is on the disabled list because of a torn abdominal muscle and Devon White has been sidelined because of a groin pull. Johnson hopes Hollandsworth will return Tuesday and White on Sunday.

Johnson plans to use the right-handed batting Cookson as his designated hitter today against Oakland left-hander Kenny Rogers.

A minor league journeyman, Cookson, 29, was batting .335 with 18 home runs and 48 runs batted in during 55 games for the Dukes. Oakland selected Cookson, raised in Ventura County, in the 15th round of the 1991 amateur draft after he attended Long Beach State.

Cookson, who was one for two Friday as a mid-game replacement for Gary Sheffield in left field, batted .143 in 22 games with the Kansas City Royals in 1995. The Dodgers signed Cookson, sidelined by injuries throughout his nine-year career, as a free agent in the off-season.

“It’s always been my ultimate goal to play for the Dodgers,” Cookson said. “Obviously, there is a lot of emotion going through my head right now, but I have to put that aside and do my job.”

TODAY

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES (5-4, 3.69 ERA)

vs.

ATHLETICS’ KENNY ROGERS (3-2, 3.54 ERA)

Network Associates Coliseum, 1 p.m.

TV--Channel 11 Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

* Update--Valdes lost, 3-2, to the Texas Rangers on Monday, marking the first time he has lost in consecutive starts this season. Valdes worked 7 1/3 innings in his seventh quality start, but he faltered in the eighth with the score tied, 1-1. Valdes gave up nine hits and struck out eight with only one walk. Rogers was scheduled to start Friday, but he was bumped to today because of numerous changes in the Athletics’ rotation. The Dodgers are batting .246 against left-handers.