Get Ready: Rocker Is Coming to Town

Dodger fans have reserved their loudest boos this season for Cincinnati Reds’ center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. and Dodger left-hander Carlos Perez.

Beginning tonight they get a chance to let Atlanta closer John Rocker know how they feel.

Perez laughed when asked about the reliever coming to town.

“What do you want me to say about this guy?” Perez said of Rocker, who has been the object of derision and cheers since his derogatory remarks resulted in a two-week suspension from baseball. “People love him in Atlanta. You know, in every city, people act different. They boo me sometimes out of town.”

They boo Perez at Dodger Stadium sometimes too.

“Exactly,” he said. “But it’s OK. The fans, they’re like my friends, no matter what.”

Perez, who pitches against four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux on Wednesday night, wouldn’t say if he felt Rocker being here would take some of the heat off him.

“I don’t know,” he said, again laughing. “I’m just going to sit on the bench watching.”

*

While some would say the Dodger defensive woes were to be expected, considering second baseman Mark Grudzielanek is learning the position on the fly and shortstop Kevin Elster is coming back from a one-year retirement, Manager Davey Johnson disagrees.

“I mean, it takes time for the guys to get used to each other,” Johnson said. “Grud has really played exceptionally well over there. It’s going to take some time for him to be letter-perfect over there but I think he’s done a great job.

“We’ve made some errors but basically, I think, overall, we’ve played pretty good--we’ve turned some tough double plays,” Johnson said. “I can’t fault that. I know it is going to take a little time to get really comfortable over there. They’ve made all the routine plays.”

*

Adrian Beltre insisted that Saturday night’s near-skirmish, during which both dugouts emptied and the bullpens cleared, was a result of a misunderstanding.

Beltre, who sets up deep in the batter’s box, said that home plate umpire Jim Reynolds called time after Beltre touched Florida catcher Paul Bako’s mask on his backswing. Pitcher Dan Miceli apparently believed that Beltre had stepped out of the box in an attempt to show him up. Miceli went up and in on Beltre with his next pitch.

Beltre took a step toward the mound, stared at Miceli and was quickly grabbed by Bako, which led to a lot of shouting and finger-pointing, but no shoves or punches.

“He set me down,” Beltre said of Miceli. “I don’t know what he was trying to do. I wasn’t going to do nothing but the catcher grabbed ahold of me and told me a couple of bad words. I don’t want to take that.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Atlanta Braves, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports Net 2 all three nights.

* Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 14-10, Braves 18-6.

* Record vs. Braves--0-3.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ ERIC GAGNE

(0-1, 4.11 ERA)

vs.

BRAVES’ KEVIN MILLWOOD

(2-0, 3.38 ERA)

* Update--Gagne had a less-than-memorable outing against the Braves on Wednesday, giving up solo home runs to Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones and Andres Galarraga at Turner Field. Gagne took the loss in the 5-1 defeat. Millwood, meanwhile, was the winning pitcher in that affair, going seven innings and giving up a run and five hits. Millwood is 4-2 with a 2.97 ERA in six appearances against the Dodgers.

* Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Chan Ho Park (3-2, 4.60 ERA) vs. Terry Mulholland (3-2, 4.45 ERA).

* Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Carlos Perez (2-1, 4.62 ERA) vs. Greg Maddux (4-0, 2.49 ERA).

* Tickets--(323) 224-1448.