Productive Grissom Wants Full-Time Gig

It’s hard to imagine where the Dodgers would have been without Marquis Grissom this season. Who would have filled in for Brian Jordan when the left fielder went down with injuries? Who could have produced more in a center-field platoon with Dave Roberts? Who would have stepped in when Roberts got hurt last weekend?

Grissom, 35, is the Dodgers’ fourth outfielder but has been every bit as valuable as a starter, entering Thursday night’s game with a .273 average, 16 home runs, 21 doubles and 58 runs batted in and filling the highlight reel with several superb defensive plays.

He’s also batting .305 with runners in scoring position. His most recent clutch efforts: a game-winning two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday night in San Diego, a game-tying RBI double in the ninth inning of Wednesday night’s 3-2 win over Colorado and a tying solo homer in the eighth inning Thursday night against the Padres.

But unless the Dodgers give Grissom a starting job or guarantee him 400-450 at-bats next season--neither is likely--Grissom, a free agent after this season, will probably leave Los Angeles this winter.

“I don’t think I’d come back for that,” Grissom said, when asked if he’d consider returning as the fourth outfielder in 2003. “Money is not the issue. Playing every day, getting at-bats, is the issue. If an everyday job is available, if another general manager gives me that opportunity, I’ll jump at it.”

Even if that job is with a non-contending team?

“That doesn’t matter,” said Grissom, who is in the last year of a five-year, $25-million contract. “If I’m healthy, I’ll make that team competitive.”

The Dodgers don’t want to spend another $5 million for Grissom next season, and with Shawn Green entrenched in right field, Roberts establishing himself as the leadoff batter the Dodgers have lacked for years, and Jordan probably back in left, they can’t make any promises to Grissom about playing time.

Grissom, who had 330 at-bats before Thursday, would consider returning as a fourth outfielder if the Dodgers offered a two-year contract, but that’s highly unlikely, as well.

“I would love to come back,” Grissom said. “But I want to play, too.”

*

A cut near the blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand will prevent Andy Ashby from starting Saturday, and barring a trip to the playoffs, the right-hander’s season is over. Kevin Beirne will start Saturday against the Padres.

Ashby has been ineffective in his last four starts, giving up 20 runs in 14 1/3 innings of four losses, and he’ll close with a 9-13 record and 3.91 earned-run average.

Though it was not a spectacular season, the fact that Ashby threw 181 2/3 innings after missing most of 2001 following elbow surgery was a plus.

“We’re very encouraged by what he’s done this year,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “The expectation level for him next year is something to get excited about.”

*

The Dodgers have contacted the agent for reliever Jesse Orosco to express their interest in re-signing the 45-year-old left-hander for next season, and Orosco, who was 1-2 with a 3.04 ERA in 55 appearances before Thursday, is open to the idea of playing a 23rd big league season.

“Retirement has gone through my mind, but I’m thinking, ‘How long can I play?’ more than, ‘What am I still doing here?’ ” Orosco said. “The pitching part of it isn’t the problem. I’ve stayed healthy, and I’m doing the job. But I’ve been traveling for a lot of years, and my kids are growing up. I always ask my wife, and she’s been OK with it. If she wasn’t, I would reconsider.”

*

The Dodgers went past 3 million in attendance for a major league-record 17th time and the seventh year in a row. Thursday’s attendance was 29,613, pushing the season total to 3,002,622.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

OMAR DAAL

(11-9, 4.11 ERA)

vs.

PADRES’

BRETT TOMKO

(10-10, 4.49 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Channel 13. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--Tomko was scratched from Thursday night’s start because of neck pain. The former Placentia El Dorado High right-hander is 3-0 with a 3.71 ERA against the Dodgers this season.