They’re Happy With Ventura

Infielder Robin Ventura has batted only .259 since joining the Dodgers, but players said his impact in the clubhouse has been immeasurable.

The 14-year veteran has been a positive addition to a team that needed a confidence boost, providing leadership and playoff-race experience as the Dodgers battle for the National League wild-card berth.

General Manager Dan Evans thought the left-handed batter would add something good to the Dodgers, and it appears Ventura has.

“Robin is definitely a good teammate,” right fielder Shawn Green said. “Everyone around the game has always said good things about him, and you can see right away what type of guy he is.

“When you bring in quality guys who have been around the game, and who people respect, it makes everything better. You make them part of a team, and good things are going to happen.”

Ventura, Rickey Henderson and outfielder Jeromy Burnitz have all helped to lift the Dodgers’ spirits. But Ventura and Henderson have played in the World Series.

“Robin and Rickey have been in pennant races, they know that you can’t panic, and they let you know in different ways,” second baseman Alex Cora said. “When we’re just playing cards and talking, you can sense that they’re relaxed. They’ve been around and they’re winners.”

Ventura is just trying to do his part.

“I don’t purposely go and try to do anything, this is just what I am, and hopefully it helps,” said Ventura, a six-time Gold Glove recipient at third base. “I’m just glad there are guys who like having me here.”

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Fred McGriff, sidelined since July 4 because of injuries to his left groin and right knee, was encouraged Wednesday after running the bases and taking grounders at first base, but he still had no timetable for his return from the disabled list.

“I’ve never been on the DL before, I never missed a long period of time, so this is unknown territory for me,” said McGriff, who has played in 67 of the team’s 125 games.

With 10 home runs this season, the 17-year veteran needs 12 for 500. McGriff said he probably would have played in 2004 even if he had accomplished the feat this season, but now he definitely plans to return.

“More or less, I was going to come back,” said McGriff, who has a salary of $3.75 million on a one-year contract. “It wasn’t like if I got 500, I was going to retire.”

When asked if he would return to the Dodgers, McGriff smiled and walked away.

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Kazuhisa Ishii, sidelined since Aug. 2 because of a sprained ligament in his left knee and scratched from a scheduled start Saturday, told pitching coach Jim Colborn he was improving. Andy Ashby, who missed a start last week because of flu-like symptoms, will face the New York Mets on Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

Colborn said he and Manager Jim Tracy had not determined whether Ishii would face batters before rejoining the rotation.

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Linda McCoy-Murray, widow of The Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Jim Murray, will sign copies of “Quotable Jim Murray” Friday at Dodger Stadium.

McCoy-Murray is scheduled to sign on the Club Level between the second and fourth innings. The book can be purchased for $14.95. Royalties will benefit the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation.