Green Trying to Get Back in Swing

Right fielder Shawn Green has been carrying the weight of the Dodger offense the last two seasons, and he appears exhausted from the heavy lifting.

Green has shown few signs of emerging from a season-long slump, quickly regressing after brief success.

“It hasn’t been the most enjoyable season up to this point,” said Green, who went two for three with one run batted in Friday night in an 8-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. “It was a lot better when we were in first [place in the National League West], but it’s a learning experience. You try to become a better player from everything you face, but it definitely has been a grind.”

Now, the Dodgers again are floating the idea of moving Green to first base to avert an outfield logjam when center fielder Dave Roberts returns from the disabled list. As if Green doesn’t have enough on his mind at the plate.

“No one has approached me with the idea, so I really can’t comment on that,” Green said. “All I can say is that I’m comfortable in right field.”

The Dodgers began the season believing they would make the playoffs for the first time since 1996 because of their outstanding pitching and above-average defense, as long as Green did his part at the plate.

Such is life when you’re the team’s only major run producer in the prime of his career, and have a salary of $15.7 million.

But even another 40-homer, 100-RBI season from Green might not be enough with the Dodgers last in the NL in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits, walks, homers, runs, RBIs and total bases.

Of course, they would be better statistically if Green wasn’t struggling. He is batting .257 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs, with 76 strikeouts in 370 at-bats.

However, scouts who follow the team said the Dodger batting order simply isn’t very good, even with the additions of veteran outfielders Jeromy Burnitz and Rickey Henderson.

Gary Sheffield had complained often about the lack of another premier hitter in the lineup before Green arrived in 2000. Green isn’t the type to take shots at his teammates or management, refusing to even address the topic of the talent around him in the batting order.

But most top teams have at least three major run producers, sometimes four. That’s not the case with the Dodgers.

“I understand I have a key role in this offense, and that’s really the only thing I focus on,” Green said. “It’s not about just earning the money for me, I want to win.

“I want this organization to go to the playoffs and win a World Series. That’s what I care about.”

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The Dodgers plan to discipline pitcher Odalis Perez for rejoining the team late after the All-Star break without permission, Manager Jim Tracy said. A team source said Perez would be fined.

Perez failed to report to Dodger Stadium on time for Thursday’s 6-3 victory over the Cardinals. The left-hander said he had problems with his flight from the Dominican Republic, but that was unacceptable to team officials.

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Roberts (strained right hamstring) said he did not experience pain after running in the outfield during batting practice. He will begin a rehabilitation assignment Monday.