Not 100%, Roberts Goes on Disabled List

Left fielder and leadoff batter Dave Roberts went on the 15-day disabled list Friday because of a strained right hamstring, and the club recalled second baseman Joe Thurston from triple-A Las Vegas to take Roberts’ spot on the 25-man roster.

The Dodgers made the move because hamstring problems hampered the speedy Roberts throughout the 2003 season, limiting him to 107 games. Moreover, the Dodgers were already short-handed on the bench while carrying 12 pitchers on the roster.

Under the circumstances, General Manager Paul DePodesta and Manager Jim Tracy decided they could not keep Roberts active, or turn to Roberts before he had completely healed. Thurston, batting .230 for the 51s, is scheduled to join the team today.

Jose Hernandez and Jason Grabowski are expected to share time in left field.

“I don’t want to send David Roberts out on the field with any reservations in my mind,” Tracy said. “We can’t afford to let David Roberts lose his legs.

“If he loses his legs, we in essence lose the player. David Roberts is going to go back out there when he’s 100%.”

Roberts was injured in Tuesday’s 4-3, 11-inning victory over the Florida Marlins. He said he suffered the injury while being thrown out trying to steal second base in the first inning -- the first time he had been caught in 16 attempts.

Roberts expressed frustration and disappointment about returning to the disabled list for the third time in two seasons but understood the decision.

“It’s just a move to err on the cautious side with what happened last year,” said Roberts, batting .265 with a .382 on-base percentage and 15 stolen bases. “It’s a different type of injury, as far as where it’s at on my hamstring, but it’s similar in the respect that it’s still my right leg, so I guess they just want to be more cautious.

“Just knowing the fact that I’m going to go on the disabled list is frustrating and disappointing, because you want to be out there every day. I’m just trying to look at the big picture and realize there’s a lot of season left.

“I’m disappointed in the circumstances as far as that I even got hurt. As far as being disappointed with the decision, it’s probably the right decision. I think more with my heart than my mind sometimes.”

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Catcher Todd Hundley, sidelined for the season because of back problems, is scheduled to undergo hip surgery Tuesday to repair cartilage damage.

Hundley had back surgery Nov. 25 to repair a herniated disk after initially undergoing surgery for the problem June 5. The Dodgers do not have insurance on Hundley’s $6.5-million contract.