Green Is Feeling Frustrated

Manager Jim Tracy and Shawn Green apparently have been at odds over Tracy’s handling of Green during the first baseman’s slump, team sources said Tuesday.

Green, shouldering much of the responsibility for the Dodgers’ poor run production in a 2-9 stretch, expressed frustration in a recent closed-door meeting in which Tracy explored moving the cleanup batter to other spots in the batting order. Green batted second for the first time since 1999 on Tuesday and was one for four with a run batted in during the Dodgers’ 5-3 victory over Milwaukee.

Less than 24 hours after saying he didn’t believe Green’s slide had warranted a day off, Tracy benched Green, then in a two-for-16 skid, before Saturday’s 7-4 victory over Atlanta.

And that was after dropping Green to fifth in the order.

Tracy does not discuss his conversations with players, and Green declined to comment on his meetings with Tracy.

“Different managers have different philosophies on how to handle players struggling early on,” said Green, batting .177 with three homers and 11 RBIs in May. “It’s not difficult to deal with. It is what it is.”

Tracy said helping Green is his only agenda.

“I just am trying to create an opportunity for Shawn to just swing,” Tracy said, “and not feel like we’re heaping the weight of the world on his shoulders.”

Green has endured a long slump every season in Los Angeles, and some in the organization say Tracy is making the situation worse by seemingly searching for answers daily.

“Tracy’s job is to write out the lineup card,” Green said. “Wherever I’m hitting, I’m going up there with the same approach to try to hit the ball hard. That’s all I can do. I just want to go out and play and not worry about it.”

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Hideo Nomo might be headed to the disabled list as early as today because of his damaged fingernail.

The right-hander, who suffered a split nail on his right index finger May 19 against Philadelphia, was scratched from Saturday’s scheduled start against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.

Tracy said Jose Lima would start against Arizona and a decision on Nomo would be made soon.

“We have a couple of more days to play with that,” Tracy said. “Because of the number of days that have been involved already, and the fact of when, in fact, he would be ready to start, all of that comes into play.”

Nomo said he could not determine how much longer it might take his nail to heal.

“We can’t really calculate,” Nomo said through an interpreter. “It’s just something that time will tell.”

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The Dodgers disputed a radio report that they had agreed to acquire All-Star first baseman Carlos Delgado from the Toronto Blue Jays for outfielder Juan Encarnacion and a minor leaguer.

“It’s laughable,” said General Manager Paul De Podesta, who also said that he hasn’t talked to Toronto General Manager J.P. Ricciardi “in three or four weeks.”