Little Drops Furcal From the Leadoff Spot

His voice wasn’t raised and the cadence was slow as Carolina, but Manager Grady Little got across a message in a closed-door team meeting after the one-sided loss to the Angels on Sunday, the Dodgers’ fifth in six games.

Don’t be surprised to see some changes.

Demoting slumping leadoff batter Rafael Furcal to the No. 7 spot was the first adjustment. Before Monday’s game, Furcal had 98 more plate appearances than any other Dodger, yet his on-base percentage of .332 was lower than the team’s .352 mark.

“We’re trying to change things around a little bit, jump-start everyone,” Little said. “It had to be somebody, somewhere. I think it will do him some good right now.”

Little had been reluctant to move Furcal, in part because the only other experienced leadoff hitters are Kenny Lofton and Cesar Izturis. Lofton, 39, needs frequent days off and Izturis has a career on-base percentage of .294.

The coaching staff has discussed moving up rookie catcher Russell Martin, who has batted mostly eighth. Martin possess qualities of a No. 2 batter -- patience and the ability to hit to all fields -- but probably would not be a long-term candidate to bat leadoff.

Furcal still is the best option after he sorts out his swing. Only 14 of his last 2,171 at-bats came somewhere other than leadoff. He wouldn’t talk about the demotion.

Little said before the game “it won’t just be a one-day thing,” but changed his mind during the game. Furcal will be back atop the order tonight.

“He’s our leadoff hitter,” Little said.

As for other changes, stay tuned.

“We won’t keep repeating things that aren’t working,” Little said. “We’ll shake it up.”

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Izturis has played exceptionally well since reluctantly moving to third base nine games ago. But his inexperience showed when Orlando Cabrera of the Angels stole home Sunday. Izturis didn’t recognize that Cabrera was running soon enough to alert rookie pitcher Chad Billingsley, whose windup was so deliberate that Cabrera scored without a play. “It’s one of those things that comes with experience at the position,” Little said. “I don’t think that will happen again to either guy.”

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Outfielder Ricky Ledee (strained groin) will begin a minor league rehab assignment at double-A Jacksonville on Wednesday.... Outfielder Jason Repko (high ankle sprain) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment after the All-Star break.

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The American flag former outfielder and current broadcaster Rick Monday saved from being burned by two protesters in 1976 at Dodger Stadium and a flag that recently flew over Baghdad will be part of a pre-game ceremony today.