BROWN'S SEASON OVER.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

Kevin Brown's usually fiery eyes turned soft and sad Monday afternoon, as the Dodgers' star-crossed starting pitcher acknowledged that his season is over.

The Dodgers announced that Brown will not appear in another game this season, as his sore back prevented Brown from even throwing a scheduled bullpen session Monday. Brown will continue his rehabilitation program with hopes that he will be ready for spring training.

``It's kind of hard to argue,'' Brown said of the recommendation made by Dr. Robert Watkins, who examined him Monday and had performed surgery to repair a herniated disc in Brown's back June 11. General manager Dan Evans and manager Jim Tracy approved of Watkins' assessment. ``I'm frustrated and disappointed.

``I'm disappointed in that I haven't been able to help the team. It's been a great run, a great season, and I haven't been able to help the guys out very much.''

Brown, 37, made just 10 starts this season and pitched 63 2/3 innings. His 2001 season was ended by elbow surgery, but the back remained the issue this summer, and he never was able to fully recover. Kevin Beirne will take Brown's spot in the rotation, beginning Wednesday.

It was considered questionable whether Brown would be able to pitch again this season after the back surgery, and although he returned in a limited role last month, he showed none of the dominance that earned him a seven-year, $105 million contract before the 1999 season.

Brown made his first start since the surgery last Tuesday and allowed five runs in five innings. Since returning, he allowed 14 earned runs in 19 1/3 innings.

After that start, Brown flew back to Los Angeles, underwent a MRI and had an epidural shot because of what Tracy called a ``flare-up.'' He was scheduled to start Wednesday, but was too sore to even throw in the bullpen or throw long toss in the outfield Monday.

Over the weekend, Tracy told reporters that ``everything's OK'' when it came to Brown, but clearly that wasn't the case.

``It's just not getting better,'' Tracy said. ``It's ludicrous for me, as the manager, to compromise this man in any way, and to ask him to pitch in this situation ... is unfair.''

Evans and Tracy consulted with Watkins three hours before Monday's game and informed Brown of their decision with a meeting in Tracy's office. All parties said there is no new injury.

``It was very clear to us that it was time to make a simple decision,'' Evans said. ``There's too much at stake here, and we're not going to take any chances. There were no votes on this, it was a very simple decision.

``He said, `I agree with you. If I'm not 100 percent, it's probably better to throw somebody else out there.' He didn't debate it with us, but at the same time there wasn't going to be a debate.''

Tracy remained adamant that Brown would not return to the mound, even if the Dodgers advanced to the World Series.

``No, he's shut down,'' Tracy said. ``I'm not going to send him out to the mound at less than who he is. I'm drawing the line right there.''