DODGERS NOTEBOOK: ASHBY SHOULD HELP AT NO. 4.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - The Dodgers' fourth and fifth starters won 11 games last season. Andy Ashby, in what was a down year, won 12.

That in itself should signal an improved starting rotation. And if Ashby can regain the form he displayed in going 31-19 with a 3.56 ERA in 1998 and '99 in San Diego, the Dodgers' starting rotation could be dominant and that is becoming more and more a necessity giving the Gary Sheffield fiasco.

``I still felt good,'' said Ashby, who signed a three-year, $22.5 million free-agent deal to be the Dodgers' fourth starter. ``I don't know, it's hard to explain. Maybe I'm getting older. Maybe my muscles are slowing down.''

On a staff fronted by Kevin Brown, Chan Ho Park and Darren Dreifort, Ashby's re-emergence could prove vital. Ashby understands that and, for his part, said he watched plenty of videotape in the offseason in an effort to return to form.

``I fought my mechanics all year, but that's not why I had a pretty (bad) year,'' Ashby said. ``I think, basically, I was aiming the ball, trying to be too fine, instead of just letting it go. When you start scuffling like I did in (Philadelphia), you try to do more than what you're capable of doing instead of just being yourself and letting it go and being easy. Then you start forcing stuff and you're not going to have the same velocity that you usually do.''

The Dodgers knew about Ashby's struggles. They scouted him last year, hoping to acquire him before the trading deadline. According to sources, reports to the organization's hierarchy said Ashby's velocity was lacking and his command was off.

Ashby, who was 12-13 with a 4.92 ERA with Atlanta and Philadelphia, said the videotapes also suggested his balance was off, which he tried to rectify during offseason workouts.

``I watched his bullpen (workout on Saturday) and it was awfully good,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``He had a lot of late movement in the hitting zone. That's a real good sign because it was also locating.''

--Karros' back sprained: The Dodgers remain unsure when first baseman Eric Karros can participate in drills, fielding or hitting because of a sore back. An MRI revealed Karros has a lumbar strain, which is good news.

``We've ruled out the severity part,'' Tracy said. ``He's improved from where he was (Tuesday). That's a situation that will obviously be resolved. It's just kind of a day-to-day thing.''

The Dodgers will proceed cautiously because Karros has had back problems in the past.

--Step forward, step back: Third baseman Adrian Beltre's a week into training camp and hasn't eaten solid food. He experienced what the Dodgers said was another minor setback Wednesday when he experienced oozing from the wound created when his appendix burst and the subsequent surgery Jan. 12.

Beltre, who took part in drills the last two days, spent most of the day in the trainer's room with a drainage bag attached to his side.

Although Beltre remains 15 pounds under his playing weight (216 pounds), he hasn't been able to exercise rigorously for six weeks and remains possibly weeks from being able to participate in all the spring drills. The Dodgers believe he'll be ready for the start of the season.

``If it was to the point where it was serious enough to where our medical people thought it was a situation where he may not be able to come out of the gate, they would tell me that,'' Tracy said. ``I've heard nothing to that.''

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Photo: ANDY ASHBY

Dodgers' scheduled No. 4 starter hopes to improve on 12-win total last year.