DODGERS NOTEBOOK: BRADLEY'S DAY CUT SHORT.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

MIAMI - Dodgers center fielder Milton Bradley left Monday's 5-2 loss to Florida after the top of the first inning with an irritated patellar tendon in his left knee. He was injured when he appeared to hit the corner of the first-base bag with his left foot while running out a double-play grounder.

Bradley will be reevaluated today and see Dr. Frank Jobe if there is no improvement.

``(Trainer) Stan (Johnston) told me it's a day-to-day thing,'' said manager Jim Tracy, meaning Bradley probably isn't headed for the disabled list.

The injury comes when Bradley finally seemed to be heating up. He went 8 for 25 on the trip but clashed after Saturday's victory over the Marlins with teammate Jeff Kent, who had tried to counsel Bradley on what he perceived as a lack of hustle.

--Broxton out: The Dodgers sent rookie reliever Jonathan Broxton and his 7.04 ERA back to Jacksonville (Fla.) after the game. The club is expected to recall reliever Franquelis Osoria from Las Vegas in time for tonight's game with Colorado.

Broxton, one of the organization's top prospects, was promoted to the big leagues well ahead of schedule July 29 to be used primarily in key, late-inning situations. It quickly became clear Broxton, 21, is at least a year away.

``They want me to go down there and work on my slide step and keeping runners close,'' Broxton said. ``This was a big learning experience for me. I came here wanting to do whatever I could to help the team. They said if I keep progressing, I'll be right back up here.''

That probably won't happen until mid- to late-September. The Suns, arguably the most prospect-laden team in all of minor-league baseball, figure to go deep into next month's Southern League playoffs. Big-league clubs traditionally wait until each affiliate's season is over before raiding that club's roster for September call-ups.

Broxton's final appearance was Sunday, when he held the Marlins to no runs and one hit in 1 1/3 innings following an early exit by starter Derek Lowe.

``Jonathan got a little taste of it, but, obviously, there are some areas he needs to shore up,'' Tracy said. ``The idea in bringing him here was for him to be very much involved during the seventh and eighth innings of (close) ballgames. Right now, he's not quite ready for that.''

--Team meeting: Tracy called a team meeting before Monday's game and addressed his club about the final six weeks of the season. He wouldn't say whether he brought up Saturday's confrontation between Kent and Bradley.

``I step out there periodically and talk to my team,'' Tracy said. ``That's how I do things.''