DODGERS NOTEBOOK: BRADLEY GETS SAME ADVICE.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

Milton Bradley got a second opinion on his knee Friday. Unfortunately, it sounded exactly like the first.

Bradley visited Dr. Tim Kremchek, the Cincinnati Reds' medical director, who concurred with doctors in Los Angeles that Bradley needs season-ending surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his left knee.

``He came to see me and I agree with Dr. (Frank) Jobe,'' Kremchek said. ``It's obvious his knee has been bothering him for the last four to six weeks. It probably limited his running and his ability to play.''

Bradley left Monday's game in the first inning after he awkwardly hit first base while running out a groundball, and later hinted to reporters that the knee had been bothering him for some time.

Jobe, the Dodgers' orthopedist, diagnosed Bradley with an 80 percent tear of the patellar tendon and possibly some issues with his anterior cruciate ligament, and recommended surgery. Bradley sought a second opinion and traveled to Cincinnati to see Kremchek but got the same answer.

--Injury report: Cesar Izturis underwent an MRI on Friday afternoon on his back that showed no structural damage. Izturis missed his fourth consecutive game Friday.

DePodesta said the Dodgers would make a decision shortly on whether to place Izturis on the disabled list. Factoring into the decision is that rosters are expanded Sept. 1, and the Dodgers might be able to play shorthanded until then, in case Izturis doesn't require 15 days to recover.

--No progress: DePodesta said he intended to meet with Scott Boras, the agent for Luke Hochevar, the Dodgers' top draft pick, on Friday night, but there was no indication a deal was close.

DePodesta acknowledged the ``drop-dead date'' for negotiations could be Monday, which apparently is Hochevar's deadline for enrolling in classes at the University of Tennessee, but DePodesta said he would continue to allow scouting director Logan White to handle negotiations.