DODGERS NOTEBOOK: BRAZOBAN GIVEN A NEW ROLE.

Byline: Rich Hammond 

Staff Writer

Fearing Yhency Brazoban's confidence would drop as his ERA soared, and tired of watching him blow games in the late innings, the Dodgers removed Brazoban from the role of closer on Thursday.

Brazoban, a 25-year-old right-hander in just his fourth professional season, will be relegated to middle-inning short relief until he can correct what the team believes to be mechanical flaws. In the interim, rookie right-hander Steve Schmoll and second-year right-hander Duaner Sanchez will fill the closer role.

Manager Jim Tracy expressed confidence that Brazoban would reclaim the job again this season, but said he didn't want to damage the psyche of the pitcher, who has as many losses (five) as saves since July 4.

``His confidence and self-esteem are things that are weighing heavily on my mind, and I don't want to see them get destroyed,'' Tracy said. ``You want to protect the integrity of the club and the individual.''

Brazoban took over the job for good in mid-June after Eric Gagne suffered a season-ending elbow injury and recorded 21 saves in 25 opportunities, but his ERA has climbed to its current high of 6.46.

``My confidence is good, it's just the fact that my mechanics and location are a little off,'' Brazoban said through an interpreter. ``I'll continue working and hopefully I'll be back (closing) again.''

The breaking points for Brazoban came Sunday, when he gave up three runs against Pittsburgh in the ninth inning, and Wednesday, when he didn't record an out and allowed a game-winning grand slam to Philadelphia's Ryan Howard.

--Injury report: Jayson Werth (knee) was activated from the disabled list and Wilson Alvarez, who has had season-long shoulder soreness, went on the disabled list to make room for Werth.

Werth immediately went into the lineup Thursday, playing left field and batting second. Cesar Izturis woke up with back soreness and didn't start Thursday but is expected to play today.