DODGERS NOTEBOOK: FOR MCGRIFF, A DL MILESTONE.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

SAN FRANCISCO - Fred McGriff has accomplished many things in his distinguished career, but Monday the Dodgers first baseman added a blotch to his resume he rather would have avoided.

For the first time in his 18-year career, McGriff was placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to June 14) with a strained right groin. The move was made because McGriff was slated to miss his ninth consecutive game with the injury, and the club wants him to be healthy the second half of the season.

``We just don't want to take a chance,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``It doesn't make any sense to do that. That injury there is a very delicate issue where if you worsen that, that's something that can linger for quite a period of time.''

The groin injury has been a source of frustration for McGriff lately, and the discomfort became such that he was pulled from a June 13 game in Cleveland. The Dodgers were hopeful McGriff would miss only a game or two, but the groin did not improve at the rate the club hoped.

``If I try to score from second base or whatever, I couldn't do it,'' McGriff said. ``I've been playing with it for a while. It's been tight for a while. Just give it a rest for a few days because I've been going hard. Just cut back.''

McGriff is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday. In the interim, slick-fielding first baseman Larry Barnes was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Tracy said he would look at a variety of variables, including pitcher-batter matchups, to decide who would play first base in McGriff's absence.

The decision to put McGriff out of action also momentarily derails his bid to reach the 500-homer mark. Though batting just .242, McGriff leads the Dodgers with 10 homers and trailed only Shawn Green for the team lead in RBI. McGriff had 35 RBI, Green 38.

McGriff, predominantly the Dodgers' cleanup hitter this season, took batting practice over the weekend at Dodger Stadium and did some running, but he experienced soreness the day after vigorous workouts.

The announcement of McGriff's move to the disabled list took place after the 39-year-old met with Tracy.

``After doing this for 17 or 18 years, you realize it could be fairly risky business if you push the envelope,'' Tracy said. ``We're not going to do that.''

McGriff, who broke into the majors in 1986, underwent an ultrasound exam to rule out a hernia. He added it was his first groin injury.

``It's different than the hamstring, where you can massage it out of there,'' McGriff said. ``In the past I had injuries but would be out only four or five days. You keep waiting and waiting and try to stay away from 15 days. I've had injuries in the past, but it would last like a week.''

--Nomo nears payday: Right-hander Hideo Nomo has been the Dodgers' best pitcher the past two years, and if it keeps up he will be around for a third season. That could become secured in early August.

Nomo, who has pitched 116 1/3 innings, needs another 58 2/3 innings for an option for the 2004 season to kick in. If Nomo pitches 175 innings, he will earn an $8.25 million salary next season. If he amasses 200 innings, it will jump to $9 million.

He could be worth it. After going 16-6 with a 3.39 ERA last season, he is 8-6 and fourth in the National League with a 2.55 ERA. He is second in innings pitched.

--Odds and ends: Tracy used what is becoming his lineup vs. left-handers in the series opener against the Giants. Jolbert Cabrera started at second base while Alex Cora sat, and Brian Jordan was in center field while Dave Roberts rested. ... Dodgers minor-league outfielder Franklin Gutierrez, from Single-A Vero Beach (Fla.) and pitcher Edwin Jackson, from Double-A Jacksonville (Fla.), will play at the Futures Game on July 13 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.

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- Brian Dohn