DODGERS NOTEBOOK: FURCAL DROPPED TO 7TH.

Byline: TONY JACKSON Staff Writer

Dodgers manager Grady Little promised his team during Sunday's postgame meeting that he would be shaking things up.

On Monday, he backed up that statement, dropping slumping shortstop Rafael Furcal from the leadoff spot for just the fourth time this season and into the seven hole for the first time.

In the previous four games, Furcal had gone 3 for 17 with sevenstrikeouts. The Dodgers scored a total of 11 runs in those games, losing three of them.

``The last few days I could see a little bit of something I didn't like, whether he was putting too much pressure on himself or whatever,'' Little said.

The Dodgers signed Furcal, a free agent, to a three-year, $39 million contract in December believing he could be their first prototypical leadoff man in years. To the contrary, he entered the day batting .256 with a .332 on-base percentage.

Furcal, whom Little said would return to the leadoff spot today, declined to comment.

More surgery: Dodgers outfielder Jayson Werth, who hasn't played this season and whose surgically repaired left wrist still hasn't healed sufficiently to allow him to swing a bat without pain, has all but decided to accept the advice of several doctors and undergo an exploratory arthroscopic procedure to determine what is causing the continued discomfort.

Minor adjustment: Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said pitcher Chad Billingsley will begin working out of the stretch with a runner on third to prevent a repeat of the all-too-easy steal of home by the Angels' Orlando Cabrera on Sunday.

Also: Outfielder Ricky Ledee (left groin) will begin a rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Jacksonville on Wednesday. Little said Ledee won't need much time there.