DODGERS NOTEBOOK: PARK SHOWS NO SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT IN SETBACK.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

The seven games of sitting and thinking, forced by suspension, did nothing to improve Chan Ho Park's on-field performance.

Since returning to the rotation, the Dodgers right-hander is 0-3 with an 8.47 ERA. The latest abomination came in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Giants at 3Com Park.

Afterward, Dodgers manager Davey Johnson voiced his extreme displeasure about Park's season-long performance, especially after electing to leave Park in the game after the Dodgers scored twice in the fourth to cut a five-run deficit to 5-2.

``I expect a lot more from Chan Ho,'' Johnson said. ``You're the No. 2 starter, three runs down, go out there and hold them. Otherwise, I would have pinch hit for him.''

Park didn't make it out of the fourth inning, earning Johnson's hook after allowing a one-out triple and a two-out RBI single. He allowed six runs in 3-2/3 innings, walked four and struck out four.

It's the third time Park has allowed at least six earned runs in a start, and second in the last three. In what was supposed to be a breakout season, Park is 4-6 with a 5.54 ERA. He's allowed 19 homers.

``It looked like he was throwing the ball instead of pitching,'' Johnson said. ``I left him in hoping he'd be mad and go out there and pitch. And he didn't.''

It's been a season of distraction and disaster for Park, who declined to talk to the media.

He has already tied a major-league record by allowing four grand slams, was distracted by aborted contract talks and then released his frustration by punching and kicking Angels pitcher Tim Belcher in a fight earlier this month.

``He needs to pitch the ball, and not throw the ball,'' catcher Todd Hundley said. ``I can see it. When it's easy to see, you know it's there. When you have a long swing, it's easy to see but you don't feel it. Same thing with pitching.

``I think sometimes he'll just try to overanalyse situations and try to make the perfect pitch and then it's 2-0, 3-1, and a hitter doesn't have to protect the plate.''

White scratched late: Johnson just finished talking about how much he liked his lineup because he alternated right-handed hitters with left-handed hitters when he learned center fielder Devon White couldn't play because of a stiff neck.

The initial intention was to give Gary Sheffield the day off and play Todd Hollandsworth in left. Instead, Hollandsworth started in center and Sheffield played left.