DODGERS NOTEBOOK: PATIENCE LOW WITH CHOI.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

ST. LOUIS - Dodgers manager Jim Tracy found himself in something of a catch-22 regarding first baseman Hee-Seop Choi on Sunday.

On the one hand, Tracy finally conceded before the game that Choi likely will have a reduced role because he was hitting just .167 since being traded to the Dodgers from Florida on July 30. On the other hand, when Tracy needed a pinch hitter in the top of the 11th inning, the left-handed-hitting Choi was his only viable option against St. Louis left- hander Ray King. Tracy also had catcher Tom Wilson on the bench, but he already had used both of his other catchers.

Predictably, Choi flied weakly to center. The Cardinals won the game in the bottom of the inning. And the old adage that you can't hide your weakest link because the game will always find him again proved to be painfully true.

Tracy's patience with Choi appears to have run out.

``We have to look at some different combinations,'' Tracy said. ``We're going to do what makes the most sense. Right now, we're looking for some good at-bats down there (in the sixth spot). I will continue to mix and match. I'm not saying no to Hee-Seop Choi at all. But I'll keep a very close eye, as I always do, on the history between a particular pitcher and a particular hitter.''

Tracy went with Robin Ventura at first base Sunday because Ventura was 12 for 27 against Cardinals starter Woody Williams in his career. Ventura responded by going 2 for 5, including 1 for 3 against Williams. Normally, when Choi doesn't play first base, it means Jayson Werth plays left field, with Milton Bradley going to right and Shawn Green to first.

But Werth didn't start Sunday. Instead, he pinch hit in the ninth to drive in the first of three runs in the inning for the Dodgers and complete a 3-for-5 showing in the three-game series.

--Injury updates: Right-hander Edwin Jackson (right forearm strain) made what probably will be his final minor-league rehabilitation start Sunday for Triple-A Las Vegas. Jackson threw 86 pitches over five innings and allowed four runs on three hits and four walks. He struck out three batters. The report was that Jackson got stronger in his final two innings.

The Dodgers are expected to make their final round of September call-ups (four to five players) after the minor-league season ends today.

--Hurricane fallout: The Dodgers' spring-training complex in Vero Beach, Fla., survived Hurricane Frances, but not without suffering significant damage.

``We're very happy to report that everybody came out healthy, although we did sustain some damage,'' Dodgers vice president Gary Miereanu said. Miereanu has been in touch with vice president Craig Callan, who oversees the Dodgertown facility. ``We will be assessing the damage over the next week and hope to get a better idea of the extent of it.''

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Adrian Beltre's name moves atop the home run leaderboard at Busch Stadium on Sunday after the Dodgers lost their third consecutive game against the Cardinals on Sunday.

Tom Gannam/Associated Press