DODGERS NOTEBOOK: PEREZ: DODGERS FAVORITES `BY FAR'.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

LAKELAND, Fla. - Dodgers left-hander Odalis Perez did not back away when asked whether his team was the favorite to win the National League West.

``Oh, yeah. By far,'' Perez said. ``Look at our team from last year. Every team had three power hitters. We only had one guy. It makes it easier for the other team to try and get Shawn Green out in a situation he can drive in more runs, and take care of the other guys.''

The charismatic Perez touched on a number of subjects Friday after pitching one shutout inning against the Detroit Tigers before the game was canceled by rain, and the club's offseason improvement in talent and attitude was at the forefront.

Perez pointed to the addition of first baseman Fred McGriff, the anticipated health of pitchers Kevin Brown and Darren Dreifort and the subtraction of questionable character in the clubhouse as reasons the Dodgers should win the NL West.

``This team has gotten a lot better in the last year,'' Perez said. ``We have newcomers. We're going to have more power. We have Dreifort, Kevin Brown. If they are healthy for the whole season, 100 percent, they can help us a whole lot.''

Perez, an All-Star last season, said it would have been easy for him to pitch to the Dodgers lineup, which often struggled, in 2002. Green led the club with 42 homers, 21 more than anyone else. His 114 RBI were 34 more than any teammate, and opposing pitchers quickly caught on.

Also, Green led the Dodgers with 93 walks, nearly twice as many as leadoff batter Dave Roberts.

``I would have pitched carefully to (Green),'' said Perez, who went 15-10 with a 3.00 ERA. ``After that, we had some guys hurt last year, like Brian (Jordan). This year, it sounds like our team is on track. This might be the team who can go back to the '80s and be the winners the Dodgers used to be. They don't have any world champions, but this is a new generation of new guys, young guys.''

McGriff, a perennial 30-homer, 100-RBI performer, replaces Eric Karros at first base. Karros, hampered by back and shoulder injuries, hit 28 homers and averaged 68 RBI the past two seasons. Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek also is gone, opening the way for Joe Thurston to win the second-base job.

The club also lost pitchers Jesse Orosco and Omar Daal, outfielder Marquis Grissom, catcher Chad Kreuter and infielder Dave Hansen to free agency.

``On this team, if we have somebody who is not a winner, he's got to go. He's got to go,'' Perez said. ``This group of guys we have here, we're winners. We want to win. We have winners. We want to win, and everyone here who wears this uniform has to be a winner. His mentality has to be a winner. Everyone here, I think, this is my point of view, we have big hearts. We believe we can win.

``Maybe there were guys on this team last year, maybe they weren't winners. But we have a different team this year. We are a different team.''

--Odds and ends: Brown threw 75 pitches in his final bullpen session before seeing his first game action Sunday. ... Because of the rainout, several pitchers didn't get a chance to throw against the Tigers, the most notable being Paul Shuey. The Dodgers added a ``B' game Tuesday against St. Louis to get minor leaguers and pitchers more opportunities. ... The Dodgers are close to agreeing on a one-year deal with center fielder Roberts. ... Outfielder Chad Hermansen was re-examined by an eye doctor and hopes to resume hitting in the next few days. He is suffering from a scratched cornea.

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

DODGERS vs. MONTREAL (see text)

- Brian Dohn