DODGERS NOTEBOOK: REPKO'S HITTING IS STILL HOT.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - A year ago, Jason Repko was the surprise of spring training, making the Dodgers' Opening Day roster with a spectacular Grapefruit League performance and eventually staying in the big leagues for all but eight days during the season.

Repko's circumstances are decidedly different this spring. But his statistics are not.

Six months after an adjustment by hitting instructor Manny Mota helped him finish strong in an otherwise nondescript rookie season, Repko has ridden his new, more squared-off batting stance to another stellar spring. He entered Friday night's game against the New York Mets hitting .333 (9 for 27) with a double, triple, home run and eight RBIs.

``Manny brought it up the last couple of weeks of the (2005) season,'' Repko said. ``He wanted me to spread out (in the legs) a little, and in more of a straight line. I saw results almost instantly, even during batting practice. I felt balanced, with less movement.''

Beginning on Sept. 22, Repko batted .310 (9 for 29) the rest of the 2005 season, with three doubles, two triples and five RBIs. After fighting his way through a miserable August and first half of September, it gave him something to build on during the offseason.

``His stance was so closed (before) that he was dropping his head,'' Mota said. ``That was causing him to get under the pitches too much. I wanted him to try to stay on top more. He isn't afraid to apply what you teach him, and that's key.

Repko took batting practice on his own all winter near his home in Washington state, and came to camp ready to compete for a spot that probably was his from the beginning anyway.

Club officials have said they will take the necessary steps to keep center fielder Kenny Lofton, who will turn 39 on May 31, fresh, an approach that seemed to work well in Philadelphia last season when Lofton batted .335 in 367 at-bats. That means Repko will get his share of starts in center.

--Numbers game: Manager Grady Little said his preference would be to begin the season with 11 pitchers because he doesn't plan to use his fifth starter - probably right-hander Jae Seo - until April 11 at Pittsburgh. That means Seo would be available as a long man out of the bullpen for the first four games, negating the need for an extra reliever.

Little, his coaching staff and the front office are meeting every Sunday night during spring training to assess the entire club. General manager Ned Colletti said one of this week's topics will be keeping 11 pitchers vs. 12, but the issue won't necessarily be resolved.

Dodgers officials have yet to see Seo pitch competitively this spring, but his numbers in the World Baseball Classic have been outstanding. In two starts, he has allowed one earned run on four hits in nine innings, with seven strikeouts and two walks.

--Also: With Puerto Rico eliminated from the WBC, Jose Cruz returned to camp on Friday. Ricky Ledee is expected back today, but isn't scheduled to travel to Lakeland for the Detroit game.

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

A new batting stance has helped the Dodgers' Jason Repko, who went into Friday hitting .333.

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Box:

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

- Tony Jackson