DODGERS NOTEBOOK: ROTATION COULD BE JUGGLED.

Byline: RICH HAMMOND Staff Writer

The Dodgers' rotation, on autopilot for much of this month, might now require some management.

Manager Grady Little said that upcoming off days -- three before the end of this month -- might cause him to juggle the rotation a bit by giving extra rest to certain starters or skipping some spots.

And that was before Mark Hendrickson turned in a 2 1/3 -inning clunker of a start Wednesday, an outing that could spark the return of deposed starter Aaron Sele to the rotation.

Today is the Dodgers' first off day since July 31, but they will have two more before the end of the month.

Little said this week the rotation will remain the same for the next turn, but he left open the possibility of changes revolving around the next off day, one week from today.

``It's something we will play by ear as we go,'' Little said.

The changes likely would involve Greg Maddux or Chad Billingsley. Maddux has been outstanding in his three starts as a Dodger but is 40 years old, and Little is mindful of overworking Maddux.

``If he works games like he did the other night, he might come back on short rest,'' Little joked, referring to Maddux's outing against San Francisco on Sunday, when he threw just 68 pitches in eight innings.

Billingsley's issues are different. Between the majors and Triple-A, Billingsley has thrown 139 innings in this, his fourth professional season, just short of the 146 innings he threw in Double-A last season.

One thing seems certain: Billingsley will stay in the rotation.

Billingsley's spot in the rotation had been publicly put in doubt by Little because of control problems, but Tuesday, Billingsley pitched seven shutout innings to beat Florida.

``I think he answered all those (questions),'' Little said.

Close call: It was a mixed day for former Dodger outfielder Cody Ross, who hit a three-run double in the first and a RBI single in the third but then had to leave the game in the fourth.

Ross had a scary collision with Florida second baseman Dan Uggla while the players went for a fly ball. Ross was spiked by Uggla on the right knee and had to be assisted off the field, but was diagnosed with only a contusion and is listed as day to day.

Pack lightly: The Dodgers will make a chartered flight to San Francisco tonight for the start of a nine-game road trip, their first under the new airline restrictions.

Even though the Dodgers' flight is essentially private, they are subject to the same regulations, which greatly restrict passengers' ability to bring any type of liquid, cream or lotion aboard the plane.