DODGERS NOTEBOOK: SECOND-HALF SLUMBER OVER?

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

Dodgers manager Davey Johnson was asked what it would mean to get back Shawn Green, who finally is hitting again after a two-month slump.

``Huh, how about everything,'' Johnson said. ``He was so great in the first half and the pitchers made adjustments. Now, he is adjusting to them.''

Green entered the homestand batting just .219 in the second half, hardly the numbers the Dodgers expected when they signed him to a six-year, $84 million contract last winter.

But they never questioned his work ethic. Johnson said that Green's overzealous approach to hitting might have resulted in undue pressure.

Including a home run in the fourth inning of Thursday's 7-0 Dodgers victory over Montreal, Green was 10 for 28 against the Expos and Mets, whom the Dodgers faced in their previous series.

``Right now, I feel like I'm hitting as well as I have this season,'' Green said. ``It still isn't good enough, but things are better.''

Green said that more important than the home run was the fact that he hit it to left field.

``It is a good sign when I am using the whole field,'' he said.

There were plenty of good signs in the first half when Green reached safely in 53 consecutive games. His steadying influence was a huge departure from the volatile Raul Mondesi, who went to Toronto in exchange for Green. Johnson just hopes Green's contribution can get the Dodgers back in the race.

``When I look back at the first half, maybe I played him too much,'' he said. ``But we really didn't have anybody to take his place even for a day. The guy we saw in the first half is the real Shawn Green. I think that guy is back. He looks relaxed again.''

--Olson effective: After four months on the disabled list with a sore right forearm, right-handed reliever Gregg Olson, 33, is beginning to show why the Dodgers signed him last winter. In his last three outings, he has pitched four scoreless innings, including two on Thursday with four strikeouts.

``You can only do rehab so long,'' bullpen coach Rick Dempsey said. ``You have to find out what you have right here, and he finally has found it. His curveball has been just freezing guys.''

Olson, who struck out the side in the ninth inning, has had a history of arm trouble. Before spending the past two years in Arizona, Olson played for eight clubs in the previous four years trying to come back from a serious elbow injury.

``I was kind of embarrassed that they signed me and I've spent all this time injured,'' he said. ``When I came back I got roughed up a little because I was trying to throw a 90-91 mph fastball that just wasn't there, yet. Now I am getting ahead of hitters. It's when you don't that there is trouble.''

--Wills' way: The Dodgers have been criticized for their one-dimensional, power-only offense, but Maury Wills wasn't going to join the debate. The former stolen base champion, who now serves as a part-time instructor with the Expos, did say, however, there was a reason he played on three World Series championships with the club (1959, 1963, 1965).

``You can put on a show with (home runs), but you can't win with that,'' said Wills, who lives in Rancho Palos Verdes. ``The Cardinals (with Mark McGwire) and the Cubs (with Sosa) proved that last year. Winning games is a collective thing. You need those guys at the top of the order to get on. The stolen base and the hit and run softens up a pitcher. When everyone contributes you win.''

Wills, the 1962 NL MVP and a former manager in Seattle, is in his first season with the Expos. He spent the past two years as an instructor with Toronto.

--Quick hits: Eric Karros' fourth-inning single extended his hitting streak to nine games. He went 1 for 3 on Thursday, which actually dropped his average to .405 (15 for 37) during that span. Karros' longest hitting streak this season is 11 games, from May 5-17. . . . Since his costly throwing error in Sunday's game, third baseman Adrian Beltre has been on a tear at the plate. Beltre went 3 for 4 on Thursday and is 8 for 18 (.444) in his last five games. Since the All-Star break, Beltre is batting .342 (50 for 146).

CUBS vs. DODGERS

Time: 11:05 a.m., at Wrigley Field 

TV/Radio: Channel 5 (first game only); KXTA-AM (1150), KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish).

Matchup: The Dodgers open a four-game series today in Chicago with a doubleheader against the Cubs to make up a May 18 rainout at Wrigley Field. In the opener, Darren Dreifort (10-7, 4.51) faces right-hander Jon Lieber (11-6, 4.21). Dreifort had a no-decision in his last start, a 9-6 loss to the Mets, after winning six consecutive decisions. In the second game, Carlos Perez (4-6, 5.39) faces left-hander Daniel Garibay (2-5, 4.72). The Cubs entered Thursday's action with seven consecutive losses.

- Matt McHale

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Box: Dodgers vs. Cubs (see text)