DODGERS NOTEBOOK: SHEFFIELD: L.A. WAS A `STOPOVER'.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

ATLANTA - Gary Sheffield called his three-plus seasons in Los Angeles ``a stopover'' and said there is no reason to wonder whether his bat would make a difference in a punchless Dodgers lineup - because he had to be traded.

Sheffield, now Atlanta's right fielder, said Dodgers general manager Dan Evans had no choice but to move him in the offseason because he couldn't reach a contract understanding with the organization that would have allowed him to stay peacefully.

``Dan Evans clearly knew what I was capable of doing, knew what kind of ballplayer I am,'' Sheffield said Tuesday before the Dodgers and Braves began a three-game series. ``This is a trade that had to be made. They weren't willing to fill my needs, and I wasn't willing to be in that situation under those circumstances.

``Something had to be done. It had nothing to do with underestimating ability and things like that. The fact of the matter is you have to live with what you've got. When you're not willing to compromise, then it's time to make a move.''

Sheffield said he is pleased now to be surrounded by teammates he called ``professional.'' He lauded the laid-back style of Braves manager Bobby Cox - in particular a rule that doesn't mandate a team stretch - and said it was great Atlanta didn't force him back from a wrist injury that contributed to a recent 0-for-28 skid.

Sheffield added that Shawn Green's early-season struggles have nothing to do with his absence from the lineup, and that there was no emotional charge coming from facing the Dodgers for the first time since the January trade sent him to Atlanta for Brian Jordan, Odalis Perez and a minor-leaguer.

``It's not like I'm leaving a place where I won a World Series,'' said Sheffield, who was batting .230 with three homers and 10 RBI entering the game. ``I was more excited and riled up to play against the Florida Marlins when I went back to play them probably than anybody. When I went to play against Milwaukee, it doesn't do anything for me. You have to stop over in places to get to where you really want to go. I think that L.A. was just a stopover.

``It's no different than me playing Milwaukee or L.A., or San Diego for that matter. The only place I've won is Florida, and that's the only difference. When I go there, then I feel a part of that.''

--Rockin' Roberts: Dodgers center fielder and leadoff man Dave Roberts was batting .448 with a .568 on-base percentage in his past 10 games but found himself on the bench because of Braves starter Tom Glavine. Marquis Grissom starts against left-handers.

``I told myself from the beginning of the season that I would not be happy to just be here, so I want to play, I expect to play, but if I'm not in the lineup, I'm not going to question (manager) Jim Tracy,'' Roberts said. ``That's his decision, but the thing is I had to hit lefties to get to the big leagues, so it's not like I can't hit lefties.''

Roberts was batting .300 with a team-leading .398 on-base percentage. He batted .264 (68 for 258) against left-handers the past three years in the minor leagues but had just five at-bats (two hits) against left-handers this season.

DODGERS vs. ATLANTA

Time: 4:05 p.m., Turner Field.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Dodgers LH Odalis Perez (3-1, 1.75 ERA) returns to face his old club for the first time since being traded in January. Perez is fifth in the league in ERA, and opponents are batting a league-low .159. Perez has allowed two earned runs or less in his past five starts, and has allowed more than five hits just once. Braves RH Kevin Millwood (2-3, 4.28) is 5-2 with a 2.50 ERA in eight games against the Dodgers.

- Brian Dohn

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