DODGERS NOTEBOOK: SHEFFIELD SURGING AS OLD TEAM SINKS.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

ATLANTA - Gary Sheffield was loved and loathed in Los Angeles but has been received with nothing but the former in Atlanta, where he has fit in perfectly in the offense, clubhouse and with the fans.

The former Dodgers All-Star is having another blockbuster season, batting .328 with 26 home runs and 85 RBI. The Braves have the best record in baseball (71-37), and have scored 253 more runs and hit 90 more homers than the Dodgers.

Which begs the question: If Sheffield was still in the Dodgers lineup, would it still be struggling?

``No it wouldn't,'' Sheffield quickly said. ``Our offense didn't ever struggle like this. I don't care what lineup I'm in, it's never going to struggle for long because I figure I'm a guaranteed two runs by myself.''

Sheffield, traded for Brian Jordan and Odalis Perez in 2002, still has a knack for talking, which often got him in trouble with the Dodgers.

But say what you will about him, Sheffield hits wherever he goes.

He batted cleanup behind Shawn Green in L.A. and the two combined for 85 home runs in 2001, when Green hit a franchise-record 49 homers. Last year, Green hit 42 home runs without Sheffield in the lineup.

``We pushed each other,'' Sheffield said. ``I pushed him to have the season he had. I'm not saying I was the reason he had the season he had, but it helps when you have a guy pushing you. When you don't have a guy pushing you, you're like, `OK, I'm going to have a great season, but then we've got to go home during the playoffs.' That's not fun.''

When asked what advice he'd give Green, Sheffield said he'd just tell him to be himself.

``Knowing how Greenie is, I think Greenie kind of bought into it that he had to be a leader,'' Sheffield said. ``That he had to do more than just play baseball. Guys around baseball know what type of player he is. Nobody wants to face him now. I guarantee our pitchers don't want to face him.

``I'd say just be yourself. That's my advice to him.''

Sheffield is so popular here, fans have dedicated a section to him called, ``Sheff's Cheffs.'' It started out small in April, with just a few fans who wore white chef's hats in the upper deck in right field and wielded a makeshift banner. One fan really was a chef.

But it has caught on quickly. Now there's a more sophisticated banner, which has the section's nickname and number of Sheffield's career home runs: 366.

--Ventura's takeoff: Robin Ventura arrived in Atlanta but not without a brief scare. The newest Dodger was traveling from Southern California on a friend's private jet, which experienced engine failure two or three minutes into the flight and had to turn around.

``It wasn't fun,'' Ventura said. ``I'm done with that.''

Ventura was in Santa Maria, where he was born and lives in the offseason, and couldn't get to Los Angeles in time for a commercial flight to Atlanta. So, he took another private jet.

--Jordan sighting: Brian Jordan rejoined the Dodgers for the first time since undergoing surgery on his left knee three weeks ago.

Jordan, who lives in Atlanta in the offseason, has been doing rehabilitation and keeps up with the team through the Internet or television.

``I hope they turn it around or it could turn into a long season,'' Jordan said. ``A lot of teams got better (before Thursday's trade deadline).''

Jordan said his surgery went well and he should be 100 percent by spring training. He has an appointment with Dr. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colo., on Aug. 12 and afterward is expected to return to Los Angeles.

Jordan was dressed in his uniform and pondered what kind of season he'd be having in this lackluster Dodgers offense.

``I know for myself, it would've been different,'' Jordan said. ``I was on an upward swing. It was getting better.''

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

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- Jill Painter