DODGERS NOTEBOOK: TRACY NOT AFRAID TO USE LEFTIES BACK TO BACK.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PHOENIX - When the Dodgers signed free-agent first baseman Fred McGriff, a much-needed left-handed bat, in the offseason, lineup balance was achieved.

However, most of the players believed the balance would come from left-handed-batting Shawn Green and McGriff sandwiching right-handed batting Brian Jordan, but Dodgers manager Jim Tracy has other ideas.

For much of the season, Tracy plans on batting Green third followed by McGriff and Jordan in the lineup, stacking the two left-handers because of what he describes as a lack of quality left-handed relief pitching in the National League.

``To me, it gives you an advantage throughout the game in that you've got those two guys and you've got Brian behind them, and Adrian (Beltre) behind Brian,'' Tracy said. ``You feel like the other side has to look at them and say, `Hey, we can't be pitching around anybody because we're walking ourselves into a trap here.''

Jordan, who in the past said he was most comfortable batting cleanup, said he was made aware of Tracy's plan during a spring-training meeting.

``I guess I'm there to protect Crime Dog (McGriff) and Green,'' Jordan said. ``That's my job, `the Protector.' I'm just going to do what I'm asked to do. That's where I hit.''

Tracy said Green and McGriff's success against left-handers was a large factor in his lineup configuration. Tracy added he wasn't concerned an opposing manager could use one left-hander to face Green and McGriff without a right-handed bat in the fold. His first test of that theory resulted in Green and McGriff each stroking base hits against Arizona's Mike Myers on Tuesday.

``You just don't write them down,'' Tracy said. ``I write them down keeping in mind, `What am I setting them up for? What does the opposition have that would deter me from bunching two left-handed hitters together?' ''

--Left is right: Dodgers left-handed reliever Tom Martin didn't have a job in baseball when spring training began, but he was solid in his first outing Tuesday with the Dodgers and gave the on-field staff even more confidence in his abilities.

Martin, with five arm surgeries under his belt, pitched a scoreless inning Tuesday, in which he retired three left-handed hitters., He threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings Wednesday, in which left-handers went 0 for 3 with a walk and hit into two double plays, one of which was via an outfield fly ball.

``He adds a whole different dimension to us,'' Dodgers pitching coach Jim Colborn said. ``Jesse (Orosco) is good, but he was pretty much a one-point guy (last season). He faced lefties. He might have been able to go against righties, but we never really did it. We put Jesse in absolutely the tightest situations. With Martin, we feel like we use him through left or right lineups.''

--Odds and ends: Dodgers batting coach Jack Clark was released from an area hospital, but it is uncertain when he will rejoin the club. He was injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday. ... Tracy's 17-year-old son, Chad, a senior catcher at Claremont High, recently committed to playing baseball for Pepperdine.

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- Brian Dohn