DODGERS NOTEBOOK: TRACY NOT READY TO REST BELTRE.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

MILWAUKEE - While continuing to insist Wednesday that third baseman Adrian Beltre isn't at risk of aggravating his sore right ankle by continuing to play in obvious, visible pain, Dodgers manager Jim Tracy admitted there is a chance the injury could become more serious whether Beltre plays or not.

``It's a spur attached to a piece of the ankle bone,'' Tracy said. ``It probably could (break off and become a chip). If that happens, then you would definitely have concerns that a piece could end up lodging in the joint, and that would become a very difficult thing to deal with.

``We'll just keep our fingers crossed that he continues to be able to receive the treatment he's receiving and the spur doesn't break off.''

At least twice after fielding ground balls during Tuesday night's victory over Milwaukee, Beltre stayed down on one knee for several seconds before getting up. Beltre clearly will need surgery after the season to remove the spur, but Tracy has no plans to rest him for any extended period, or even for a game or two. Beltre has been the Dodgers' best all-around hitter all season, and any hindrance in the field or on the bases isn't significant enough to justify removing his bat from the lineup.

``That's really not something that would enhance it to the point of seeing a measurable difference,'' Tracy said. ``Adrian Beltre will never, ever give you less than what he has. Does it maybe slow him down a little bit running the bases? That's a possibility. But whatever he has that's 100 percent, that's what you're going to get from him. His first step has had no fall off whatsoever. His first step defensively is still there.''

It hasn't hurt him at the plate, either, where he was hitting .324 with 11 homers and 31 RBI.

--Roberts close: Left fielder Dave Roberts, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since May 5 with a strained right hamstring, probably will be activated in time for Friday night's game with Arizona, the start of a six-game homestand.

``There is a good chance of that,'' Tracy said.

Roberts had three at-bats Tuesday night in the first game of his rehabilitation assignment with the Dodgers' Single-A Vero Beach (Fla.) affiliate.

``He ran great to first base, no problems whatsoever,'' Tracy said.

Roberts was slated to play again for Vero Beach on Wednesday night, then rejoin the team sometime today for an evaluation by physical therapist Pat Screnar.

--Gold snub: Dodgers second baseman Alex Cora, who saved two runs and possibly the game with a diving stop of a groundball Tuesday night, said he believes one of the reasons neither he nor shortstop Cesar Izturis has won a Gold Glove is because they play on the West Coast, where their highlight-reel plays occur so late in the evening that they rarely actually make it onto the highlight reels.

The Gold Glove for each position in each league is awarded based on voting by managers.

``That's something that I would love to achieve,'' Cora said. ``But some of the plays Adrian and Izzy and Milton (Bradley) make, they're never on TV. If they are, it's at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. (Eastern time). I just think in order to do it, you have to make enough of a name for yourself that you'll be remembered, not only for defense but for offense, too.''

Tracy, who believes Cora and Izturis are as good as any middle infield combination in the league, also said a player's offensive numbers are subconsciously taken into account in the voting for what is supposed to be a purely defensive award.

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com

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- Tony Jackson