DODGERS UPDATE: FRUSTRATED GREEN BENCHED.

Byline: Tony Jackson Staff Writer

SAN FRANCISCO - Dodgers first baseman Shawn Green was benched Wednesday night, a concession to the fact he had killed several rallies in the previous two games and has struggled all season offensively.

Manager Jim Tracy declined to speculate on how long Green might be out of the lineup. But center fielder Milton Bradley was a late scratch Wednesday against San Francisco because of soreness in the back of his right shoulder. An extended absence by Bradley could mean a quicker return for Green.

Tracy informed Green of the decision during a 45-minute, closed-door meeting in the visiting manager's office at SBC Park. Tracy later said he though the meeting was positive and productive, but Green clearly disagreed.

``That's not the choice of words I would use,'' Green said. ``I would say frustrating.''

Robin Ventura started in place of Green at first base. Third baseman Adrian Beltre, who came in having reached base in eight consecutive games while batting .400 (12 for 30), moved into Green's vacated cleanup spot.

The only detail Tracy would provide about the meeting was that he had reiterated to Green his belief there was a mechanical problem in Green's swing and that he wanted Green to begin working immediately with hitting coach Tim Wallach to correct it. Tracy declined to reveal the nature of the mechanical flaw, but said it had been pointed out to Green before.

Both Wallach and Green also declined to identify it, but Green did say it had something to do with his hands. One source said Green had fallen into a habit of pulling his hands back before starting his swing, a flaw he had corrected during batting practice but not during games.

``It's something I have been working on, trying to get a feel,'' he said. ``Obviously, the only way to get going again is to be in the lineup, but there's not much I can say. I just haven't had a good start to the season to this point.''

That poor start to the season has lasted almost three months now, during which Green has batted .251 with nine home runs and 33 RBI. He has been particularly awful with runners in scoring position, batting .222.

Tracy emphasized that the goal is to help Green become productive again and that the decision not to start him for at least one day isn't a sign Tracy has lost faith in Green. Green hit 91 homers and drove in 239 runs over the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

``We need Shawn Green,'' Tracy said. ``I don't think the word frustration is a good choice of words. He's a player I have seen be one of the best players in the game. But that spot in the lineup is a key element to the success not only of this club, but of any club. I know this guy is going to hit. If you have seen it before, it's there. We don't need home runs. We need the ball to be driven.''

Tracy also said that whenever Green returns to the lineup, he'll continue to hit fourth.

Green had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder immediately after last season, which led to constant questions of whether he's fully recovered or even healthy. But Green denied that his shoulder is an issue, and Tracy said if it were, he would have known about it by now.

That Green's mechanical flaw remains despite having been pointed out to him previously might be an indication that he hasn't been particularly receptive to outside input.

``He's receptive to anything you say to him,'' Tracy said. ``But he is a very intelligent guy, and he knows hitting.

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com

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- Tony Jackson