BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : McGriff Knows Change is Not Easy

Atlanta Brave All-Star first baseman Fred McGriff doesn’t really know Mike Blowers or Greg Gagne, but after seeing them struggle the first week of the season, he can empathize.

It can be a lonely, empty feeling changing teams, McGriff said, and no matter how much advice and counseling you receive, little can hasten or ease the dramatic adjustment of changing leagues for the first time

“It’s going to be tough for those guys for a while,” said McGriff, who spent his career in the American League until being traded in 1990 to the San Diego Padres. “You don’t know how tough it is to see pitchers for the first time in your lives. What makes it even tougher for those guys, just like me, are the expectations.”

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Pitcher Darren Dreifort, stepping on the Dodger Stadium mound Tuesday afternoon where he last pitched two years ago, took perhaps his biggest step toward returning to the majors.

Dreifort pitched a simulated 60-pitch game in front of the Dodger officials. His outing was so impressive that after he pitches again Saturday in a simulated game, Dreifort is expected to pitch next week in triple-A Albuquerque.

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The Dodgers, whose attendance declined by fewer than 1,000 a game last season because of the baseball strike, have already surpassed last year’s total of season-ticket sales, according to Debra Duncan, director of sales.

The Dodgers have sold about 21,500 season tickets entering the first week of the season, Duncan said, an increase over last year’s total of 21,000.

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Left-handed reliever Scott Radinsky will be activated from the disabled list Friday, leaving three days for the Dodgers to decide who will depart among relievers Joey Eischen, John Cummings and Antonio Osuna.