DODGERS: DODGERS' SEARCH DOWN TO A FINAL THREE.

Byline: Tony Jackson Staff Writer

The Dodgers' managerial search has been whittled from the original six candidates to three finalists, including Dodgers pitching legend Orel Hershiser and player development director Terry Collins.

The third finalist likely is former Detroit manager Alan Trammell, who was fired by the Tigers on Oct. 3 and who has more major-league managerial experience than any candidate other than Collins.

Hershiser, the Texas Rangers' pitching coach, was in town Tuesday, when he became the last candidate formally interviewed by Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta and his lieutenants. But Hershiser also became the first to be interviewed by owner Frank McCourt.

McCourt also plans to meet with Collins and the third finalist. Those meetings have yet to be scheduled, but club officials hope they will happen later this week. Former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, now a special advisor to McCourt, also is expected to take part in those interviews.

Collins, 56, managed the Houston Astros from 1994 to 1996 and the Angels from 1997 to 1999, and his clubs finished second in five of those six seasons. He is the favorite for the job, with club officials for weeks discussing possible candidates to replace Collins as farm director in the event he moves into the dugout.

At any rate, the Dodgers probably won't name a manager until early next week.

If Collins gets the job, he likely will retain some of the current coaches, all of whom officially become free agents when their contracts expire Tuesday. Hitting coach Tim Wallach is not expected to return. Pitching coach Jim Colborn and bench coach Jim Lett already have agreed to join former Dodger manager Jim Tracy's staff in Pittsburgh.

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com