DODGERS HANG ON TO POSTSEASON HOPES OBSTACLES: HITTING WOES, WILD-CARD RIVALS, SCHEDULE.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

The Dodgers aren't giving up on the playoffs, though they realize a lot of things will have to fall their way with 52 games remaining.

To the point, a miserable-hitting team must find a way to score runs, the best pitching staff in baseball must remain healthy and the six teams that stand between them and the National League wild-card berth can't win too many games.

At the moment, the Dodgers (55-55) and Colorado (57-57) trail wild-card- leading Philadelphia by 6 1/2 games. If the Phillies finish one game above .500 the rest of the way, the Dodgers would have to go 33-19 just to tie. And that doesn't take into account Colorado and five other hungry teams.

Also, the Dodgers' schedule won't make their task easy: They play 27 games at home, 25 away, and 39 of the 52 games are against opponents who are at .500 or better.

That's the daunting challenge the Dodgers face.

``I think if you believe in your personnel, which we do, you have to consider that to be a possibility,'' Dodgers general manager Dan Evans said. ``Look what the Giants did last year from mid-August forward. They had an extraordinary run. Every team is capable of a run like that, but few can accomplish it. With our pitching, it's a possibility.''

The Dodgers can't ask for much more from their pitching staff, which leads the majors with a 3.10 ERA. Kevin Brown, who starts today in the series opener against Cincinnati, leads the way, but the supporting cast has been almost as good.

The only glitches have been injuries. Brown missed a few starts and Kazuhisa Ishii currently is out with a sprained knee. He's expected to miss two starts.

However, the hitters have been monumentally disappointing. And that goes for everyone but catcher Paul Lo Duca, who has had a solid year at the plate. Things got so ugly, batting coach Jack Clark was fired late Sunday and replaced on an interim basis by George Hendrick.

To address the problem, the Dodgers brought in Jeromy Burnitz and Robin Ventura, both of whom are proven hitters but also left-handers. That makes the team lefty-heavy down the stretch, which raises added concern against such left-handed pitchers as Florida's Dontrelle Willis and Arizona's Randy Johnson.

Burnitz is batting .357 against left-handers this season, while Shawn Green is batting .243 and Ventura .189.

Evans said he isn't concerned.

``We'll see far more right-handers than left-handers,'' he said. ``... If you're going to be one way, I'd rather be left-handed than right-handed.''

The Dodgers have put together two substantial win streaks this season: 10 consecutive victories in late June and early July and then eight in a row in July. And they did it by averaging four runs and 4.25 runs, respectively, apparent evidence they can score enough to win.

On their recent trip to Arizona, Philadelphia and Atlanta, the Dodgers scored seven runs in the first seven games and went 2-7, evidence they can't score consistently.

They ended the trip by beating Cy Young Award candidate Russ Ortiz and Atlanta, the team with the best record in baseball, 8-4 on Sunday.

``It was good to end on a positive note,'' closer Eric Gagne said. ``That's why everyone's so mad. We're good. If we were a bad team, no one would care. But we're better than that and we know it. That's why everyone gets so (ticked) around here.''

Dodgers manager Jim Tracy feels the same way.

``It would just be really interesting to see what would happen if we can sustain some sort of offensive attack the last 52 games,'' he said. ``It would be really interesting.''

The Dodgers play 22 games against teams from other divisions before they finish up with 27 of 30 games against West Division teams, against which they're 19-30 this season.

``Even more reason we need to play well before we get into the division,'' Evans said. ``If we can get some confidence before the division, hopefully, we'll play better.''

The Dodgers only have to look to last year for an example of what they need to do: They won 92 games in 2002 and didn't make the playoffs. This year, if they can win only 88, they still might have a chance to reach the postseason for the first time since 1996.

Those in the organization remain optimistic.

``I've seen worse,'' Gagne said. ``I've seen teams come back from further back than that. We've won eight games in a row. We've won 10 games in a row. We're capable of doing it. We've got to stop thinking negative. We know we're a good team. We just beat the Braves (Sunday).

``We need to go out there, stop being negative and have fun.''

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

TOUGH STRETCH

The Dodgers, looking for a wild-card berth with 52 games remaining, won't get much help from their schedule. A look:

Cincinnati (51-60): Today-Thursday (home)

Chicago (56-54): Friday-Sunday (home); Aug. 15-17 (away)

Florida (60-51): Monday-Aug. 14 (away)

Montreal (58-54): Aug. 19-21 (home)

New York (45-66): Aug. 22-24 (home)

Houston (60-51): Aug. 26-28 (away); Sept. 1-3 (home)

Colorado (57-57): Aug. 29-31 (home); Sept. 5-7 (away)

Arizona (57-54): Sept. 8-11 (away); Sept. 16-18 (home)

San Diego (44-69): Sept. 12-14 (home); Sept. 22-25 (away)

San Francisco (69-42): Sept. 19-21 (home); Sept. 26, 27 (DH), 28 (away)

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

(color) The Dodgers' disappointing offense this season cost hitting coach Jack Clark his job Sunday, and it makes the team's bid for the playoffs a long shot.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) DODGERS vs. CINCINNATI

- Jill Painter

(2) TOUGH STRETCH (see text)