DODGERS NOTEBOOK: ENTIRE COACHING STAFF TO RETURN.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

SAN DIEGO - A few hours before Dan Evans was announced as general manager of the Dodgers, he made his first move - the one-year contracts of the team's coaches were renewed Wednesday.

Pitching coach Jim Colborn, bench coach Jim Riggleman, batting coach Jack Clark and bullpen coach Jim Lett are each in their first seasons with the Dodgers. Third-base coach Glenn Hoffman and first-base John Shelby have been with the club since 1998 and coach Manny Mota has been on staff for 22 years.

Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said a month ago he believed the coaching staff should return in 2002 without change, but the move couldn't be made until a general manager was in place.

It marks the first time since Fox purchased the team in 1998 that the contracts of the coaches all were renewed before the end of the season.

``I just want to make sure that everyone goes home at the end of the season feeling good about the season,'' Tracy said. ``I know what I'm saying here. I know what the expectations are as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and I feel like in my first year managing in the big leagues, if there's something I left out was that we weren't able to make it to the postseason.

``But in saying that, and looking back on it and reflecting back on it, what we have is a stepping stone and a tremendous building block going into February, 2002 at Vero Beach (Fla.). We're going to walk in their next spring training feeling pretty good about ourselves, and rightfully so.''

But there is a caveat to the coaching staff returning intact. If a team wants to hire a Dodgers coach for a managerial position, or a move not considered lateral, they will be given permission, Tracy and Evans said.

That could be important. If Tony Perez doesn't return as manager in Florida, sources said Hoffman would be a candidate. Riggleman, a former big-league manager with San Diego and the Chicago Cubs, also is expected to be on candidate lists for managerial openings.

``This is one of the best coaching staffs you could ever assemble,'' Evans said. ``We didn't want them to leave the road trip with an uncertainty about their future for 2002. This is a very cohesive staff.''

--Baldwin's future: The agent for right-hander James Baldwin said it was ``a priority'' for his client to speak with the Dodgers about a contract shortly after the conclusion of the season and sources said the sides quickly could agree on a three- or four-year deal that would pay $6 million to $7 million annually.

The Dodgers' decision to hire Evans could facilitate a quicker conclusion to the process. Evans traded for Baldwin in July and the two have had a strong relationship since their days together in the Chicago White Sox organization.

Baldwin is 2-6 with a 4.60 ERA in 11 starts, during which the Dodgers lost nine times, but the organization remains high on him because of his durability and approach.

``It will be a priority of ours to talk to the Dodgers as soon as both sides are comfortable with it,'' said Baldwin's agent, Rex Gary. ``James has enjoyed it there. It's clearly something we will explore.''

DODGERS vs. SAN DIEGO

Time: 2:05 p.m., at Qualcomm Stadium.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: The Dodgers conclude their three-game series with rookie RH Luke Prokopec (8-6, 4.86 ERA) making his first start since Aug. 25. Prokopec is 7-6 with a 4.58 ERA in 21 starts but was 1-0 with a 9.39 ERA in seven relief appearances. Since beginning the season 6-1 with a 3.33 ERA, Prokopec is 2-5 with a 5.82 ERA. Padres RH Jason Middlebrook (1-1, 6.75) pitched six strong innings in beating the Dodgers last week in Los Angeles. Middlebrook, 26, will make his third career start. He allowed two hits and one earned run in beating the Dodgers.

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. SAN DIEGO (see text)