DODGERS NOTEBOOK: FETTERS GETS `SET' DODGERS PITCHER WANTS TO STAY IN L.A. AWHILE.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Mike Fetters wore the uniform of the Angels, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Oakland A's and Baltimore Orioles before slipping on that of his childhood team, the Dodgers.

It was a long road to playing for the one team he desperately wanted to play for, but at 35 he figures this isn't the end for him.

Fetters says he has a few more good years left in his surgically repaired right elbow and that he'd love to remain with the Dodgers. But he knows the only way that's going to happen is if he's healthy and performs well.

That's why he was antsy after being activated from the disabled list before Friday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. He impressed the Dodgers so much during the first month of the season that he went from a non-roster invitee in spring training to the primary setup man in the bullpen.

``I don't want to play anywhere else,'' said Fetters, a Van Nuys native and former Pepperdine player. ``I want to retire wearing this uniform. The only thing that dictates that is how I pitch.''

For the first month of the season Fetters, who signed a one-year deal, was outstanding. He was 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA, appearing in 11 of the Dodgers' first 27 games.

But he was experiencing soreness in his elbow in his last few outings, and wasn't as effective. But it wasn't until a May 3 appearance against Atlanta that his elbow, on which he had surgery performed last June, began to swell.

To that, manager Davey Johnson said he would be much more reserved in his use of Fetters.

``I like him setting up,'' Johnson said. ``I'm going to be careful with him because when I went back-to-back in a couple of tough games I set him back. I think it's going to take time. I'm going to go slow with him.''

More Fetters: Watching the Phillies take batting practice brought back some tough memories for Fetters. He injured his elbow pitching against them last season.

``I remember it was a forkball to (Scott) Rolen, and he hit it for a home run,'' Fetters said. ``When I threw the pitch, I felt my elbow grow in an instant. I finished the inning, went over to the manager and told him I was done. He said, `OK.' I said, `No, I'm done for the season.'

``That's why I have a lot of emotion in seeing them. They're the team that took me over the edge.''

--Sheffield returns: Left fielder Gary Sheffield returned to the lineup after missing the last two games with a sprained right ankle. Not coincidentally, the Dodgers had trouble scoring runs in both games he missed.

The Dodgers lost twice, scoring a total of four runs. It's the fewest runs they've scored in back-to-back games since May 1-2, and Sheffield's absence also caused Johnson to alter the lineup.

With Sheffield out, Shawn Green moved up from fourth to third and Eric Karros went from fifth to fourth. It also caused Todd Hollandsworth to bat fifth one game so F.P. Santangelo could play left field and lead off.

Odds and ends: Johnson will take it slow with right-hander Terry Adams,who is experiencing pain in his right clavicle. But it doesn't bother Adams when he pitches . . . . Phillies third baseman Scott Rolen is expected to miss the series with a sprained left ankle.