DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GOODWIN'S WALKS BRING GOOD THINGS.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

With all the negatives that have taken place on and off the field for the Dodgers this year, a big positive went all but unnoticed Friday night against San Diego.

Tom Goodwin recorded his first two walks of the season and scored both times on Gary Sheffield singles, something manager Jim Tracy said was no coincidence.

``Over the course of the last four or five games, the quality of his at-bats has improved,'' Tracy said before Saturday night's game. ``The important thing in my mind is, don't look at the batting average, look at the on-base percentage.

``For him to be good, and for us to be good, we need him on base.''

Tracy also said he has stressed to Goodwin the importance of hitting the ball on the ground and bunting, in order to take advantage of his speed. Goodwin stole 55 bases last season.

``Even if all he does is hit the ball a step or two to the right of the shortstop, he's going to make that guy think because of his speed,'' Tracy said.

--Brown OK: Kevin Brown, who left Friday night's game with back stiffness, is not expected to miss a start. Brown's back tightened up after a 24-minute rain delay.

Brown was examined by Ralph Gambardella, one of the Dodgers' team physicians, and the team said nothing troubling was found.

--Feeling good: Adrian Beltre took batting practice Saturday for the second consecutive day and said he is regaining strength after undergoing two offseason stomach surgeries.

Beltre has been on track for a mid-May return to the lineup.

``I feel pretty good, but I don't feel 100 percent yet,'' said Beltre, who has regained 13 pounds. ``About half of the weight I lost I've gained back.

``I don't know exactly when I'm going to be back, but the way it's looking, I might be back sooner than I expected.''

--Scully honored: The Dodgers dedicated their press box to its most famous occupant, broadcaster Vin Scully, before Saturday's game.

The ceremony included the unveiling of a sign on the wall just outside the press-box entrance and brief speeches by team and media representatives.

In typical humble fashion, Scully, in his 52nd year as a Dodger broadcaster, said he first resisted the honor but accepted because he viewed himself as a ``connection'' to decades worth of sportswriters who shared the press box with him.

``When you walk by and see Scully on the wall, it covers all the years and all the writers,'' he said.

--Flu-bugged: Eric Karros missed his second consecutive game Saturday with the flu, although he did take batting practice.

``He's much better, but we still don't think he's 100 percent,'' Tracy said. ``The fever is gone and the achiness has left him, but rather than send him out there and tear him back down, we'll give him an extra day to rest.''

Chris Donnels took Karros' spot in the lineup again and hit fifth.

--Gwynn sidelined: The Padres placed Tony Gwynn on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring, suffered in the sixth inning Friday night, and recalled outfielder Mike Colangelo from Triple-A Portland.

DODGERS vs. SAN DIEGO

Time: 1:10 p.m., at Dodger Stadium

TV/Radio: Ch. 5; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish)

Matchup: Darren Dreifort (1-1, 4.76 ERA) comes off the best of his four starts this season, though he did not get the decision in a 3-2 loss Tuesday in San Francisco. In that game, Dreifort allowed one run on four hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out six. Dreifort has some ominous history against San Diego - the Padres are the only National League team he has never beaten. Dreifort is 0-6 with a 5.15 ERA lifetime against San Diego with two of those losses coming last year. Bobby Jones (0-2, 3.79 ERA) allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings and took a 9-5 loss against Colorado in his last start Tuesday.

-Rich Hammond

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DODGERS vs. SAN DIEGO (see text)