DODGERS NOTEBOOK: KONERKO WON'T GO TO REDS.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

The Cincinnati Reds want prospects for closer Jeff Shaw, so the Dodgers spent much of Saturday's batting practice reassuring left fielder Paul Konerko that he will not be part of any deal.

New manager Glenn Hoffman had Konerko last season at Triple-A Albuquerque, where Konerko was named Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .323 with 37 home runs and 127 RBI.

As a member of the Dodgers player development staff the past five seasons, Hoffman was asked if he is ready to dispatch prospects he nurtured personally to get a player who can help now.

``My job is to evaluate the talent I've seen and report on that,'' Hoffman said.

Konerko has struggled most of the season, but he entered Saturday's game with five hits in eight at-bats on the home stand, including a two-run homer in Friday's 5-2 Dodgers victory. Konerko was 0 for 2 Saturday before leaving the game in the sixth inning after fouling a ball off his left foot.

``He is an outstanding talent and we wanted to make sure he knew that,'' Dodgers general manager Tom Lasorda said.

The possible shuffle of talent raises a question. When third baseman Bobby Bonilla, placed on the 15-day disabled list with a growth in his colon, returns, will it be in left field in place of Konerko? Or at third, where top prospect Adrian Beltre has played well since his call-up Monday?

``You know, after what I've been through, I don't care where I play,'' said Bonilla, who learned Wednesday the growth was not cancerous. ``I just know that I'm feeling much better and that I feel my strength returning. That other stuff will take care of itself.''

Wallach chosen: The Dodgers named former third baseman Tim Wallach manager of the organization's Single-A club at San Bernardino.

Lasorda was hoping former coach Mark Cresse would take the job, but Cresse turned it down. All three major-league coaches Lasorda reassigned Wednesday have declined new positions in the minor leagues.

Reggie Smith rejected a spot as the manager of Triple-A Albuquerque. Pitching coach Goose Gregson originally accepted a similar position with San Bernardino but called the Dodgers on Saturday and said he changed his mind.

``I was hoping we'd go 3 for 3 with them, but instead we went 0 for 3,'' Lasorda said.

Wallach, a five-time All-Star with Montreal, played with the Dodgers from 1993-95 and part of 1996.

``Timmy is a great student of the game,'' Lasorda said. ``When he was a player, I told him he would be a manager someday.''

Barrios called up: After the game, the Dodgers optioned left-handed reliever Will Brunson to Triple-A Albuquerque and called up right-hander Manuel Barrios, the player-to-be-named in the May 15 Mike Piazza trade with Florida. Barrios was 1-2 with a 4.78 ERA at Triple-A. Brunson, called up last Saturday, made two appearances for the Dodgers, allowing three runs in 2-1/3 innings.

PITTSBURGH vs. DODGERS

Time: 5:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: No TV; 1150-AM, KWKW 1330-AM (Spanish)

Matchup: In the series finale against Pittsburgh, Dave Mlicki (3-4, 4.55) faces right-hander Jason Schmidt (8-4, 3.87). Mlicki, acquired as part of the June 4 Hideo Nomo trade, comes in with a string of 22 innings without allowing an earned run. Mlicki allowed two unearned runs in six innings of a no-decision in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Angels. Schmidt has dropped three straight after winning a career-high seven consecutive games. On April 30, he allowed 12 hits and five runs in six innings against the Dodgers, but received a no-decision.

--- Matt McHale

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BOX: PITTSBURGH vs. DODGERS (see text)