DODGERS NOTEBOOK: MANAGEMENT FACES IMPORTANT DECISIONS.

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

General manager Kevin Malone said the upcoming week will determine whether the Dodgers try to make a run at the playoffs or begin retooling for next season.

The Dodgers opened an important three-game series with second-place Arizona at Bank One Ballpark on Friday. Afterward, they return home for four games with Cincinnati and three more with the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks series in L.A. falls during the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline.

``At this point, no (decision has been made),'' Malone said. ``. . . We'll see what happens in the next five-to-seven games. That will give us a clearer picture of what we have to do.''

The Dodgers entered the Diamondbacks series 43-52 and 8-1/2 games behind San Francisco in the NL West. Malone has been hesitant to make a trade because the team was playing well before being swept in three games in two days by Colorado.

Still, interest is growing in right-hander Ismael Valdes, the most marketable commodity the Dodgers have on the trading floor. Valdes (8-8, 3.44) has been the Dodgers' most consistent starter this season, so team officials are reluctant to make a move for the sake of making one.

``Overall, in the industry, the need clubs have is pitching,'' Malone said. ``To me, unless you can really make yourself better, you don't make a change just to make a change.''

And if Valdes is moved, there is little chance the Dodgers would get a comparable pitcher in return to fill out the rotation. That would force them to dip into the free-agent pool during the offseason.

``It all depends . . .,'' Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said. ``It might be, to get to where you're trying to go, you might have to do something,''

On the Mark: It has become increasingly obvious the Dodgers want to move second baseman Eric Young, though the task is arduous because Young has two years left on his contract for a total of $9 million.

Johnson said shortstop Mark Grudzielanek could bat leadoff, if called upon.

``(Grudzielanek's) now proven to me he could hit one or two,'' Johnson said. ``What Grud has done, since day one, is really mentally and physically, every aspect, (work hard). He's really been the kind of player I knew he could be.''

Since returning July 6 from a broken hand, Grudzielanek is batting .420. He's raised his average to .315 and has a .378 on-base percentage, second to Gary Sheffield's (.406) among starters. By contrast, Young is hitting .263 with a .348 on-base percentage, but it would be the fifth consecutive year his on-base percentage has dropped.

Grudzielanek spent most of his Montreal career batting leadoff. He had a .276 average with a .308 on-base percentage.

Feelin' fine: Todd Hundley finished serving his three-game suspension, which also brought an end to a rigorous two days for rookie catcher Angel Pena.

Pena, who is hitting .429 in his past eight games, caught both games of Thursday's doubleheader against Colorado and started against Arizona on Friday night.

``I was tired after the first game, but in the second game I felt better and now I feel fine,'' Pena said. ``(Johnson) asked me if I was ready to catch a doubleheader. I told him I was ready, so they could (nix Hundley's appeal).''

FYI: The Diamondbacks resodded their field last weekend, knowing they would have time because of an eight-game road trip after the All-Star break. The game with the Dodgers was their first on the new sod. . . . Earlier this season, Eric Karros collected his 200th career double. He entered Friday's game with 199 career homers.

DODGERS vs. ARIZONA

Time: 7:05 p.m., at Bank One Ballpark.

TV/Radio: Channel 5; XTRA-AM (1150), KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish).

Matchup: The Dodgers and Diamondbacks play the second of three games, with Dodgers right-hander Darren Dreifort (8-8, 5.74 ERA) facing lefty Brian Anderson (2-2, 7.03). Dreifort's presence on the mound usually means loads of runs for the Dodgers. They've scored 84 runs in the 105 innings Dreifort has worked. He's also looking for a career-high ninth win and has won two straight. Last time he pitched at the BOB, he outdueled Randy Johnson by allowing one run on seven hits. Anderson has come out of the bullpen and joined the rotation. He gave up five runs on nine hits in 5-2/3 innings in his last start, which was against Seattle.

- Brian Dohn

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Box: DODGERS vs. ARIZONA (See text)