DODGERS NOTEBOOK: NO NEED FOR HISTORY LESSON ON TRADITION.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

When the Dodgers played the New York Yankees in the 1981 World Series, 5-year-old Eric Gagne lived in Montreal and dreamed of winning hockey's Stanley Cup. Baseball was, at best, an afterthought.

``Growing up, I followed the Expos and that was about it,'' Gagne said.

Baseball couldn't have been much further from Gagne's mind back then, but now that he's part of the sport's history, baseball's tradition means a bit more to him.

All eyes will be on Dodger Stadium starting tonight, when the Dodgers and Yankees play their first meaningful game in almost 23 years.

``We're all about tradition and they're all about tradition,'' Gagne said. ``When you're talking about the Yankees and Dodgers, you're talking about two of the best franchises in sports facing each other, so it's pretty exciting.

``Being from the East, from Canada, everybody knows about the Yankees. Now I'm with the Dodgers, and it's just amazing because I get to be part of one of the greatest organizations in pro sports and now I get to face another one. It's going to be pretty special, and I'm looking forward to it.''

Six players in this series - Kevin Brown, Bubba Crosby, Paul Quantrill, Gary Sheffield, Robin Ventura and Jeff Weaver - have played for both teams, and a number of former players also will attend.

``This is kind of special,'' said Rick Monday, who played in three World Series for the Dodgers against the Yankees. ``These are two very storied franchises that have wonderful tradition, and you could have a tiddlywinks competition between Los Angeles and New York and it would be exciting.''

The series won't feature Brown, traded from the Dodgers to the Yankees in December. Brown is on the disabled list with a strained lower back.

``No one player adds to or takes away from a series,'' Ddogers manager Jim Tracy said. ``It's a good test for us. They're playing better baseball again, and it will be a good series.''

--Showing his Werth: Jayson Werth started against a left-handed pitcher Thursday for the second consecutive night, and Tracy said it will be a trend.

Werth entered Thursday's game hitting only .214 (3 for 14) against lefties this season and was hitting .100 (3 for 30) against them in his major-league career before this year. But Tracy said he intends to bat Werth second, behind Cesar Izturis, against most lefties and play him in left field.

``He brings an element to our club against left-handed pitching that is very intriguing,'' Tracy said. ``I think it's safe to say that he has not just good power, but tremendous power.

``He's a great athlete. He runs well and plays all three outfield positions.''

Tracy has long favored resting Dave Roberts against lefties, in part because Roberts has a history of hamstring problems but also because Roberts is hitting .308 against righties and .231 against lefties. Tracy said, however, that he wouldn't strictly follow a lefty-righty platoon with Roberts and Werth.

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DODGERS vs. YANKEES

- Rich Hammond