DODGERS NOTEBOOK: PURSUIT OF DIAMONDBACKS CAN'T START UNTIL OFFSEASON : DODGERS VS. NEW YORK.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Davey Johnson has won a World Series and been to the playoffs five times, but for the first time in 11 full seasons his team won't finish first or second. Instead, the Dodgers will probably finish the season 20 games or so behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.

But unless any finish is accompanied by a playoff berth, it means nothing to Johnson.

``I've come in second a few times, but that was never my goal,'' Johnson said. ``If you can't win your division, finishing second or third, it's just a measure of how far you have to go.''

The Dodgers need a tape measure instead of a ruler to calculate how much ground they'll have to make up during the offseason. The Diamondbacks are on pace to win 96 games while the fourth-place Dodgers are looking at 75 wins from their $80 million payroll.

It leaves the Dodgers needing to make up a bundle of games through offseason moves and prayers that players who had mediocre years can get back on track.

But those are things that will have to wait a laborious 21 games before the Dodgers can begin attacking their offseason plan to add depth to the minor-league system and pare payroll.

``I wish I had a few more things I could look at (before the end of the season), to be honest with you,'' Johnson said.

Not so spoiled: It's not exactly the voice the Dodgers wanted, but at least their inflections could hold some bearing on the playoffs. Of the 21 games the Dodgers have remaining, 12 are against teams involved in a playoff race.

Of course, $80 million is also a steep price for a spoiler.

``I don't give a rat's (butt) about those other teams,'' Johnson said. ``I care about us.''

Orel surgery: Mets right-hander Orel Hershiser's two-hit, one-run performance in the series opener wasn't the first time Johnson witnessed something like that from the one-time Dodger. Hershiser, then a Dodger, beat the Johnson-led Mets 6-0 in Game 7 of the 1988 NLCS.

``September, sometimes Hershiser can turn it up a notch, and that's what he did,'' Johnson said. ``His concentration level goes up. I've seen that before. He becomes bionic. As (Todd) Hundley said during the game, he's inventing stuff as he goes.''

Balks, walks and chalk: The Dodgers claimed right-handed minor-league pitcher Dwayne Jacobs off waivers from the Chicago White Sox, and to make room for him took lefty Jeff Kubenka off the 40-man roster and designated him for assignment. Jacobs, 23, was 1-3 with four saves and a 5.03 ERA for Single-A Winston-Salem in the Carolina League. The 6-foot-10 Jacobs struck out 76 in 59 innings. Kubenka, 25, was 0-1 with am 11.73 ERA in six appearances with the Dodgers this season. . . . Left-handed pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo, the 18-year-old high schooler signed out of Taiwan in July, is on his first visit to Dodger Stadium and threw in the bullpen before the game. Kuo, whose fastball is clocked in the mid-90-mph range, is expected to begin next season with Single-A San Bernardino. . . . Right-hander Antonio Osuna pitched one shutout inning in a rehab stint for San Bernardino. He allowed one hit and struck out one.

Time: 7:10 p.m., at Dodger Stadium.

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

Matchup: Dodgers right-hander Ismael Valdes (9-13, 3.50) sat through a rain delay and then allowed six runs on seven hits in three innings in a loss to Florida in his last start. Pitching coach Claude Osteen said afterward that Valdes didn't prepare well mentally to pitch in such a humid setting. The air should be better as Valdes meets Mets right-hander Masato Yoshii (10-8, 4.86) in the third of a four-game series. Valdes has four wins in his last 19 starts despite a 3.30 ERA. Yoshii beat the Colorado Rockies in his last start, allowing two runs in six innings.

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BOX: Dodgers vs. New York (see text)