DODGERS NOTEBOOK: TRACY TIGHTLIPPED ABOUT PLAYOFFS.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

One day after Milton Bradley declared that only a complete collapse could keep the Dodgers from winning the National League West, manager Jim Tracy did his best Monday to downplay any talk of a division title, and even suggested that he would be happy to make the postseason in the wild-card spot.

Regardless, the playoffs seem inevitable, and even though Tracy would have some tough decisions when it comes to the postseason roster - particularly in regards to Kazuhisa Ishii and Brad Penny - he declines to speak in the tone of a confident manager whose team clearly is in the driver's seat.

``We will not take anything for granted. We still have games to play,'' Tracy said. ``I'm not going to speculate on who's going to pitch, or whatever. We're not in yet.''

Tracy came nowhere close to matching the gusto of Bradley, who said the Dodgers would have to ``pass out on the field'' in order to be caught by the San Francisco Giants or San Diego Padres, but Tracy did seem firm on one issue: whether or not the Dodgers would be satisfied simply to make the playoffs.

``They're not going to let down,'' Tracy said. ``We're focused on accomplishing something that a lot of people said we couldn't. We're focused on trying to jump over one extra hurdle that we tried very hard for three years to get over. We want to win.''

Does that mean the World Series?

``One step at a time,'' Tracy said. ``We need to win the division first, before we can even think about a chance at getting to the World Series. If we win the division, then we've created an opportunity for ourselves to take a shot at the World Series.''

Given their five-game lead at the start of the day, the Dodgers haven't been involved in any wild-card talk, but Tracy suggested that making the playoffs as the fourth team wouldn't be a disappointment.

``The division is special to me this year, and yet ... it's a 162-game marathon to find four teams from your league to participate (in the playoffs),'' Tracy said. ``There is tremendous gratification in something like that. Getting in is part of the gratitude of going through this marathon that we go through, and beyond that, you take your chances.''

--Big test: Brad Penny is scheduled to throw 60 pitches of batting practice today, the first time he will face hitter since he strained his right biceps in an Aug. 8 game.

If all goes well, the Dodgers will attempt to work Penny into game shape before the playoffs, either out of the bullpen or, if they have clinched a playoff spot, in a start. Tracy said if Penny is healthy, he would consider using him to start a playoff game.

Should Penny not be a viable option, Tracy said he would consider having a three-man rotation for the Division Series, with Jeff Weaver as the most likely candidate to pitch on short rest.

--Not done yet? Ishii is out of the rotation, but Tracy wouldn't go so far as to say Ishii wouldn't pitch again this season, or wouldn't make the postseason roster.

``What if Brad Penny does have a setback? What if Hideo has another very poor outing?'' Tracy said.

Tracy said Nomo, who allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings Sunday, would make his scheduled start Friday.

``What are the alternatives?'' Tracy said. ``I think Edwin Jackson performed exactly the way (minor-league coaches) said he would. He's very capable but he's still walking some people.''

--Odds and ends: Steve Finley was named National League Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 6-12. During that span, Finley hit .385 with four home runs and 10 RBI.