DODGERS NOTEBOOK: VALDES IS BAIT, BUT DODGERS WILL NEED A BIG FISH.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

The suitors continuously asked about Ismael Valdes before the trading deadline and the Dodgers wouldn't budge. Teams will target the Dodgers right-hander again in the offseason, but don't expect the Dodgers to move unless they are blown away by an offer.

Pitching is too scarce and Valdes has been too good. He just doesn't have the record to match.

``His stuff and his command is good enough to be a No. 1 (starter),'' Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said. ``He's what? Twenty-six. He's still pretty young. . . . I went on record with (Dodgers president and CEO Bob) Graziano and the general manager (Kevin Malone) and said we can't trade any pitching. We have to add some.''

Valdes celebrated his 26th birthday by allowing two runs in six innings in Saturday's 6-5, 11-inning loss against Philadelphia, but he didn't figure in the decision.

That's typical of his season. Valdes entered Saturday's game with the ninth-best ERA (3.48) in the NL but had just eight wins to show for it. He hasn't won since July 16.

``He could have 16, 17 wins if we could do some things offensively behind him,'' Johnson said. ``If all the guys in the rotation pitched like him, we'd be in high cotton.''

Instead, the Dodgers are knee-deep in mud and a storm is threatening.

Valdes, on a staff of underachievers, can fall on either side of the fence. The Dodgers' 3.72 runs-per-game average is tied for worst in the NL, which speaks of tough luck and no offense.

But Valdes also has trouble closing out innings. In his 11 losses and seven no-decisions he's allowed 56 runs, 32 coming with two outs.

Valdes has given up hits that turn ties into one-run deficits on more than a few occasions. But that can happen when every game you pitch is low-scoring.

At one time Valdes was 5-2 and heading for his best season since he went 15-7 in 1997. He is second on the Dodgers with 17 quality starts (six innings, three or fewer earned runs), but has just three wins in his past 16 starts. The Dodgers are 4-12 and have scored more than five runs just once in those 16 starts.

``You can't give up pitching unless you get pitching back,'' Johnson said. ``If you're going to give up one that can do it, you better get back two that can maybe do it.''

Dreifort to start Monday: Coming off the second shutout of his career, right-hander Darren Dreifort will remain on his normal rest and will pitch Monday's opener in Milwaukee. Right-hander Mike Judd will get his third major-league start Tuesday.

Johnson waited to make a decision on Dreifort until the two could talk, and Johnson was certain Dreifort was ready to pitch on four days rest.

Finally: Valdes turned 26 and Craig Counsell celebrated his 29th birthday Saturday. . . . Johnson said injured right-hander Robinson Checo, who threw Thursday in a rehab stint at Single-A San Bernardino, experienced soreness in his groin and wasn't able to do his side work. . . . Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu, who's second in the NL with a .344 average, had two hits and walked twice to extend his string of reaching base safely to 26 games.

DODGERS vs. PHILADELPHIA

Time: 10:35 a.m., at Veterans Stadium.

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

Matchup: The Dodgers finish up in Philadelphia with right-hander Chan Ho Park (6-10, 5.77 ERA) trying to salvage something out of his season. Park admitted last week he was feeling mentally fatigued, but he is coming off a solid outing in which he allowed two runs in seven innings. Being on the road should also help. Park is winless in 12 home starts and has a 5.86 ERA at Dodger Stadium. Phillies lefty Anthony Shumaker (0-1, 1.26) will make his third career start. Shumaker, who began the season at Double-A Reading, was recalled Aug. 13 when ace Curt Schilling went on the disabled list.

- Brian Dohn

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, box

PHOTO (1) VALDES

(2) DREIFORT

Box: Dodgers vs. Philadelphia (see text)