DODGERS NOTEBOOK: WORKING THROUGH UNCERTAIN TIMES DODGERS COACHES UNSURE ABOUT THEIR STATUS.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Davey Johnson could have six games remaining in his Dodgers managerial career, and his tenuous status also puts a strain on many in the organization, including the coaches.

The constant scrutiny of Johnson affects his staff - bench coach Jim Tracy, batting coach Rick Down, third-base coach Glenn Hoffman, first-base coach John Shelby, pitching coach Claude Osteen and bullpen coach Rick Dempsey - in some manner.

Their futures are closely tied to Johnson's fate, though team officials said some of the coaches could remain even if Johnson doesn't return. In fact, Down, Tracy and Hoffman could all be involved in the managerial search if Johnson is fired, baseball officials said. However, the Dodgers brass might not want to take a chance with a young, inexperienced manager.

Even so, while Johnson has lived through the months of speculation and reports about his job status, so, too, have his coaches.

``We all think about it, no question,'' Tracy said. ``It's the idea about the uncertainty that's involved, but as a group of coaches, it hasn't affected one of us from continuing to do our job as professionally as we could possible do it. It cannot affect you when you go out there.''

The on-field staff has been together since former pitching coach Charlie Hough was fired in May of the 1999 season. He was replaced by Osteen. During the winter, Johnson fought hard to keep Osteen on staff while the front office contemplated another direction.

``It's not really been difficult,'' Tracy said of the situation. ``I can't speak on behalf of the other coaches, but it's something when you put your name on that (contract), you're very aware of the fact that it's part of what comes with the territory. It comes with it. I think the most important fact is you have to know in your mind what's within the realm of your job description, that you're responsible to do that job as well as you can do it. That's what you can control.''

--Park honored: Chan Ho Park was named National League pitcher of the week after going 2-0 and not allowing a run. Park twice won 1-0 games in which he pitched eight innings. He allowed eight hits and struck out 23 in 16 innings.

A strong second half of the season for Park, which he's done routinely in his career, has thrust him into position for a huge contract if the Dodgers and his agent, Scott Boras, can reach an agreement during the offseason. Park is 17-10 with a 3.40 ERA and he's 8-4 with a 2.44 ERA since the All-Star break. Also, Park has 97 strikeouts in 96 innings since the break.

Park is making a base salary of $3.85 million and will earn an additional $400,000 in incentives, and he isn't eligible for free agency until after the 2001 season. The Dodgers and Park are both interested in signing a contract extension. But it's likely talk of such a deal won't take place until January, after much of the free-agent market is settled. Park could average $10 million a year for his deal.

--Odds and ends: Utility player Jim Leyritz will have surgery Wednesday in Florida to repair a small tear in his right rotator cuff 

DODGERS VS. SAN FRANCISCO

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

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Right-hander Darren Dreifort (11-8, 4.33 ERA) will try to keep the impressive run by Dodgers starters going. Dreifort threw eight shutout innings in his last start and Dodgers starters have a 1.73 ERA in their last 14 games. Dreifort needs to win this start and his last one, scheduled for Sunday in San Diego, to match his career high in wins, which he established last season. Giants right-hander Russ Ortiz (13-11, 4.85) is readying for the playoffs. Wednesday - Dodgers RH Luke Prokopec (1-0, 1.69) vs. LH Kirk Rueter (10-9, 4.12); Thursday - Dodgers RH Kevin Brown (13-6, 2.56) vs. Giants LH Shawn Estes (15-6, 4.28).

- Brian Dohn

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Box: DODGERS VS. SAN FRANCISCO (see text)