DODGERS NOTEBOOK : BUTLER FINDS DIFFERENT SEAT NEAR DUGOUT.

Brett Butler sat in the box along the third-base line Thursday night, not 10 feet from the Dodgers' on-deck circle and still a long way from baseball. His wife, Eveline, was on his left and his physician, Dr. Bob Gadlage, on his right.

Two days ago, Butler discovered another lump on his neck and Thursday afternoon he was told the biopsy proved negative. Another hurdle. Another successful leap. Yet another anxious moment in a summer full of them.

A couple of hours later he was at Fulton County Stadium, where his teammates donned official ``Bugsy'' caps in his honor, and the media crowded around, and the fans cheered his presence. He broke into the big leagues with the Atlanta Braves 15 years ago and still lives nearby, in Duluth.

He begins radiation treatment Monday, a six-week process. After a week or two off, he will take three more weeks at a clinic in Tijuana, Mexico, where he will receive doses of laetrile, which he hopes will regenerate his weakened immune system. After that, no one knows. The treatments won't be finished until the final week of August, at the earliest, and that would leave only a month in the season.

For the next few days, however, he will rest in the VIP section at the ballpark, radiation waiting on the other side of the weekend, his 39th birthday, and Father's Day.

``The big emotional day was (Saturday) in Los Angeles,'' Eveline said. ``It would have been hard to come here and see (his teammates) for the first time. I don't know about sitting this close to the on-deck circle, though. He's going to want to coach everybody.''

On Wednesday, as they attempted to nail down the details of the coming treatment, the Butlers fought and cried and made up. Then, as they have since 1981, they came to the ballpark. So Butler stood among his teammates and his organization and felt a little more a part of them again.

``It kind of feels weird walking down the tunnel not wearing a uniform,'' said Butler, wearing jeans, a maroon polo shirt and his own ``Bugsy'' cap. ``The clubhouse felt the same. But walking to the field without spikes on is weird.''

But, then, it's all been weird.

Also: Catcher Mike Piazza, who aggravated his sore right knee Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals, did not start Thursday night after receiving about two hours of treatment. ``It just needs time,'' said Piazza, who added that surgery is not yet an option. . . . Right-hander Darren Hall made 40 throws from about 40 feet Thursday, his first such exercise since elbow surgery nearly seven weeks ago. He will throw every other day, he said, gradually increasing the distance. . . . Shortstop Greg Gagne, who sprained his left ankle a month ago, said he hoped to begin a rehabilitation assignment in Single-A Vero Beach after the weekend.