DODGERS NOTEBOOK : RUSSELL COULD BE MANAGER - FOR GOOD.

It is Bill Russell's ballclub for now, and there is growing speculation that it could be his on a permanent basis.

Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda is recuperating from a heart attack he suffered earlier this week, and the baseball grind is no place for a 68-year-old man to make drastic lifestyle changes. Lasorda said Friday that he did not know if he would return as manager, that that decision would come with time.

Russell managed two seasons (1992-93) at Triple-A Albuquerque. Many current Dodgers played for all or parts of Russell's tenure there.

``To me, he was more like one of the guys,'' said outfielder Billy Ashley, who in 1993 had 26 home runs and 100 RBI for Russell. ``We had a lot of respect for him, but we could joke around with him. It was a pretty relaxed clubhouse. When we were bad, he let us know we were bad.''

Mike Busch hit 22 homers and drove in 70 runs for the same 1993 team.

``He knows the game,'' Busch said. ``He knows when to make the moves. He's a great players' manager. I felt comfortable playing for him. He prepares a couple innings ahead. He'll let a guy know if a situation comes up, you'll be the guy in there. He was always planning, planning for the game, looking for the situational edge.

``Overall, he watches the game unfold and plays it from there. I think Billy can be a good manager in the big leagues. From what I saw in '93, if he approaches the game in the same way, he'll be a good manager.''The man who does replace Lasorda, whether it is sooner or later, will have a daunting task, Ashley said.

``Anybody who takes this job has some big shoes to fill,'' he said. ``That's pressure enough in itself. But whoever gets that job is going to be under a microscope.''

Busch improved: Busch, a reserve third baseman, hit off a tee Friday and felt no pain in his elbow for the first time since he developed neuritis and was disabled. Busch is eligible to come off the disabled list today, though he is not yet ready. Trainer Charlie Strasser said Friday that Busch will be examined today.

Busch almost certainly will be sent out on a rehabilitation assignment when he is healthy.

Also: Raul Mondesi has grounded into one double play in 299 at-bats, a ratio that leads baseball. . . . Oxymoron of the week: On the left-field wall at Coors Field there is a banner that reads, ``National League Wild Card Champions.'' Wild-card champions? . . . Dodgers players met without their coaches before Friday night's game. Considering the way the club has played lately, it's a good bet there wasn't a sing-along. . . . Manny Mota was in uniform Friday night and served as Russell's bench coach.