INSIDE THE N.L.: ROYSTER RULES BREWERS' COOP.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Milwaukee general manager Dean Taylor fired manager Davey Lopes, named former Dodger Jerry Royster the interim manager but said he wanted to hire a permanent manager with major-league experience.

Does nine games count?

Of the six known candidates interviewed for the position, Royster is the only one with big-league experience. But his lengthy major-league resume consists of the time between Lopes' firing and now.

Royster reportedly is the leading candidate to take over the position permanently, though Arizona bench coach Bob Melvin also is under strong consideration. Taylor said he wants to make an announcement in the next few days.

``Without a doubt, I feel I'm qualified to manage this team,'' Royster told the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel. ``But that's not my decision to make. I'm just going to make the most of the opportunity.''

Since Lopes' firing, the Brewers were 4-4 going into Saturday. They established a franchise record with 16 losses in April with two games remaining, but Royster hopes Taylor's focus is more long-term.

``We did talk about that, and they are looking at the big picture,'' Royster said. ``But it's not like we can't win (now). It's just that we haven't. We just haven't played up to our abilities. You do have to look at the big picture. But as interim manager, I can guarantee you I am looking at every single pitch and every single strikeout and trying to put the best team on the field.''

Taylor also interviewed four members of the current coaching staff: third base coach Gary Allenson, first base coach Dave Collins, hitting coach Gary Matthews and Cecil Cooper, an interim coach brought on after Lopes' exit.

--Struggling Sheff: Atlanta left fielder Gary Sheffield is hoping to return to the lineup Tuesday after missing most of the past two weeks with an injured left wrist. Sheffield received two cortisone shots, the last Tuesday, but it only helped minimally.

The Braves don't want to put the former Dodgers slugger on the disabled list, though he last played April 21. He hurt the wrist falling to the ground after being hit by a pitch early in the season against Philadelphia.

--Harrington update: Former Palmdale High product Matt Harrington is preparing to pitch for Long Beach of the independent Western Baseball League next month while his agent, Scott Boras, and the San Diego Padres try to work out a deal.

Harrington, the former first-round pick of the Rockies, was drafted by San Diego in the second round last June and offered a contract worth a guaranteed $1 million, which isn't even close to what Boras believes Harrington is worth. Boras is holding out for a deal that will get Harrington more than $3 million.

Harrington, whom Boras believes is in incredible shape, was clocked in the mid-90s recently, and Boras is hoping scouts flock to his outings with Long Beach to see the rejuvenated pitcher.

WHAT'S ON

Nationally televised games this week

--Cleveland at Texas, Today, 5 p.m., ESPN

Don't expect these teams to wow you with their pitching

--Philadelphia at San Francisco, Monday, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Barry Bonds hasn't been the same since the hamstring injury

--Oakland at New York Yankees, Wednesday, 4 p.m., ESPN

Will New York fans retaliate by booing Jeremy Giambi?

--New York Mets at Arizona, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2

Now vs. Next: Curt Schilling faces Josh Beckett

AROUND THE HORN

By Jeremy Littau

QUICK GLANCE

WHO'S HOT

Atlanta's Tom Glavine is pitching like it's 1998, compiling a 0.89 ERA and 4-1 record in April. Glavine has been allowing the same amount of walks and hits as last year, but he's had more success. The difference? Only one homer allowed - he's getting outs when he needs them.

WHO'S NOT

Luke Prokopec is the guy Toronto wanted from the Dodgers in the Cesar Izturis deal, but he hasn't justified that confidence. Prokopec (1-2, 6.86 ERA) has allowed 15 runs in four starts this season and has yet to make it out of the seventh inning.

ROOKIE WATCH

If you're wondering how the Pirates are winning, it's because of players like Josh Fogg (3-0, 1.46 ERA), who came into the season with only 13 1/3 innings pitched. Fogg has been solid in every start, and his 3.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio is excellent.

HIGH FIVES

--Pitchers who have allowed the most homers this season:

Jeff Suppan (KC) 9

Josh Towers (BAL) 8

Mike Mussina (NYY) 7

Denny Neagle (COL) 7

Terry Mulholland (LA) 7

EXTRA BASES

--Now that Buddy Bell is the latest victim, four managers have been fired since the start of spring training, although Boston should have let Jimy Williams go last year. Some in Kansas City believe Tony Muser is only a few losses away from being No. 5.

--So much for Seattle being a fluke in 2001. The Mariners are winning at a pace that would surpass last season's 116 victories - if they kept their current percentage, they would win 119 games.

--Shawn Estes was staring down history while chasing a no-hitter Friday. The Mets remained one of five teams without a no-hitter in their history - the other four are San Diego, Colorado, Arizona and Tampa Bay.

--Every Montreal starter has a victory this season except ace Javier Vazquez (0-1, 3.34 ERA), who is getting about two runs of support per game.

STAT LINES

4-6: Combined record by Arizona starting pitchers not named Curt Schilling or Randy Johnson (10-1 combined).

3: Triples by Atlanta's Rafael Furcal last Sunday against Florida, a total that tied the modern record.

7: Number of years between victories for Jose Rijo, who won last Sunday for the first time since July 13, 1995, then followed up Saturday with his second consecutive victory.

CAPTION(S):

2 boxes

Box:

(1) WHAT'S ON (see text)

(2) AROUND THE HORN (see text)