LITTLE LOOKING FOR BIG THINGS DODGERS MANAGER HOPING TO CONTEND WITH VETERAN LINEUP.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

Grady Little has had four months and a full spring training in Vero Beach to soak in the fact he's the new manager of the Dodgers.

But it wasn't until a late night bus caravan deposited Little and his new team at Dodger Stadium on Thursday that the full impact of his new job took affect.

The Dodgers arrived at Chavez Ravine from the airport after playing in Las Vegas earlier that night, and as they rolled into the parking lot, Little felt a definite sense of exhilaration.

And not just for himself. The Dodgers brought a number of farmhands to Los Angeles this weekend for the Freeway Series against the Angels as a reward for their hard work in spring training, and Little was thinking about every one of them as Dodger Stadium began coming into view.

``I started thinking about what a thrill it must have been for them,'' Little said. ``It's the first time (most of them) have seen (Dodger Stadium). I would have liked to have been in their heads just to see what they were thinking.''

Most of those kids will be long gone Monday when the Dodgers open the regular season against Atlanta at Dodger Stadium, and by then Little's full focus will be on the players at hand.

In the Dodgers' case, it's a core group of veterans assembled to bring back a level of respectability at Chavez Ravine.

The Dodgers slumped to a 71-91 record and fourth place in the National League West last year, a mighty fall that cost manager Jim Tracy and general manager Paul DePodesta their jobs.

New general manager Ned Colletti has revamped the roster, adding veterans Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Mueller, Kenny Lofton, Brett Tomko and Sandy Alomar Jr. on short-term contracts.

The plan is to stay competitive in the present while keeping an eye on a handful of premier prospects who will soon call Dodger Stadium their home.

But for now, it's up to the new veterans - along with holdover second baseman Jeff Kent - to maintain a high level of competitiveness .

That means a clean bill of health as Little tries to coax a productive season from such a middle-aged everyday lineup.

``If we can stay on the field and perform to our capabilities, we like our chances,'' Little said.

Assuming health isn't an issue, Little is pretty sure he's got enough tools to make a run in a division that doesn't have a clear-cut favorite.

``Come the trade deadline and September 1, we're going to be in a position to win,'' Little said. ``What happens after that, a lot of it is out of our control. But what we do control, I can say, is we'll be in a position to win.''

Two days before the season opener, Little wasn't about to predict exactly how the Dodgers would arrive in September in contention, and he isn't about to get bent out of shape if they get off to a slow start.

Or too excited if they get off to a hot one.

``That (stuff) doesn't mean anything to me,'' he said. ``It's a lot like my golf game. I can crush one off the tee, but if I don't putt, I'm gonna have a bad hole.''

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley started against the Angels in the second game of the Freeway Series on Saturday.

(2) Dodgers shortstop Oscar Robles throws to first after forcing out Garret Anderson.

Francis Specker/Associated Press