Osteen Wants to Come Back

Claude Osteen needs more time.

The veteran pitching coach was dropped into the Dodgers’ chaotic situation during the season and has been playing catch-up ever since.

Osteen said he has often felt more like a student than a teacher, trying to learn the staff after succeeding Charlie Hough, who was fired May 26 because the touted staff had failed to meet expectations. And as the Dodgers play their final six games beginning tonight against San Francisco, Osteen realizes that he may soon meet the same fate Hough did.

“I’d like to have another year but I have no control over that,” Osteen said. “The only control I have is the type of job I’ve done, and I think I’ve done a good job under the circumstances.”

The Dodgers are eighth in the National League with a 4.47 earned-run average. When Hough was fired, they were sixth at 4.47.

The transition from Hough to Osteen hasn’t been as smooth as team officials would have preferred. Osteen recently jousted publicly with right-hander Ismael Valdes, questioning his heart and preparation.

Few readily embraced Osteen’s philosophy, making his experience more challenging. And Osteen is working under Manager Davey Johnson for the first time, meaning he had to learn how a new boss operates as well.

“It took a while to start to get [the pitchers] to believe in some things,” Osteen said. “But it hasn’t been frustrating for me because, as a pitching coach, you’re constantly presented with so many scenarios. You just have to always figure things out as best you can. Period.”

* Opponent--San Francisco Giants, three games.

* Site--3Com Park, San Francisco.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West 2 tonight and Wednesday, Channel 5 on Thursday.

* Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 74-82, Giants 83-73.

* Record vs. Giants--6-4.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ISMAEL VALDES

(9-14, 3.98 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’

JOE NATHAN

(7-3, 3.76 ERA)

* Update--This is marks the Dodgers’ final trip of 1999. They end the regular season in Houston on Sunday. Valdes is among the Dodgers most eager to put the disastrous season behind them. The right-hander has been victimized by poor run support.

* Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Kevin Brown (18-8, 2.92) vs. Livan Hernandez (7-12, 4.77).

* Thursday, 1 p.m.--Chan Ho Park (12-10, 5.51) vs. Shawn Estes (11-10, 4.79).