Coaching Staff to Return Intact

General Manager Dan Evans said Manager Jim Tracy’s coaching staff will be back intact in 2004.

Evans has been focusing on the future since the team was eliminated from playoff contention Thursday, and retaining the on-field staff topped his to-do list.

“It’s a non-issue for me,” Evans said of bringing back the coaches. “Trace and I talked, and we’re in complete agreement, so we just took care of it today.

“I just really want to focus on 2004. It’s tough when you just get eliminated, but I didn’t want these guys to leave San Francisco with any concerns.”

Jim Riggleman (bench) and Jim Colborn (pitching) joined the staff when Tracy was promoted from bench coach to manager before the 2001 season.

Manny Mota (special assignments) is in his 24th season as a Dodger coach, Glenn Hoffman (third base) in his fifth and John Shelby (first base) in his fourth. Batting instructor George Hendrick was promoted Aug. 3 from triple-A Las Vegas to replace the fired Jack Clark.

“I love the fact of what’s been done, and they deserve to be back,” Tracy said.

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Right fielder Shawn Green plans to undergo surgery in October to repair his damaged right shoulder.

“We’re still trying to figure out the days and coordinate everything,” he said. “It’s either going to be in the first part or the middle part of next month.”

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Eric Gagne, with 55 saves, would have to save the last three games of the season, two today and one Sunday, to break Bobby Thigpen’s major league record of 57.

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Utilityman Jolbert Cabrera has thrived in a reserve role, batting .280 while playing every position except catcher and pitcher.

“No disrespect to anyone, but I had a goal to be the best utilityman in the league,” Cabrera said. “I think that’s what I did.”