Dodgers Conjure Spirit of ’06

College football was on the television in Manager Jim Tracy’s office. Wallet-sized 2006 schedules were distributed in the press box. And rookie Willy Aybar was batting leadoff despite having zero major league hits.

The pretense of a pennant race involving the Dodgers mercifully was dropped Saturday.

Instead, as the Dodgers scored three runs in the first inning and drifted to a languorous 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium, minds wandered unapologetically.

Owner Frank McCourt and team President Jamie McCourt sat in their sun-drenched seats, perhaps contemplating the future of their franchise and the person who built the current roster, General Manager Paul DePodesta.

DePodesta wandered from the clubhouse to his office, perhaps contemplating the future of the person who tries to win with the players he provided, Manager Jim Tracy.

And Tracy isn’t quite sure where his place is with a team he led to four consecutive winning seasons before the current collapse. His contract includes an option that would allow him to walk away after the season, and other opportunities could be knocking because as many as 10 managerial openings are anticipated.

Asked about his desire to return to the Dodgers, Tracy pondered and pontificated.

“This is the only team I’ve ever known as a manager,” he said. “Since I’ve been here we’ve attained some goals, and there are some goals we have yet to attain.

“Is there more I want to accomplish for the organization and the fans? I’ve gained a very fond affection for this organization, and for the fans.”

The Dodgers (64-77) are all but certain to finish with a losing record for the first time in Tracy’s five seasons. There has been plenty of frustration, on and off the field.

So, again, does he want to be back?

Tracy took a deep breath. “Yes,” he said. “The answer is absolutely yes.”

DePodesta says he genuinely likes his manager and believes Tracy has elicited strong effort from the injury-riddled roster. “Our current place in the standings is not a reflection of the job he’s done,” DePodesta said.

However, they disagree on several significant issues. DePodesta and Tracy had a lengthy meeting when the Dodgers were in Colorado last weekend and have had two shorter meetings this week.

“They’ve been fruitful talks,” Tracy said. “... It’s a good thing to do now and then.”

One point of contention is Tracy’s reluctance to utilize two players DePodesta believes can be productive -- first baseman Hee-Seop Choi and infielder Antonio Perez.

Taking advantage of a rare start Saturday, Choi singled in the first after Aybar walked, and both scored on a double by Oscar Robles when a relay throw was bobbled by second baseman Mark Loretta. Robles scored on a passed ball.

Aybar, who doubled and singled, is not considered a strong defensive player, and his presence in the lineup illustrates how little confidence Tracy has in Perez at third base. In fact, Tracy said he would not use Perez at third with sinkerball specialist Derek Lowe pitching, even though Perez’s .316 batting average leads the team.

Lowe (10-13) turned in his fourth dominant performance in a row, extending his scoreless-inning streak to 23 before Robert Fick drove in a run with a two-out single in the eighth.

Duaner Sanchez came on and walked Brian Giles to load the bases, but Joe Randa flied out and Sanchez pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save.

The victory was enough for Tracy to suggest that, upon further review, the chase for first place is not over, despite the Dodgers’ trailing San Diego by seven games with 21 left.

“It’s not out of the realm of possibility and it’s not something we haven’t seen before,” he said. “A team could lose four or five in a row and a team can win four or five in a row. Then we could step back and look at the picture.”