LOS ANGELES -- Grady Little was the first member of Dodgers management willing to discuss the franchise's future, telling reporters Thursday the youth movement will prevail.

"We know the course we're on and we're going to stay the course," Little said, referring to developing from within rather than rebuilding through free agency. "What have they been doing here since 1988? It hasn't worked. This course, we'll try to make it work."

The deterioration of this Dodgers season -- on the field and in the clubhouse -- has weighed on Little, one year removed from universal praise for guiding last year's Dodgers into the postseason. General manager Ned Colletti has said Little will remain manager next year and Little sounded as if he is looking forward to it.

"I foresee Ned trying to do anything he can to make us better and complement the course we're on," he said. "The mixture of players I like most is a group of players, regardless of age, who know how to play the right way and go about their business the right way on and off the field and who come to the park every day playing hard and expecting to win a game."

Little indicated that the Dodgers struggles were not the result of a split between the veterans and kids, but a combination of injuries and underachievement at a time of high expectations.

"What we had was a lot of history," he said, referring to a roster of successful veterans. "To repeat itself, you have to stay healthy and you have to have people do what they're supposed to do. We started the season with injuries and ended it with injuries."

When asked about his input on personnel decisions, Little said he and Colletti "do everything together." He said he counted 18 Dodgers losses that he thought should have been victories. And he said no decisions have been made on his coaching staff. Little is signed through 2008, but contracts for the coaching staff are up at season's end.

Sunday starter: Little said Brad Penny will not start Sunday and will be replaced by Mark Hendrickson, Eric Stults or D.J. Houlton.

Injury update: Rafael Furcal and Tony Abreu won't play again in 2007. Furcal has a protruding disk and irritated facet joint in his lower back, while Abreu has a suspected sports hernia. Furcal's condition is expected to respond to rest. Abreu continues to be evaluated and surgery might be needed.

Jeff Kent probably won't play the rest of the week after aggravating a right hamstring injury he originally suffered earlier this season.

Martin's Heart & Hustle: Catcher Russell Martin was honored before the game with the Dodgers' Heart & Hustle Award, chosen by the MLB Players Alumni Association. Martin received the award from former Dodger Maury Wills and becomes eligible for the league-wide award that is selected from all 30 team nominees. Martin earlier won the annual Roy Campanella Award, voted by his teammates and coaches. He will receive that award during a pregame ceremony on Sunday from Campanella's daughter, Joni Roan.

Thirty on 30: The Dodgers honored Steve Garvey, Ron Cey and Dusty Baker as three-fourths of the 30-homer quartet from the 1977 team. Along with Reggie Smith, they became the first quartet to hit 30 homers in Major League history when Baker homered 30 years ago this Oct. 2. Mike Piazza, Eric Karros, Todd Zeile and Raul Mondesi duplicated the feat for the Dodgers in 1997.

Shea to school: Arcadia native Shea Hillenbrand returned to his elementary school, Camino Grove, Thursday to visit with students and stress the importance of education.

Late-night star: Special advisor to the chairman Tommy Lasorda co-hosted "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Thursday night from the Feast of San Gennaro, an Italian cultural festival being held behind the Kimmel Show studio.

Mota on the air: Dodgers coach Manny Mota will serve as an analyst for Fox Sports International during the postseason for the third consecutive season. Mota will work the National League Division Series, American League Championship Series and World Series alongside Adrian Garcia, who is in his first season as a reporter with FSN Prime Ticket.

Fan Appreciation Day Sunday: The Dodgers will celebrate Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday, the final game of the 2007 regular season against the San Francisco Giants at 1:10 p.m. PT. More than 175 prizes will be given away during the game and immediately following. Among the prizes are a 2007 Toyota Tundra, a pair of 2008 season tickets, round-trip tickets on Delta Air Lines and hotel in Mexico, a Sharp AQUOS LCD TV, autographed Dodgers jerseys and baseballs, an All-Access Production Package tour with FSN Prime Ticket and a trip to Las Vegas compliments of KCAL. The Dodgers are also offering fans a 25 percent discount on all merchandise in stock at all locations around Dodger Stadium.

Coming up: David Wells (8-9, 5.53 ERA) opposes San Francisco's Kevin Correia (4-6, 3.20 ERA) in Friday night's opener of the season-ending series.