DODGERS NOTEBOOK: A STILL-TENDER TENDON; DODGERS IN NO HURRY WITH PIAZZA'S LEG INJURY.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

Mike Piazza's strained left Achilles' tendon showed marked improvement Saturday, but the club is expected to hold him out of today's televised game against the St. Louis Cardinals unless he decides he is able to play.

Piazza remained in Vero Beach and took batting practice. He experienced slight discomfort when rising up on his toes, which could be a problem for a catcher. But team orthopedist Frank Jobe was encouraged with Piazza's condition.

``There was no structural damage in the tendon and no swelling,'' Jobe said. ``He plays a demanding position so we don't want to push it, but he says he could be ready to go.''

Piazza, batting .371 (13 for 35) this spring, was injured running the bases in the seventh inning of Friday's 4-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The grounds crew at Holman Stadium spent some time Saturday working on soft spots in the infield that might have contributed to the injury.

With temperatures in the upper 70s Saturday and a warming trend expected through this week, Piazza appears to have avoided the cold weather that has hindered the recovery of Roger Cedeno and Todd Hollandsworth (hamstrings).

``It has been difficult for everybody to really cut loose in this weather,'' Piazza said. ``I can't ever remembering it being this cold here. The season will be here before you know it and we will start in a cold-weather city (St. Louis). We need to be a full strength.''

Park dazzles: Chan Ho Park limited the Florida Marlins to one run and three hits in five innings in the Dodgers' 6-4 victory. Park did not figure in the decision but lowered his spring ERA to 2.64.

``He made 56 pitches in five innings, so that tells you something,'' pitching coach Goose Gregson said. ``He could easily have gone two more innings. His command was outstanding. He just has such a presence out there right now. His confidence is better than ever.

There is a good chance Park could follow Ramon Martinez in the rotation to start the season. More likely, he would pitch after Hideo Nomo, on April 3 in Cincinnati. After two rocky outings, Nomo pitched four scoreless innings against Baltimore on Friday.

``You can see how much he is learning out there,'' Gregson said of Park, who tied Nomo for the club lead last year with 14 victories. ``This year we wanted him to work on a changeup, and I would say right now he will get hitters out with it. Hitters are thinking fastball with him, and if he has command of a third pitch to go with the fastball and curve, watch out.''

More trouble for Cedeno: Cedeno has reinjured his right hamstring and now the Dodgers are close to having to make a decision on whether to place him on the 15-day disabled list to start the season. He was injured three weeks ago today and hasn't played since.

``Time is running out, but we are still optimistic,'' manager Bill Russell said. ``There is a lot of work to do in a short time, but he's young (22).''

If he is placed on the DL, Cedeno would have to miss the first seven games of the regular season. With two off days during the first two weeks, the Dodgers have until the middle of next week to make a decision.

Cedeno, who played 80 games for the Dodgers last year before fracturing the big toe on his left foot, received treatment Saturday and said it won't be long before he returns.