DODGERS NOTEBOOK: Ethier's new role: Protect Manny.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne, Staff Writer

GLENDALE, Ariz. - It's either the ultimate compliment or the ultimate complex. Hitting behind Manny Ramirez.

Protecting him, in theory.

That's the role Andre Ethier is being asked to play this season and at least outwardly, he seems OK with it.

"It's a big test obviously," Ethier said. "Manny's so dangerous in front of you, so it's going to be a fine line whether they want to throw to him or come after me."

Last season, Ethier often hit in the No. 2 spot, ahead of Ramirez, and made the most of the situation. September was by far his best month of the year, when he hit .462 with and 18 RBIs.

"I wouldn't necessarily call them better pitches to hit," Ethier said of hitting in front of Ramirez. "I'd say it's that people are going to stay over the plate more to get you swinging. Versus hitting after him now, it might be off the plate a little bit more, and trying to get you to get yourself out."

Whatever the case, Dodgers' manager Joe Torre feels good about the arrangement. Earlier in the spring, the two had a heart-to-heart conversation that Torre says helped their relationship.

"Ethier is a player," Torre said. "He's got one thing in mind when he gets up to bat and that's to crush the ball. ... He's pretty dedicated to just hitting every ball on the button and letting it find a hole somewhere."

Blake DeWitt in limbo

The Dodgers have had extended discussions about utility infielder Blake DeWitt in recent days, discussing whether their promising youngster is better served starting the season in Triple-A and playing regularly, or staying up with the major-league club as a backup infielder.

If he were to stay with the Dodgers, he'd likely play a lot of shortstop when Rafael Furcal is given days off.

DeWitt said he's very comfortable playing the position, having grown up as a shortstop, but Torre indicated the club thought Juan Castro and Chin-lung Hu were better defensively. That doesn't mean DeWitt is out of the running.

"I think he can hold his own there," Torre said.

But when Torre projects what the 23-year-old DeWitt can become if he continues to develop, he sees him like Boston third baseman Mike Lowell.

"The kid has such a tremendous makeup," Torre said. "He's still in the development stage. And it's not easy to ask a young kid to come in and swing off the bench."

Appreciating Manny

Torre saw a lot of Ramirez from the opposite dugout as manager of the Yankees.

Now that he's seen him up close, and how he goes about the business of being one of the best hitters in baseball, he's got even more respect for him.

"He's kind of a throwback," Torre said. "It's very refreshing to me, and it's really fun to watch. ... There's a good reason people don't understand Manny, because they really aren't around him. You really have to see him on a day to day basis to appreciate how serious he is.

"But there's that ESPN ... stuff where he's rolling over, not cutting the ball off when he's supposed to. ... But he's so serious about what he does, even in his preparation."

Torre said the most impressive thing about Ramirez's approach at the plate is how globally he thinks about it. Setting pitchers up early in the game for a more crucial at-bat later, figuring out which pitch he can hit squarely and how best to beat each pitcher he faces.

"Hitters nowadays, as opposed to what he does, they're more concerned about swing," Torre said. "He's concerned about how he's going to get this guy. ... You know it surprises the hell out of me if he strikes out. He's got such good coverage and anticipation."

Estes adjusting

Shawn Estes made another appearance out of the bullpen in a minor-league game, his third time pitching in five days. That's quite a change for a veteran lefty starter used to pitching every five days.

"It's kind of a crash course," Estes said. "I'm going to have to figure out in a hurry whether it's something I can handle physically. My arm feels tired (from pitching so often) but it's rebounding well. My velocity hasn't decreased at all."

Refresher course

Randy Wolf threw five scoreless innings Saturday in his final extended start of spring training. Then the wheels fell off as four runs scored after he walked the lead-off batter, Josh Fields, in the Dodgers' 6-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

"I guess I kind of deserved that because I walked the lead-off hitter," Wolf said. "It's a good refresher on what happens when you walk the lead-off man. ... I feel like a nun just took that ruler out and slapped me on the wrist."

Wolf is 3-2 with a 4.87 ERA this spring, but seven of the 13 runs he's given up came in one poor outing against the Cubs. In his six appearances besides the Cubs game, he has a 2.55 ERA.

Elbert sent down

As expected, left-hander Scott Elbert was reassigned to minor-league camp.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Andre Ethier flourished hitting in front of Manny Ramirez last season.