DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GARCIAPARRA'S TIME COMES.

Byline: TONY JACKSON  Staff Writer

On the day Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra was named the National League's Comeback Player of the Year, manager Grady Little said he probably wouldn't test Garciaparra's partially torn left quadriceps by using him as a pinch hitter for whatever was left of the NL Division Series with the New York Mets.

But Little also said that could change if a specific situation arose, and it did in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game3 on Saturday night.

The Dodgers had just taken a 5-4 lead on James Loney's bases-loaded walk. With the pitcher's spot due up and left-hander Pedro Feliciano still on the mound, Little sent Garciaparra to hit for Mark Hendrickson.

The result was a weak comebacker that Garciaparra wisely didn't run out as Feliciano threw him out easily at first, ending the inning and the rally and quieting what had been a deafeningly loud ballpark.

But it had been exactly the kind of moment Little had envisioned for Garciaparra.

``It's also in my memory about a home run that Kirk Gibson hit one time for this ball team,'' Little had said before the game. ``We'll see what happens.''

Little had said Friday, after an MRI revealed the muscle tear, that Garciaparra could pinch hit but would have to be pinch run for if he reached base.

But Little changed his tune when it became clear just how much risk there was of Garciaparra completely tearing the muscle if he had to run hard.

``If he hits a ball to short and has to bust it to first base, then he (will end up) on the operating table,'' Little said. ``Do I want to do that to him? That's the way I look at it.''

Pressed before the game, Garciaparra sounded like he still wanted to play.

``We talked about it,'' Garciaparra said. ``I'll take a couple of swings and see what I can do, and we'll do some more chatting about it. Nobody wants (to aggravate the injury). I don't. That's not going to do anybody any good.''

Beimel speaks: Embattled Dodgers reliever Joe Beimel addressed his teammates in a closed-door meeting several hours before the game.

Beimel angered many in the organization by cutting his hand on a glass, and thus making himself unavailable for the series, while patronizing a New York bar in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, long after the club's midnight curfew.

Little didn't reveal much of what Beimel said.

``He apologized for his actions, but that's all I'm going to say,'' Little said.

Beimel was sent home after the meeting.

``We just thought that would be a more comfortable situation for him and everyone concerned, with the circumstances being what they are,'' Little said.

General manager Ned Colletti had said Friday that where he was concerned, Beimel's actions wouldn't eliminate the left- hander from the active roster for any subsequent playoff rounds if the club advanced.

But Colletti hinted that Little would have a say in that.

Although Little has made no effort to hide his anger toward Beimel, he said Saturday that Beimel's availability for later rounds would hinge only on his physical ability to pitch.

``Our objective here is to try to win games,'' Little said. ``We will address other issues when the time is right.''

Neither Little nor Colletti would say the issue has been resolved.

``Whatever else we do, we will do internally,'' Colletti said.

Award time: Garciaparra, who finished the regular season batting .303 with 31 doubles, 20homers and 93 RBIs after an injury-plagued 2005, said the comeback award was a tribute not only to himself, but also to the Dodgers.

``I'm grateful for the opportunity to win something because it probably means you did some good things,'' Garciaparra said. ``But the thing I have always said about success is that it is a by-product of my team. This team had a good year. When I see the award up on the mantel or whatever, I'm going to remember the guys.

``These are special guys, not just on the field, but off the field.''

Chicago White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome won the award -- which is given out by Major League Baseball as a result of online balloting by fans -- for the American League.