DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GRUDZIELANEK PLACED ON DL.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

If the Dodgers were healthy and could afford to go a player short the next few days, Mark Grudzielanek said he wouldn't be on the disabled list. However, Dodger Stadium is no utopian community these days.

Instead, the ailing Dodgers roster was thrown into further disarray Tuesday when Grudzielanek was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left ankle, struggling right-hander Eric Gagne was sent to the minors and left-hander Jeff Williams and infielder Jeff Branson were added to the roster from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Grudzielanek is the sixth Dodger from the projected opening-day roster to go the disabled list, where he joins Kevin Brown, Andy Ashby and Eric Karros. The Dodgers have lost 199 games to players on the disabled list.

``If we had room where I could relax for three or four days, maybe I wouldn't (go on the disabled list),'' said Grudzielanek, who injured his ankle Monday while rounding first in the eighth inning. ``But the team needed somebody to be able to come off the bench in case they needed it. And I couldn't do that, at least for four or five days. I definitely wanted to play through it because I like playing. I don't like being on the (disabled list). I like to play, but you have to be smart.''

Grudzielanek said he might have an MRI today to determine if there is ligament damage. He said another reason for the move was the upcoming schedule - the Dodgers are off three times in the next nine days.

As for Gagne, it was nine days ago that he was moved from the starting rotation into the bullpen. Manager Jim Tracy said Gagne was kept on the major-league roster because he needed to learn at the major-league level, and the bullpen was a good place for it. But Gagne, who went 1-3 with a 6.05 ERA as a starter, was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in relief.

``There's not a change in the thinking (with Gagne),'' Tracy said. ``It's more a matter of necessity because (of) where we're at with our middle-infield situation. I think it was absolutely necessary that we have somebody here to cover up some situations where, if we were to take on another injury in the middle of the field ... you didn't have (an) answer for it.''

Gagne, 25, will start Sunday for Las Vegas against Nashville, but there is no timetable for his return.

``When you pitch like that and you have a 6.00 ERA and you go out there and give up eight, nine runs each time you go out there, you don't expect to be in the big leagues,'' Gagne said. ``I don't deserve to be here anyway.''

Said Gagne's agent, Scott Boras: ``You have to learn the league, you have to learn yourself, and the only place to do that is (in the major leagues).''

Manipulating the roster has become a daily occurrence for the Dodgers, and another decision is looming. Infielder Jeff Reboulet, who was unavailable Tuesday, will have his strained left hamstring re-evaluated today.

The Dodgers don't have many options remaining, a fact underlined by Branson's arrival. He had his contract purchased after batting .215 with 10 RBI in 56 games for Las Vegas. Infielder Tim Bogar is active, but his left hamstring isn't fully healed, making his middle-infield play suspect.

``I'm not going to play like I should be able to,'' Bogar said. ``But if the team needs me to do it, I'll do what I have to do to get through it. We don't have many options. If you put everybody on a list, I have to be one of the healthier ones.''

Williams was 5-3 with a 4.90 ERA before being recalled. He was brought in as a safety net for an overworked bullpen in case starter Darren Dreifort didn't pitch deep into Tuesday's game.

--Karros getting close: Karros, who has been on the disabled list for three weeks, could be activated for the weekend series in Anaheim, which has been the plan for the last week. He continues to field ground balls at first base and take batting practice.

``We're hopeful,'' Tracy said. ``I have not been told definitively.''

--Brown update: Dodgers ace Kevin Brown said the inflamed nerve in his neck is improving, though not at a rate he would deem satisfactory. Brown said he doesn't have as much tingling in his fingers, which hampered his control, but a date for his return is unknown.

``It's better than it was, but it's still not gone,'' Brown said. ``It's not exactly sprinter's progress. They told me from day one they couldn't give me a time frame (to return), and I can't give you one.''

--Odds and ends: Right-hander Andy Ashby will undergo surgery Friday at 7 a.m. at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood. The surgery, to repair the flexor muscle that tore from Ashby's right elbow and will cost him the season, will be performed by team physicians Dr. Frank Jobe and Dr. Ralph Gambardella. ... Dodgers pitching coach Jim Colborn said right-hander Chan Ho Park will pitch every fifth day, regardless of the schedule, to maximize his availability. Colborn added he will try to give Dreifort extra rest whenever possible. ... The Dodgers signed 13 of their picks from last week's draft, including UCLA infielder Joshua Canales. A 16th-round pick, Canales batted .376 and was named All-Pacific-10 Conference this season. The highest draft pick to sign was right-hander David Taylor, a third-round selection (100th overall) from South Lake High in Florida.

DODGERS vs. TEXAS

Time: 7:10 p.m., at Dodger Stadium.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: The Dodgers will conclude what's been a disappointing six-game homestand by sending RH Giovanni Carrara (0-1, 0.96 ERA) out for his second start. Carrara was outstanding in the bullpen but was pressed into the rotation because of injuries and inadequacies. He allowed one run in five innings Friday against the Angels. Opponents are batting .125 against him. LH Kenny Rogers (3-3, 5.34) will make his 14th start of the season. He's allowed 13 homers. In 84 1/3 innings pitched, Rogers has yielded 96 hits and 27 walks.

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. TEXAS (see text)