DODGERS NOTEBOOK: MARTIN COMBATS FATIGUE.

Byline: TONY JACKSON Staff Writer

PHOENIX Russell Martin checked the lineup card Saturday, saw his name written as usual in the eight hole and didn't think twice about it.

This after catching all 15 innings of Friday night's game, starting behind the plate on 84 previous occasions since his May 5 callup to the big leagues and appearing in 23 games for Triple-A Las Vegas before that.

What him? Tired?

``I feel good,'' Martin said. ``I just started going into the whirlpool and doing contrasts. When I do that, I feel better. I think it just gets the blood flowing in my legs a little bit. A lot of guys told me I should probably think about doing that. I have never really played all year through September, so I don't know how I'm going to feel. I'm pretty sure it won't be good every day, so maybe this will help.''

By ``contrasts,'' Martin meant alternating between hot and cold water in the whirlpool, a practice that is supposed to stimulate the legs to reduce fatigue.

Manager Grady Little said he never considered resting Martin after the marathon game the previous evening, and he might put him in the lineup for today's afternoon game, too. Martin has been catching roughly four of every fivegames, with backup Toby Hall catching on the days Mark Hendrickson starts because the two are familiar with each other.

Roster move: The Dodgers designated reliever Giovanni Carrara for assignment after he posted a 5.04 ERA in 21 appearances, but Little promised that if Carrara clears waivers, he will rejoin the big-league club for the September roster expansion.

The Dodgers have three open spots on their 40-man roster, so putting Carrara back on it won't be a problem.

``Gio has been struggling a little bit, and this is not a time when we need somebody to go through these struggles,'' Little said.

To take Carrara's roster spot, the Dodgers recalled left- hander Tim Hamulack from Las Vegas. Hamulack, who had a 1.42 ERA in 28 relief appearances for the 51s, will be used for one- or two-inning outings instead of as a traditional situational lefty.

With Joe Beimel, he gives Little two left-handed options in the bullpen.

Showing promise: Although third baseman Wilson Betemit committed one official error and another unofficial one that somehow got charged to Nomar Garciaparra but led to the tying run scoring in the 11th inning Friday night, Little said he still believes the former utility infielder's future is at the hot corner.

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