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DODGERS NOTEBOOK: MARTIN GETTING NO REST.


Byline: RICH HAMMOND Rich Hammond
Los Angeles Daily News sports writer. Instrumental in bringing the Los Angeles Kings hockey organization closer to the fans. He is the atypical "what a guy" to Kings fans everywhere.

Rich Hammond on himself.
 Staff Writer

Days off are for struggling, sore-kneed veteran catchers, not hot-swinging rookies.

So there's little reason for Russell Martin
For the Wycombe Wanderers football player, see Russell Martin (footballer).
Russell Nathan Coltrane Jeanson Martin Jr.[1] (born February 15, 1983 in East York, Ontario, Canada)[2] is a professional Canadian baseball player.
 to rest these days. Martin started Sunday for the Dodgers, even though catchers often sit out when their teams play a day game after a night game.

Martin entered Sunday with a six-game hitting streak In baseball, a hitting streak refers to the consecutive number of official games in which a player gets at least one base hit. Games in which a player does not have any official at bats due to walks, or sacrifice bunts, or being hit by a pitch, are ignored (neither break the streak  and 11hits and six RBIs in his past 25 at-bats. So even though manager Grady Little William Grady Little (born March 30, 1950 in Abilene, Texas) is a manager in Major League Baseball. He guided the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003, and has been manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2006.  has spent this week organizing days off for most of his regular position players, it's likely that Martin will end up playing nine consecutive games before Thursday's off day.

``Everyone is in good condition to go right now,'' Little said.

That includes Martin, who isn't about to ask for a day off anytime soon. Martin went 0for 4 Sunday but drove in tworuns with a pair of fielder's choice field·er's choice
n. Baseball
A play made on a ground ball in which the fielder chooses to put out an advancing base runner, thus allowing the batter to reach first base safely.

Noun 1.
 groundouts.

``I'm used to it,'' Martin said. ``I remember when Jason Kendall Jason Daniel Kendall (born June 26, 1974 in San Diego, California) is a Major League Baseball catcher whom is currently a free agent. He is the son of former catcher Fred Kendall, who played in the majors from 1969–1980.  caught a 17-inning game in Pittsburgh and came back and played the next night. I feel good right now, so I want to be in there.''

The Dodgers would have no problem turning to backup catcher Sandy Alomar Sandy Alomar can refer to different people:
  • Sandy Alomar, Sr. - an infielder and coach in Major League Baseball
  • Sandy Alomar, Jr. - a catcher in Major League Baseball
, who has 19 hits in 54 at-bats (.352), but there's another reason to keep Martin on the field: With every game, Martin gets more familiar with the pitching staff and learns nuances and tendencies.

``After a few times, you start to learn the way they go about their business,'' Martin said.

Looks natural: Cesar Izturis returned to third base after starting at shortstop Saturday. With Bill Mueller
    William Richard Mueller [MILL-er] (born March 17, 1971) is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who currently serves as the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
     out, Izturis looks like he could be the long-term answer at third.

    Izturis played a third consecutive errorless game at the hot corner and converted two tough grounders into outs.

    ``I like having him in the game,'' Little said, ``and I like having him on that infield.''

    Jeff Kent Jeffrey Franklin Kent (born March 7, 1968 in Bellflower, California) is a Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and a former MVP winner. Early career  got the day off and Ramon Martinez Ramon Martinez is the name of several people:
    • Ramon Martinez (fencing instructor), a fencing instructor in New York City
    • Ramón Martínez (baseball infielder)
    • Ramón Martínez (baseball pitcher), brother of Pedro Martinez
     started at second, which gave the Dodgers an unusual lineup. All four infielders -- Martinez, Izturis, first baseman Nomar Garciaparra and shortstop Rafael Furcal -- have played the majority of their major-league games at shortstop, a combined total of 2,678 games.

    Nothing different: The Dodgers were swept by Oakland and lost two of threegames to Seattle this month, but Little said he puts no extra significance on this week's series with Minnesota.

    The Dodgers are far from alone in their struggles against the American League. Entering Sunday's games, the National League had a combined record of 56-97 in interleague games this season.

    ``When we look at the standings at the end of the year, we'll be looking at the overall record, not at what we did against the American League,'' Little said. ``That's not a good gauge for me.''

    Injury report: Little said he had no update on the status of starter Brett Tomko, who suffered a strained left oblique muscle Friday. Tomko's next scheduled start is Wednesday in Minnesota.

    Little also said he remains unsure when Eric Gagne might begin throwing again.

    rich.hammond@dailynews.com

    (818) 713-3611

    CAPTION(S):

    photo, box

    Photo:

    Dodgers catcher Russell Martin (55) and second baseman Ramon Martinez are congratulated by teammates after scoring a pair of runs on a single by Rafael Furcal in the fourth inning.

    Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

    Box:

    DODGERS at MINNESOTA

    - Rich Hammond
    COPYRIGHT 2006 Daily News
    No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
    Copyright 2006, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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    Title Annotation:Sports
    Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
    Date:Jun 26, 2006
    Words:550
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