DODGERS NOTEBOOK: MARTINEZ SAYS HE'S NOT BITTER AT DODGERS.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Right-hander Ramon Martinez admitted it felt weird, kind of strange, sitting in the visitors' dugout at Dodger Stadium. He said his emotions would likely be intensified when he pitched tonight for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

But Martinez, the longtime Dodger who was a symbol of the pride and tradition of the organization at one time, said he wasn't bitter about his untimely release from the Dodgers at the conclusion of spring training.

And Martinez said ousted general manager Kevin Malone was the only person responsible for his release. In fact, he said he had to console now interim general manager Dave Wallace, a close friend, afterward.

``I don't think it was (Wallace),'' said Martinez, 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two starts with the Pirates. ``The only guy that had the decision was Kevin. If you're the boss, you're the one who makes the decision.''

It wasn't what Martinez envisioned when he signed a free-agent deal with the Dodgers in January after spending two years in Boston, especially since the club continually stated all he had to do was prove his surgically repaired right shoulder was sound.

Martinez went 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in six spring games but said he showed his arm was sound. However, some people within the organization were concerned about a lack of velocity and poor control. He walked 16 in 21 2/3 innings, so the club instead opted for young right-hander Eric Gagne.

``If (Malone) checked my history in spring training, he's never going to find anything good,'' Martinez said. ``It's something that I asked (manager) Jim Tracy: Were they waiting for me to have a real bad game to tell me about that decision? The only real bad game I had was the last one.''

Ironically, Gagne, who showered Martinez with praise on that spring day, faces him today.

--Ashby's prognosis: Ailing right-hander Andy Ashby could play catch on the side today, but Tracy said it's doubtful Ashby would be ready to pitch when he's eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday. Ashby, who is 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts, is plagued by a strained muscle in his right elbow.

``I think that would be tough,'' Tracy said of being ready to pitch in a week. ``I don't want to jump the gun, but I don't want to mislead (people) either. We want to make sure he's 100 percent.''

--Odds and ends: Lefty Carlos Perez allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas against Calgary. In four rehab starts, Perez is 2-1 with a 4.21 ERA, but he's allowed just three runs in his past 13 innings. However, Tracy said Perez, if he's activated, would be more suited for long relief. ... Lefty Jesse Orosco, 44, released out of spring training, finally signed a minor-league contract and will report to Las Vegas. ... Infielder Dave Hansen will return Thursday from his rehab stint with Single-A Vero Beach (Fla.), and Tracy said the pinch-hitting specialist could be activated for Friday's game against Philadelphia. ... Infielder Tim Bogar, rehabbing in Las Vegas, was scratched from the past two games because of soreness in his hamstring. ... Because of the Kings' game at Colorado on Thursday, the Dodgers' game against Pittsburgh won't be shown on Fox Sports Net 2. A July 23 game against Milwaukee was added to the schedule. ... Pittsburgh shortstop Jack Wilson, a Thousand Oaks High graduate, had 100 people at the game. He said he'll have 250 tonight and another 100 for the series finale.

DODGERS vs. PITTSBURGH

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

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

Matchup: In an ironic matchup, Dodgers RH Eric Gagne (1-1,3.96 ERA) faces the pitcher from whom he won the fifth spot in spring training in Pittsburgh's Ramon Martinez (0-1, 6.75). Gagne pitched a career-high eight innings in his last start, allowing one run in beating San Francisco. He allowed three runs on three hits in a no-decision against the Pirates in 2000. Martinez makes his first career start against the Dodgers. Martinez was released after going 0-2 with a 5.81 ERA in spring training with L.A.

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. PITTSBURGH (see text)