DODGERS NOTEBOOK: TAKING THE FIFTH MARTINEZ SAYS HE'S READY FOR A SPOT IN THE ROTATION.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

VIERRA, Fla. - Ramon Martinez hasn't been told if he's won the fifth spot in the Dodgers' starting rotation, but he said he needs to know.

Martinez believes he proved the job should be his and he expects to hear those words soon.

``I think at this point of spring training, a decision has to be made,'' Martinez said after allowing two runs in five innings against the Florida Marlins. ``Whatever decision they're going to make, they're going to make it soon and I have to wait for it. I'm very confident that I can pitch in the rotation, so I just wait for the decision.''

When asked if he thought he won the job, Martinez replied, ``Yes, I think so. I'm very confident I am going to be in the rotation.''

The Dodgers' rotation is set for the rest of the spring, except for Tuesday when the fifth spot comes up again. An announcement could come as early as today, and general manager Kevin Malone stated previously a veteran in the fifth spot would be ideal. That, of course, makes Martinez the favorite.

``We'd just like to have some discussion over the next 24 hours or so and see what the general consensus is, and the feeling is, and move from there,'' manager Jim Tracy said.

Martinez and right-hander Eric Gagne are competing for the fifth spot, and both pitched Thursday. Martinez yielded four hits, walked two and struck out four. He's 0-2 with a 4.00 ERA this spring, but he's pitched well lately. Martinez, who was celebrating his 33rd birthday, has a 2.77 ERA with eight walks and 11 strikeouts in his last three games. He's allowed 10 hits in 13 innings, and Malone said Martinez proved his surgically repaired right shoulder is healthy.

Gagne started and allowed two runs on six hits in five innings against Kansas City. Gagne's impressed with a 2.50 ERA, but sending him to Triple-A Las Vegas would give the Dodgers more options. If Martinez falters, the Dodgers would call on Gagne, 25, or Luke Prokopec. If Gagne won the job, Martinez said he would seek employment from another team and the backup plan would be Prokopec.

``I think if it's not me, I can go somewhere else to pitch because I'm sure I'm healthy and I'm confident,'' Martinez said. ``I haven't felt like that in a long time and I'm very confident that wherever I'm going to pitch, I'm going to have a great year. I'm pretty confident I can be in the rotation anywhere.''

--Wanting the routine: At some point, the Dodgers plan putting Terry Adams back in the bullpen as a setup man. But 11 days remain before the season opener and the right-hander has not been told anything.

Adams has been working as a starter because the Dodgers wanted a fallback plan if Martinez and Gagne didn't pitch well, and they wanted Adams to work on a changeup and improve his curveball. But with the season so close, Adams said he needs to know what his role will be.

``I guess it's pretty much at that point where either I'm going to have the opportunity to be a starter and I need to be put in that spot and get in some kind of rhythm or routine, or I'm going to be back and setting up and I need to be put into that spot,'' Adams said.

``It's one thing to start and get into a five-day routine and it's another thing to be a reliever and have to pitch back-to-back days or every other day. I have to know if I'm going to be in a situation where if I give up a run, the game is over. Right now, if I give up a run, I know I have two or three more innings to pitch.''

All of Adams' 342 major-league appearances, including 66 with the Dodgers last season, were in relief, but this spring has been opposite. He started once, but his in-game work has been consistent with that of a starter. Adams pitched two shutout innings of relief against the Marlins, but he said he approached the outing as if he's a starter because he expected to go three or four innings.

--Odds and ends: Lefty Felix Arellan, the minor-leaguer who was denied free agency despite the commissioner's office ruling the Dodgers illegally signed him, will undergo ``Tommy John'' surgery and miss the season. It was reported in December the Dodgers were fined $100,000 for their dealings in the case, and Arellan's agent, Gus Dominguez said he was appealing the ruling. Dominguez is compiling a second report on the case.... Lefty Jesse Orosco, who has all but secured a place on the roster, yielded two runs on two wild pitches in two-thirds of an inning. Orosco's big test will be this weekend when he throws Saturday and Sunday. ``We want to see him back-to-back days,'' Tracy said of the 43-year-old Orosco. ``We're looking for consistency and resiliency.''... Rule V pick Jose Nunez, the lefty who is the surprise of camp, allowed three runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings against the Royals.

DODGERS vs. NEW YORK METS 

Time: 4:05 p.m., at Holman Stadium, Vero Beach, Fla.

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

Matchup: RH Kevin Brown makes his second-to-last start of the spring, against the Mets. RHs Mike Fetters and Jeff Shaw are also scheduled to work.

Thursday's results: The Dodgers lost two games in the last inning, falling to Kansas City 5-4 in 10 innings and losing 4-3 to Florida by allowing two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Against the Royals, RF Shawn Green went 1 for 4 in his first big-league game action since March 2.

- Brian Dohn

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) Dodger pitchers Eric Gagne (38) and Ramon Martinez have pitched well this spring in what is shaping up as a down-to-the-wire race for the fifth spot in the rotation.

Todd Anderson, Ron Frehm/Associated Press

Box: DODGERS vs. NEW YORK METS (see text)