DODGERS NOTEBOOK: TEAMMATES FEEL HIS PAIN.

The debate has raged since Monday on whether or not Dodgers right-hander Chan Ho Park should have been used in relief, and the talk continued even as he took the mound Thursday to open a four-game series against Arizona.

Left fielder Gary Sheffield and Park's personal catcher, Chad Kreuter, both backed their teammate, saying the 28-year-old was placed in an unenviable position.

``He's not a relief pitcher,'' Sheffield said. ``That's what I say to that. He's not a relief pitcher. So, who's to say he wasn't ready or he should have been this or should have been that? He's not a relief pitcher. He's doing the organization a favor by doing that. He doesn't have to do that.''

Park, who broke into the major leagues as a reliever, made his first relief appearance since the first month of the 1997 season Monday against San Diego. He allowed four earned runs, walked three and didn't record an out before leaving with what was termed a strained left Achilles tendon.

``(Park) was probably a little out of his element when he got brought in the other night in that situation,'' said Kreuter, who entered the game with Park. ``I was surprised, yeah. I was surprised to go in the game. They said, 'Get loose, (Eric Karros) hits, we're going to do a double switch and bring Chan Ho in.' I snapped my neck around and looked down at the pen and saw he was warming up. I was very surprised.''

Sheffield said if there was a player on the Dodgers whose work ethic and committment should not be questioned, it is Park. Sheffield had other words for it.

``I call that blaming,'' Sheffield said. ``Blaming a player. It's ridiculous. It's very unfair because here's a man who goes out there and he gives his heart when he goes out there. Who's to question that? Ya know, you can't question a ballplayer when he gets hit just because he has good stuff.

``You can't single out one player. I don't care if you go out and lose a game. We all lose games, but you can never point your finger at one player. He's definitely not the problem. I can tell you that.''

--Rotation rhetoric: The Dodgers aligned their rotation coming out of the six-day break after the terrorist attacks so Kevin Brown could pitch in each series against Arizona and San Francisco, facing each of the teams twice. However, that plan is in extreme jeopardy.

Brown already had today's start pushed back to Saturday and he might not be able to pitch on three days rest and face the Giants on Wednesday because he's pitching in pain caused by the torn muscle in his elbow.

Colborn said a decision on the starter for the series finale wouldn't be made until after the weekend. Left-hander Terry Mulholland is slated to make his first start as a Dodger today.

DODGERS vs. ARIZONA

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

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

Matchup: The Dodgers turn to an unlikely starter for the second game of this pivotal four-game set in LH Terry Mulholland (1-0, 4.86 ERA), who makes his second start of the season and first as a Dodger. Mulholland, who last pitched Sept. 8, is 1-0 with a 7.80 ERA since being acquired by the Dodgers on July 31. Arizona RH Miguel Batista (9-8, 3.71) is 5-3 with a 2.75 ERA on the road. He's 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers this season.

- Brian Dohn

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

DODGERS vs. ARIZONA (see text)