DODGERS NOTEBOOK : GUERRERO RETURNS TEMPORARILY TO TRIPLE-A.

Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer

Wilton Guerrero wasn't playing anymore, and the Dodgers needed to find a place on their roster for emergency starter Dennis Reyes. That meant Guerrero was destined to be a minor-leaguer again. For 10 days.

Touted before the season as a possible sixth straight Rookie of the Year for the Dodgers, the 22-year-old second baseman was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday. He has to stay down for 10 days, which means he will be brought back up Sept. 1 when major-league rosters expand to 40.

Also, Todd Hollandsworth and Tripp Cromer, the two Dodgers on the disabled list, are not expected to be healthy by October, meaning Guerrero will be able to replace one of them on the 25-man postseason roster should the Dodgers advance that far.

``It'll be good for him,'' Dodgers manager Bill Russell said. ``Whether he knows it or not, it will be.''

Guerrero will play every day, even working some innings at shortstop, for Albuquerque. Uncomfortable with the unpredictable Guerrero being their pennant-drive second baseman, the Dodgers acquired Eric Young via trade on Monday. Guerrero has pinch-run once and pinch-hit once since then.

Guerrero is hitting .291, but he has walked just eight times in 347 at-bats. His on-base percentage is just 14 points higher than his batting average. While he is the fastest Dodger, he has stolen just six bases. He has been picked off first base four times, most in the National League, and his numerous baserunning blunders have made third-base coach Joe Amalfitano even more hyper than he already was.

Guerrero's demotion, though, was as much about timing as anything. The Dodgers are in the midst of seven games in five days. In that they needed Reyes' help and prefer that the more-veteran Juan Castro and Nelson Liriano help off the bench, Guerrero was really their only choice to send down.

New game: In his first full season as a starter, Chan Ho Park is finding he is more tired at this point in the season than ever before. One of the most-fit players on the team, Park said he is sore a lot of the time.

``Some is good sore, some is not good sore,'' he said.

It hasn't affected him when it matters. Park (13-6) has won seven of eight starts since the All-Star break.

Right at home: As he always does, Mike Piazza is staying at his parents' house in Valley Forge, Pa., about 35 minutes from Philadelphia.

``It's nice to get home cooking,'' he said. ``You can't beat that. I feel like a kid again.''

Also: While Reyes may stick around for another start, the Dodgers are not likely to keep him until Sept. 1, when they would be required to also keep him on the postseason roster. So Wayne Kirby could be back by next week. . . . Opposing pitchers are 7 for 10 against the Dodgers in the past five games. . . . Otis Nixon is hitless in his past 22 at-bats. He was 0 for 2 with two walks Friday. . . . Ramon Martinez and Tom Candiotti will be the Dodgers' starters for Monday's doubleheader at Pittsburgh. . . . Advance warning: Monday's first game begins at 2 p.m. (PDT). Channel 5's coverage begins at 4 p.m.