DODGERS NOTEBOOK : THESE TWO KNOW ABOUT THEIR ROLES.

Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer

Eric Anthony and Eddie Williams grew up playing Little League together in San Diego. They have both bounced around the major leagues.

Now their lockers are side by side - in the Dodgers clubhouse of all places.

``Me and Eddie, every day we look at each other and say `Can you believe we've got the uniform of the Dodgers on?' '' Anthony said.

Not that they have been sitting around marveling at their good fortune. Williams got the game-winning hit Saturday. Anthony has drawn two big walks in the past two games.

They are the loudest players on the bench during games. Williams has easily vaulted to the top of the clubhouse personality chart. Together, they have big plans to assume leadership roles on a staid team that may just need two utility guys with passion to do just that.

``My role is to be a leader on the bench,'' Williams said. ``Any way I can contribute on this club, as good as this club is, it's a plus. The chemistry is there. We want to be a part of it. This team is going to win. And with the addition of Eric Anthony and myself, hopefully we can fill in any weaknesses there might be.''

After Williams hit a two-out, pinch-hit single in the bottom of the ninth to give the Dodgers a 2-1 victory Saturday night, he ran through his celebrating teammates high-fiving and bear-hugging everyone. He looked more like a happy 9-year-old than a big-league Dodger.

``We need personality like that,'' manager Bill Russell said. ``They're the right guys to have. They're the guys you win with.''

Some day: Naturally, Billy Ashley wants to play a full nine innings. But he is aware of his limitations as a defensive outfielder.

In each of the last six games Ashley has started in left field, Russell has replaced him in the late innings.

``I'd like to be in there late in the game,'' Ashley said. ``You never know, I could come up and it could be a big at-bat. But it's late, and you're protecting a one-run lead, you want the best defense out there.''

Ashley, whose single in the sixth inning Sunday gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead, has made improving his defense a priority. And Russell has noticed. It is his bat, however, that might keep him in the game.

``You always think of that - when you take him out in the seventh you're taking a chance he might have come up again,'' Russell said of Ashley, who has power galore but a meek one home run and meeker .162 batting average in 34 at-bats.