DODGERS UNSETTLED AT SECOND : FIVE COMPETE IN SPRING FOR SPOT.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Who's on second?

On the first day of full-squad workouts at Dodgertown on Thursday, not even Abbott and Costello could have answered that question. But they certainly would have had fun with it.

In fact, the unsettled situation at second base is so confusing that manager Bill Russell summoned to his office the five players competing for the starting job this spring: Wilton Guerrero, Nelson Liriano, Chad Fonville, Juan Castro and Jeff Berblinger.

Even minutes before his first team meeting, Russell called in the five candidates to set the record straight and to set the ground rules for the competition that lies ahead.

``I thought it was appropriate,'' Russell said of his closed-door meeting. ``I told them they were all competing for the job, that there was no leading candidate and that I would try to give them all as much playing time as I could. They're all starting out the same and may the best man win.

``Because there are so many of them, we're going to be rotating them on different fields. So I also wanted them to know that just because they're not (working out) at Holman Stadium, it doesn't mean they're not being considered.''

A capsule look at the five candidates vying to succeed departed second baseman Delino DeShields:

Chad Fonville: A utility player who can play the outfield or infield, Fonville, 26, will have to produce more as he did in 1995 (.276, 41 runs, 16 RBI in 88 games) than in 1996 (.204, 34 runs, 13 RBI in 103 games) to seriously challenge for the job.

``I've thought about this all winter. I knew the job was open,'' Fonville said. ``I have lots of experience. I know what to do and what they're looking for. My attitude is, this is my position until someone takes it away.''

Wilton Guerrero: The younger brother of highly touted Expos outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, Wilton, 22, won the Dominican Republic winter league batting title with a .342 average and is considered the Dodgers' strongest candidate to become their sixth consecutive National League Rookie of the Year.

Though Russell can't say it, he likely is pulling for Guerrero to win the job because he's the fastest player in the organization (clocked at 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and would add more speed to the top of the order.

Guerrero, who bulked up from 165 pounds to 181 in the offseason, said he was converted from shortstop to second base last May at Triple-A Albuquerque.

``They said (then) I might have more of an opportunity to play second base in the big leagues,'' he said. ``I'm going to work hard and try to win the job.''

Nelson Liriano: Claimed on waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates in November, Liriano, 32, is a veteran switch-hitter who started 24 games at second base, seven at third base and three at shortstop while batting .267 for the Pirates last season.

He came up in the Toronto Blue Jays organization and has played for five teams in parts of nine years in the majors.

``This is a good opportunity,'' Liriano said. ``I'll just try to do the best I can every day.''

Juan Castro: A superb glove man who batted .197 in 70 games last season, Castro, 24, started 26 games at shortstop while Greg Gagne was injured and four games at second base. He also started Games 2 and 3 in the NL playoffs at second when DeShields was benched.

``My position is shortstop, but I played second base in winter ball (in Mexico),'' Castro said. ``We all know the spot is open and all five guys are good ballplayers. I think the best is going to get it.''

Jeff Berblinger: Selected off the St. Louis roster in the December minor-league draft, Berblinger, 26, must be offered back to the Cardinals if he doesn't make the Dodgers' opening-day roster. He batted .288 with 23 stolen bases, 11 homers and 53 RBI in 134 games at Double-A Arkansas last season.`

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Photo: (color) FONVILLE