MARTIN HAS DAY OF REST.

Byline: JILL PAINTER

Staff Writer

Catcher Russell Martin didn't try to persuade Dodgers manager Grady Little to let him play Sunday, but one might get the feeling he held back from doing just that.

Martin was given the day off, which is expected to be the last time this season. Martin has started 134 of the Dodgers' 149 games.

Given the Dodgers are 76-58 when he starts, the Dodgers are wise to put him in the lineup for the remaining games during the wild-card race.

"He warned me," Martin said -- before quickly changing the phrase to "told me" -- of his impending day off.

"He told me a couple of days ago, so I was mentally preparing myself to not play. Maybe it's good for me to rest before the last couple weeks of the season. But I don't see myself breaking down."

Martin even said he'd be just fine catching both games of Tuesday's doubleheader at Colorado. He said he's just like any other position player checking the lineup before each game, but games are more grueling on catchers.

Not that Martin would let on, even if he agreed.

"Just recently people have been saying, 'Oh, you need rest.' " Martin said. "I have that old-school mentality from my dad where you strap it on and go play. There's no if's, and's or but's."

All in the numbers: Scott Flansburg, a guest of Luis Gonzalez, commanded the attention of the Dodgers' clubhouse Sunday with his crazy math skills, proving his distinction as the "Human Calculator."

Flansburg would ask a player for a number, then would rattle off multiples of that numbers as quickly as an auctioneer. Randy Wolf checked the validity with a calculator as players shook their heads.

Flansburg could tell a person what day they were born, given the date and year. And, he did one better for Wolf, correctly pointing out that he turned 21 on a Friday. After third base coach Rich Donnelly gave his birthday, Flansburg then reminded him that he turned 60 on a Thursday last year, drawing laughs from players.

Flansburg tries to help kids become interested in math via numbers in baseball.

Blue tribute: The Dodgers honored umpire Bruce Froemming -- who's retiring after 37 major-league seasons -- before Sunday's game.

Tommy Lasorda presented Froemming with a Dodgers jersey and his No. 37. It was signed by Hall of Famers Jaime Jarrin, Tommy Lasorda and Vin Scully. He was also given a Dodgers bowl and leash for his dog, Blue.

Straitjacket shenanigans: A man wearing a mock straitjacket ran onto the field in the sixth inning after Rafael Furcal flied out.

The man, a 31-year-old from Van Nuys, evaded security officers, even though his arms were clutched against his body, as he ran in the outfield and through the infield. He finally was tackled in front of the Dodgers' dugout and taken into custody. Five security personnel carried him off the field while he was tied up in a horizontal position, and the man was talking all the way out.

Also: Chad Billingsley will pitch the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader at Colorado and David Wells will pitch the night game. Little said he's still planning to start Wells on three days rest Saturday at San Francisco.

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