ALCS NOTEBOOK: ANGELS MISS SPARK FROM COLON.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Angels pitcher Bartolo Colon is out with a strained muscle in his right shoulder, and now has another problem with which to deal. He's come down with a case of the blues.

Colon is not on the American League Championship Series roster and won't be on the World Series roster if the Angels get there. He suffered the injury Monday in Game 5 of the AL Division Series against the Yankees.

``He's definitely bummed,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Colon, who has refused all interview requests since hurting his shoulder. ``He realizes our need for him to do what he can do. He knows the needs of the team with him being the lead dog the whole year. He's down he can't help us but he also knows we wouldn't be here without him.''

The club said Friday that Colon would have a contrast MRI exam performed on his shoulder sometime in the next few days, but Scioscia said Saturday no further tests have been scheduled.

Colon went 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA this season and is a leading candidate to win the AL Cy Young Award. However, Colon has been mediocre in the playoffs throughout his career, going 2-3 with a 3.61 ERA in nine career starts. In his two postseason starts this year, he was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA.

--Iguchi impresses: He doesn't get nearly the attention paid to Hideki Matsui or Ichiro Suzuki, but White Sox second baseman Tadahito Iguchi has impressed those who have seen him every day in his first season since coming from the Japanese league.

``I keep saying he's my MVP and people make fun of me,'' White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. ``This kid can do it all: run, squeeze, hit a home run when you need it, make the plays when you need it, steal a base, give you good at-bats.

``It's not easy when you come from Japan your first year. Every day is a learning process, new pitching, new hitters, new cities, new ballclubs, new ballparks, so many things this kid has to deal with.''

Iguchi is hitting .231 (6 for 26) with a home run and four RBI in the playoffs while playing flawless in the field.

``It's amazing the way he plays,'' Guillen said. ``Because of the language barrier, communication, this kid has to put a lot of things in his mind just to go out and play. To me, that's good enough, what he's done on the field so far because this kid is so smart, he plays basic baseball, doesn't make that many mistakes, and he's a pretty good baseball man.''

--Contingency plans: In Arizona, starting pitchers Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver are pitching in the Fall League. On Saturday in Anaheim, Jason Christiansen, who is not on the ALCS roster, threw two innings of a simulated game.

``You have to look forward in some aspects,'' Scioscia said. ``If we're fortunate enough to get through this series, we might have to realign things. You don't know what your needs are going to be.''

--Kotchman starts: Casey Kotchman got his first postseason start Saturday in Game 4 as the designated hitter.

``Casey gives us a left-handed bat,'' Scioscia said. ``They've got a terrific bullpen with good lefties, but we've got to attack their starting pitching.''

Kotchman went 2 for 4, getting an infield single in the second inning and an RBI double in the fourth.

--Not lacking:If there is a Game 6, the Angels could go with John Lackey on three days' rest, though Scioscia would not commit.

``We'll see,'' Scioscia said. ``Let's get there first.''

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Chicago White Sox second baseman Tadahito Iguchi has been flawlessly in the field throughout the postseason.

Keith Durflinger/Staff Photographer