AMERICAN LEAGUE: INSIDE THE A.L.: DUGOUT TIFF DIGS UP MEMORIES.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

Angels manager Mike Scioscia didn't think the scuffle between Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent of the Giants was such a big deal. After all, it happens relatively often and usually behind the scenes. It even happens to winning teams.

``The season is a challenge, both from the physical and mental aspects,'' Scioscia said. ``You've got guys competing and wanting to win, and at times it's heated. It's unfortunate when it's directed at other teammates. But the bottom line is the ability to go out and play as a team every day. (Giants manager) Dusty (Baker) does that as well as anybody.''

Scioscia has first-hand experience of fights among teammates. He wasn't there when Don Sutton and Steve Garvey got into it with the Dodgers, but he was there for the match between Phil Garner and Mike Marshall.

Scioscia also dealt with fights between teammates as a manager, though not with the Angels. Managing at Triple-A Albuquerque, he had to break up two fights within a couple of weeks.

``You want to know what's tough? Managing at Triple-A is tough,'' he said. ``It's bad at the beginning of the season, because you got guys who think they got cheated and should be in the majors. They might have been one of the final cuts and they're (ticked) off.''

--In this corner ...: Oakland A's manager Art Howe and New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, who is managing the AL All-Star team, seem to disagree on Torre's method of selecting pitchers. Torre won't take a pitcher who pitches the Sunday before Tuesday's All-Star game. The A's Barry Zito, among the top pitchers in the league, is on schedule to start that Sunday.

``I don't want to be responsible for pitching a guy with no rest, and if I take one (deserving Sunday starter), I have to take all of them,'' Torre said.

Howe wasn't buying it.

``I'm not going to jeopardize Barry's health ... and I think that's a (garbage) rule,'' Howe said. ``If he deserves to be on the team, he should be selected. He doesn't have to participate, but if he deserves to be there, he should be. It's a crock.''

--AL stars: The fans get their say and vote for the All-Star game's starters. Here's one opinion:

1B-Jason Giambi, Yankees; 2B-Alfonso Soriano, Yankees; 3B-Eric Chavez, A's; SS-Alex Rodriguez, Rangers; OF-Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners, Garret Anderson, Angels and Torii Hunter, Twins; C-Jorge Posada, Yankees; SP-Derek Lowe, Red Sox.