ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ALREADY, GANT FEELS AT HOME NEW ANGEL DELIGHTED TO BE WITH CONTENDER.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - It didn't take long for new Angel Ron Gant to feel comfortable in his new surroundings. He was laughing and joking with his Angels teammates, getting reacquainted with old friends and making new ones Monday afternoon in the clubhouse a few hours before gametime.

Gant was acquired from the Phillies on Sunday in a trade for pitcher Kent Bottenfield. He'll serve as the designated hitter in most games and will get an occasional start in the outfield.

``It's strange,'' Gant said of joining a new team midseason. ``Usually it happens during spring training. It's strange but a good strange. It was nice to see guys with good attitudes, knowing they're ready to win. As soon as I walked in, I could feel it.''

With the St. Louis Cardinals, Gant played with Kent Mercker and Mark Petkovsek. He also knows Mo Vaughn and Ken Hill well. But the best part, Gant said, is leaving a last-place team and joining a team in a pennant race.

``It's wonderful,'' he said. ``I've had some experience in the playoffs and running through pennant races. It's fun for me again. Hopefully, some of my experience will help these guys here.''

Gant batted seventh in the lineup Monday, with a right-hander on the mound (Jeff Weaver) throwing. Against left-handers, Gant might hit second. And he'll hit in the middle of the lineup when Vaughn, Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson or Troy Glaus need days off.

``He's multidimensional,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``I don't want to lay a direct line on where he'll hit because he can be versatile.''

``I've known him for a long time, I played against Ron,'' Scioscia added. ``What he'll bring to the club will be very evident. You'll see how hard he plays the game, his skill level, and he's also a quiet leader in the clubhouse. He's been through the wars. He becomes one of our elder statesmen.''

--Big-game veteran: Besides filling the need for right-handed power, the Angels also got a veteran with postseason experience. Gant has played in two World Series (1991 and `92 with Atlanta) and five National League Championship Series (`91, `92 and `93 with Atlanta, `95 with Cincinnati and `96 with St. Louis).

``Any time you add an experienced player, it's a good thing,'' Vaughn said. ``He's played in the World Series. The man's a winner. He's a good man, he plays hard and he's going to help us. The man's been places, it's not like he's a rookie.''

The Angels are Gant's fifth major-league team (Braves, Reds, Cardinals, Phillies). He has 286 career homers.

--Needed rest: Catcher Bengie Molina and second baseman Adam Kennedy were not in the starting lineup Monday. Scioscia is looking to give his regulars a little more rest here and there down the stretch.

``These guys have had a tremendous workload,'' Scioscia said. ``When younger guys get deeper into the season, they're getting battle-tested. It's something we're concerned with. You want to get guys fresh but let them stay in a rhythm. It's tough to get a guy out of the lineup if he's going well.''

ANGELS vs. DETROIT

Time: 7:05 p.m., at Edison Field.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 570-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish), 103.9-FM.

Matchup: Brian Cooper (4-5, 5.05 ERA) will start for the Angels against Detroit's Adam Bernero (major-league debut). Cooper has struggled in his past two starts, going 0-2 with a 10.67 ERA and failing to last five innings in either. Right fielder Tim Salmon has a hitting streak of nine games.

- Joe Haakenson

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, 2 boxes

Photo: (1) JACKSON

(2) GLAUS

(3) ANDERSON

Box: (1) Chasing Reggie

(2) Angels vs. Detroit (see text)