ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ANDERSON MIGHT MISS ENTIRE OAKLAND SERIES.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

OAKLAND - The Angels are bracing for the possibility that All-Star outfielder Garret Anderson will miss the entire series here against the first-place Oakland Athletics.

Anderson sat out his second consecutive game Friday with stiffness in his neck and upper back, a significant development given that he has played in at least 158 games the past four seasons and didn't sit out a game last year until the final week of the season.

``It takes a lot to get him out of the lineup,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``You look at the amount of games he's played, he's in elite company.''

Most disconcerting for Anderson is that he's not sure how long his absence will last. The stiffness, attributed to new mattresses Anderson had installed in his home, affects his shoulder and neck area, which makes throwing and swinging difficult.

``When I'll be back, I don't know,'' Anderson said. ``No clue. Neck and back can take a week, or it can go away in a day.''

With Anderson missing his second consecutive game and designated hitter Tim Salmon (sore left knee) missing his fourth consecutive game, Chone Figgins got his second consecutive start in center field and Shane Halter was the designated hitter. Salmon's return could come today; Anderson's isn't so certain.

``Hopefully,'' Scioscia said, ``we're just talking days.''

--Donnelly making progress: Reliever Brendan Donnelly threw off a mound Friday for the first time since breaking his nose and undergoing three procedures on it, and Scioscia sounded more confident than ever his set-up man can return by early or mid-May.

That Donnelly did not suffer any setbacks during a week of light physical activity was significant, and now it appears he can proceed along a schedule typical for a pitcher in the midst of spring training. He will throw off a mound again Sunday and figures to be ready for a rehabilitation assignment in about a week.

``Compared to when he tried to throw before the last procedure, this is an important step, because his physical activity and baseball activity has increased to a level before his last nosebleed,'' Scioscia said. ``That's a big step. If the situation is under control with the nosebleeds, it's a matter of getting into physical shape.''

--Fast starts: Troy Glaus has put an abrupt end to the Angels' first-inning woes. They went 15 games without scoring a run in the first inning but now have scored in the first frame in three of their past four games.

Glaus hit a first-inning RBI double Tuesday against Texas, a three-run homer in the first Thursday against Texas and a two-run homer off Oakland's Barry Zito (Pierce College, USC) on Friday night.

Gabe Lacques, [phone]

gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com

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