ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ANDERSON TAKING IT EASY.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA 

Staff Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Angels are keenly aware that it was here in the desert a year ago Garret Anderson's foot troubles began, so extra precautions will be made this spring.

Manager Mike Scioscia said Anderson is feeling great and has recovered from the plantar fasciitis that plagued him last season. Still, Anderson was held out of base-running drills Saturday.

"I think Garret is one of the guys that needs his work and needs to get ready, but also you have to balance it with some of the things that flared up on him over the last couple of years and we're going to monitor that very closely," Scioscia said.

Hamstring and knee issues also have plagued the veteran in recent seasons, so if there is a way for Anderson to take it easy on his legs, the Angels will lean that direction. Anderson also had back trouble in 2004.

After hitting 29 home runs in 2003 with 116 RBIs, Anderson has not reached the 20-homer or 100-RBI plateaus since. Over the past three seasons, he has averaged 16 home runs and 85 RBIs.

After batting .309 in April last season, Anderson tailed off to bat .241 in May and then .224 in June. He rebounded in the final three months to bat .302 after the All-Star break. While his home-run totals were up in the second half, when he hit 10, he had just 38 RBIs, compared to 47 before the All-Star Game.

Some DH duty for Vlad: Vladimir Guerrero, who played with sore knees most of last season, does not have any running restrictions. He took part in base-running drills Friday and hit some mammoth home runs while taking batting practice on the stadium field.

Scioscia's plan is to use the designated-hitter role as a way of getting Anderson and Guerrero off their feet more often.

"I don't think anybody wants to DH at all," Scioscia said. "I think these guys take pride in playing the field. They feel good that they can contribute on both ends, but they also understand the need at times (to take) a preventative day to DH."

Quinlan in left?: If Anderson sees more time at DH, that could open up more playing time in left field for Robb Quinlan, who is also in the mix for the job at first base.

"Obviously it's probably easier to settle in at one position, but I know I have to be ready to play maybe a couple of different positions," said Quinlan. "If you're in that role you really have to have that attitude to be ready to play every day, which means you have to get in your extra work. It definitely can be tough."

Tightening things up: Scioscia said he was impressed with a throwing session by Ervin Santana, who has been working on "tightening up" his slider. Last year, Santana's slider had a tendency to break more like a curveball.

"It had a lot of depth, and it was big and I think that still can be effective," Scioscia said. "But what he wants to do with a slider is get hard to the zone, and then get out of the zone or under a bat. It would roll at times and hang a little bit."

Also: After throwing on flat ground for three consecutive days, Bartolo Colon had the day off. ... Jered Weaver had another flat-ground throwing session and is in line to throw from a mound this week for the first time this spring.

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