ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ANGELS ARMS ARE FINE, BUT GLOVES NEED WORK.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

SEATTLE - The Angels' biggest question mark going into the season was pitching, but through the first 15 games of the season, their concern has shifted to the defense.

The Angels' team ERA entering Thursday's game against Seattle was 3.89, third-best in the American League. But the defense had committed 13 errors, fewer than only one other team in the league - Tampa Bay (19).

The Angels had similar problems last season, making 134 errors. Only Texas (135) had more in the league.

``The defense has to be there, day-in, day-out, to support the pitching,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``Any championship-caliber club has to have it. Obviously, errors are part of the game. What's important is playing to make plays and not playing to stay away from mistakes. You look at some of our errors and they were aggressive errors.''

The Angels' biggest problem is at shortstop, where Benji Gil (three) and David Eckstein (one) have combined for four errors. Eckstein also has an error at second base.

Troy Glaus had made three errors at third (all throwing), and in the outfield, Darin Erstad (center) and Garret Anderson (left) are adjusting to switching positions from last year.

``I don't see it as a redesign of the outfield,'' Scioscia said. ``It's a reshifting to get maximum coverage. I think you'll see it pay off.''

--Fernandez hot: Jose Fernandez got a late start in spring training because he had visa problems in an effort to leave his home in the Dominican Republic. Now, he's hoping his bat will be just the ticket to reach the big leagues.

Fernandez, who played for the Milwaukee Brewers' Triple-A club in Indianapolis last year, is hitting .415 with a team-leading five homers and 17 RBI for Triple-A Salt Lake. The Angels are committed to Glenallen Hill as their DH for now but will keep an eye on Fernandez.

``He's just killing it,'' Scioscia said. ``We have a lot of big bats in the minor leagues we're excited about. And that gives us options if we get stuck in the mud. But it's premature.''

--Hill cold: Hill went into Thursday's game hitting .156 with one homer and two RBI, but Scioscia won't set a deadline for Hill to start hitting.

``It's tough to put a time frame on it,'' he said. ``It depends on how the team is going and if we have good offensive chemistry.''

--Also: Shortstop Gary DiSarcina, recovering from rotator cuff surgery, has begun swinging the bat but is not participating in any other baseball- related activities. He'll be out at least until July. ... Mariners rookie Ichiro Suzuki singled in the first inning Thursday night to extend his hitting streak to 14 games, a Mariners rookie record. The Mariners' club record is 24, set by Joey Cora in 1997. ... Darin Erstad is the only Angel to bat in the same spot (leadoff) in all 16 games. The No. 2 spot in the order has had the most change - six players (Wally Joyner, Benji Gil, Orlando Palmeiro, David Eckstein, Shawn Wooten and Tim Salmon) have hit second.

ANGELS vs. SEATTLE

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

TV/Radio: Ch. 9; 570-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Pat Rapp (0-2, 7.88 ERA) will start for Anaheim against Seattle's John Halama (1-1, 4.50). Rapp is coming off his best start of the season - seven innings, one run, five hits against the same Mariners. However, Rapp got a no-decision because the bullpen blew a 3-1 lead in the eighth and the Angels lost 7-5.

- Joe Haakenson

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ANGELS vs. SEATTLE (see text)