ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ANGELS NEED A HEALTHY CATCHER.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

CHICAGO - The Angels lost another catcher Monday when Jorge Fabregas was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of an inflamed right elbow. Friday, Bengie Molina suffered a strained right hamstring and will be out a minimum of three weeks.

The timing of the injury to Fabregas seemingly is worse than the injury itself - he had the same problem last year and was ready to return after 10 days. He is expected to be back when he's eligible on May 21. Fabregas is hitting .211 with one homer and four RBI in seven games.

But with Molina out, the Angels will give most of the starts to Bengie's younger brother, Jose, who started Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Tigers. Utility infielder Shawn Wooten might get an occasional start, but he has had a recurring knee problem and is relatively inexperienced as a catcher.

``We'll mix and match,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``Jose is a very good receiver and he has more experience than (Wooten). (Wooten)'s come a long way in a short period of time, but there are questions with his knee.

``It can be 100 percent and all of a sudden you don't know what made it flare up. We want to be in tune with that.''

The Angels will call up a roster replacement today, one possibility being Jamie Burke, who was one of the final cuts in spring training. Like Wooten, Burke can catch, play first and third base. He is hitting .227 at Triple-A Salt Lake.

Another possibility is outfielder Jeff DaVanon, who has been hot all season, hitting .373 with four homers and 22 RBI.

Losing two catchers in one weekend is a blow, Scioscia said, and not something that could have been expected.

``I don't think it's normal, but it happens,'' Scioscia said. ``What you work on all winter is to get as deep as you can with as much experience as you can, and catching is one of the areas you try to stay deep in.''

ANGELS vs. CHICAGO

Time: 5:05 p.m. at Comiskey Park.

TV/Radio: No TV; 1540-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Jarrod Washburn (1-3, 7.04 ERA) will start for Anaheim against Chicago's James Baldwin (0-2, 5.82). The Angels swept the White Sox in Anaheim last week and Washburn earned his first and only win of the season in that series. A bout with strep throat in spring training has contributed to Washburn's slow start this season. He hasn't gone seven innings in any of his four starts. Right fielder Tim Salmon is hitting .340 (16 for 47) in his past 14 games.

- Joe Haakenson

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Just when the Angels thought putting Bengie Molina, above, on the disabled list was bad enough, they now have to put another catcher, Jorge Fabregas, on the DL.

Ken D. Johnson/Associated Perss

Box: ANGELS vs. CHICAGO (see text)