ANGELS NOTEBOOK: BENGIE MOLINA, CABRERA ARE AILING.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ARLINGTON, Tex. - The Angels entered their four-game series Monday against the Texas Rangers feeling pretty good about themselves, coming off consecutive sweeps of the Rangers and Dodgers in Anaheim. But not everyone in the clubhouse is feeling good.

Catcher Bengie Molina was sent back to the team hotel because of a stomach virus, but is only expected to be out a day or two. A bigger concern is shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who had an MRI exam on his right elbow Monday which showed some inflammation.

Manager Mike Scioscia said he expected Cabrera to be out three or four days, but Cabrera said he thought it would be a week. If so, he could land on the disabled list because starting Friday, when reliever Brendan Donnelly is expected to begin his suspension for having pine tar on his glove, the Angels will already be a man short on the bench.

``I don't think it's a DL, but after a week, if it's still like this, we'll see,'' Cabrera said. ``I have a lot of fluid in there, but it's nothing major. A lot of my tendon in the back of my elbow is swollen.''

2Cabrera, who said he is allergic to cortisone, missed the three games against the Rangers last week but played in all three against the Dodgers over the weekend.

``I shouldn't have played the three games against the Dodgers,'' he said, ``but I was too excited.''

Macier Izturis started at shortstop Monday and went 2 for 5 while playing flawlessly in the field.

Third baseman Dallas McPherson missed his second consecutive game and likely will miss tonight's game as well because of a strained groin.

--L.A. stays in the name: The Angels can continue using Los Angeles in their name, a state appeals court ruled Monday.

The 4th District Court's ruling, to be made public today, was revealed by the city of Anaheim. The ruling upholds a decision by an Orange County Superior Court judge denying the city's bid for a preliminary injunction to block the name change.

``Though we are disappointed, we are not dismayed at the ruling and are anxious to read the justices' opinions,'' said Andrew Guilford, co-counsel for the city.

An Orange County Superior Court judge has set a Nov. 7 trial date.

--Seeing All-Stars: Scioscia was asked which of his players deserved to be named to the American League All-Star team, but it might have been quicker if he was asked who he thought shouldn't make the team.

Besides Vladimir Guerrero, who likely will be voted onto the team by fan voting, Scioscia mentioned left fielder Garret Anderson, relievers Scot Shields and Francisco Rodriguez, starters Bartolo Colon and John Lackey, second baseman Adam Kennedy, first baseman Darin Erstad and catcher Bengie Molina.

Scioscia, though, was quick to note that many deserving players don't get picked because there must be at least one player taken from every team, and sometimes positional needs outweigh other factors.

``Having gone through it, it was really an eye-opener,'' said Scioscia, who was the AL manager for the 2003 All-Star game. ``There are so many things involved, criteria directs you right to a team and right to a player.''

--Also: Kelvim Escobar will have arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow either Wednesday or Thursday. He'll be out eight weeks. ... The Angels released Triple-A pitcher Corey Lee so he could sign with the Nippon Ham Fighters in the Japanese League. Lee was 6-2 with a 2.84 ERA for the Salt Lake.

Associated Press contributed