ANGELS NOTEBOOK: BULLPEN PACKS BIG 1-2 PUNCH.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

SEATTLE - The old closer is healthy, looks as good as ever and wants to keep his job for a few more years. The closer-in-waiting has gained mettle and valuable experience to go along with his dazzling assortment of pitches.

It adds up to a decent situation at the back end of games for the Angels, who have been pleased with the early returns on 34-year-old Troy Percival and 22-year-old Francisco Rodriguez.

Percival pitched a perfect ninth inning Wednesday for his 284th career save. He will make $8 million this season and then become a free agent. Percival wants to remain with the Angels and said he believes he needs to show them he's healthy enough for them to want him back.

Manager Mike Scioscia disagrees, saying Percival proved at the end of last season he was healthy, bouncing back from a degenerative hip condition in May to save 33 games. Either way, Percival's aim this season is to make sure the Angels want him, even with cheaper potential closers such as Rodriguez and the injured Brendan Donnelly lurking.

Percival said he's willing to take a pay cut to come back - within reason, of course.

``It depends on what `less money' is,'' he said. ``This is where I want to end my career. And it's a tough call for them because I plan on playing another three or four years. It's up to them, what they and Mr. (owner Arte) Moreno want to do. There will be a suitor.''

Whether that suitor hails from Anaheim may have something to do with Rodriguez's performance. The star of the 2002 postseason was a saving grace in the Angels' first two victories, striking out four Mariners in 2 1/3 innings to quell comeback efforts Tuesday and Wednesday. Percival says Rodriguez has learned to pitch with his fastball and not rely so much on his wicked slider.

``Power guys like us, yeah, you have to pitch with your fastball,'' Percival said. ``A young guy like him, who has so much success with his slider, has to learn to throw the fastball. That's always something you never know until you do it.''

Scioscia said Rodriguez has improved his control, which enabled him to strike out Ichiro Suzuki in a key eighth-inning situation Wednesday. Rodriguez said his stint pitching winter ball in Venezuela only helped him develop such mettle. In one sequence this winter, he pitched into a bases-loaded, no-out situation in a one-run game. He then struck out the side.

Sounds like the makeup of a closer.

--He's back: No. 3 catcher Josh Paul got his first start as an Angel Thursday, marking a high point of sorts after he was released by the Chicago White Sox last June.

``Baseball is fun again,'' said Paul, who was signed by the Cubs one week after his release.

Paul would rather not elaborate on his parting with the White Sox, saying he doesn't want to burn any bridges. But he said he's glad he was given a chance to make the team as a non-roster invitee to spring training.

``I worked hard to make this team and I'm grateful the Angels gave me a legitimate shot to make the team,'' said Paul, whose primary role will be as a late-inning replacement when Jose or Bengie Molina are removed for a pinch hitter or pinch runner. ``I'm real happy with the situation I came into.''