ANGELS NOTEBOOK: CABRERA'S NO. 3 LINEUP SPOT WORKS FOR SCIOSCIA.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA  Staff Writer

SEATTLE -- The Angels never were built for power and slugging percentage, so it makes sense their new fixture in the No.3 slot of the batting order has just five home runs.

Orlando Cabrera's recent move just in front of the cleanup hitter is an experiment that might have some staying power. Cabrera was moved to the three hole June 25, when Garret Anderson needed a rest, and has been there just about every game since.

``If it works, it's long-term,'' said Angels manager Mike Scioscia, when asked how long he would commit to the change. ``We've been through a lot of lineups this year trying to find some continuity. If this is something that's going to work and we're winning, we're going to commit to it.''

Scioscia stressed not to look at the spot as one that needs power.

``The groupings are what's important, not so much the number next to a guy,'' he said. ``Orlando has (Chone Figgins) and (Maicer) Izturis ahead of him, and when Izturis gets going he's a good on-base guy. With (Vladimir) Guerrero and (Garret) Anderson behind him, it gives us a good look there in the middle.''

The move doesn't seem to have affected Cabrera much. He keeps getting on base at least once a game. On Tuesday, he extended his on-base streak to 61 games with an RBI single in the Angels' seven-run sixth inning.

As of now, all the Angels know about Cabrera's on-base streak is that it is the longest since 1960 and that Ted Williams set the record of 84 games in 1949.

They have made inquiries as to other on-base streaks that might have happened either before Williams' run or after it, but have been unable to get any information.

Erstad update: Darin Erstad will rejoin the Angels on Thursday in Oakland, and the plan is to get him on a running program at some point during the upcoming weekend. Erstad currently is doing rehabilitation on his injured right ankle in Southern California.

He was eligible to come off the disabled list Monday, but as of now, there is no target date for his return.

McPherson taking it slow: Dallas McPherson's recovery from back spasms is not going as quickly as expected.

McPherson's back tightened during batting practice June24 at Arizona and he remained there to do rehab at the Angels' spring-training facility in Tempe, Ariz.

``He's making slow progress in Arizona,'' Scioscia said. ``This injury wasn't as significant as some of the things he did in spring training, but it's significant. It's going to take some progression to get him back on the field and probably won't happen until after the All-Star break.''