ANGELS NOTEBOOK: CABRERA MUM ON A SWITCH.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA  Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- He is not talking now, so if the Angels are to make an offseason move to acquire Miguel Tejada, then Orlando Cabrera will have to be more forthcoming behind closed doors.

The Angels nearly acquired Tejada at the July 31 non- waiver trade deadline, but they wanted the Baltimore Orioles' shortstop to move to third base. He wouldn't -- and still does not want to.

Talks could fire up again this winter if Cabrera -- the current Angels shortstop -- would agree to a position change to third or even second base.

``It's not fair, me talking about it,'' Cabrera said.

Cabrera said he hasn't even given the option much thought. Who knows if he might give it some real consideration when the season ends? What he does know is that going from short to third is no easy task.

``Short and second are almost the same,'' Cabrera said. ``Third base is the one that's difficult. It's a different position. It's completely different.''

Tejada seems more confident he could handle what third base has to offer, but does not seem open-minded enough to try.

``If you have talent, it's not hard to do it,'' Tejada said. ``If you work hard every day, you can make that position work. I know how to play this game. I know how to play every position. The problem is it's hard to change.''

Collision damage: The Angels' Triple-A Salt Lake club will open the Pacific Coast League playoffs tonight without relief pitcher Jonathon Rouwenhorst, who was injured Monday in a violent collision with teammate Jason Bulger.

Rouwenhorst and Bulger crashed into each other ``at a high rate of speed,'' while chasing a fly ball in batting practice before the regular- season finale according to Tony Reagins, director of player development.

Rouwenhorst suffered a broken jaw, broken nose and possible eye-socket fracture. Bulger, who already was on the disabled list, suffered a concussion and had some bleeding of the brain, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Neither player's injuries were deemed life threatening, and both have shown some improvement. Reagins said Bulger's bleeding has stopped and he is coherent.

Rivera still out: Juan Rivera was out of the lineup Tuesday and is likely to miss today's game as well with a sore left hand. X-rays were negative but Rivera was told the injury could be four or five years old and he simply aggravated it.

Rivera has hit just one home run since Aug. 11.