ANGELS NOTEBOOK: COLLINS SAYS NOW IS TIME TO SIT DOWN.

Byline: Associated Press

Angels manager Terry Collins, whose team has won its last eight games, will serve an eight-game suspension immediately rather than wait until the AL assigns the dates.

He made the decision following a discussion Monday with AL president Gene Budig. Though the length of Collins' suspension was not reduced, it was agreed he could begin serving it immediately.

Meanwhile, acting commissioner Bud Selig said he was ``distressed'' by recent brawls, saying they endanger the players. He wants ``more effective penalties'' for uniformed personnel who leave their dugouts or positions to ``incite or further inflame violence of any sort.''

Selig has instructed Budig, NL president Leonard Coleman and baseball CEO Paul Beeston to meet with the players association to devise a new plan.

``Current fines and suspensions - which do not include losses of pay - should be revised or reformed to deter behavior which is not in keeping with the integrity of the game,'' Selig said.

Collins and Kansas City manager Tony Muser were suspended for eight games as the result of a fight-filled game at Kansas City last Tuesday night. The Angels won 7-5 in a game that included two brawls and 12 ejections following a series of hit batsmen.

Muser, whose Royals hosted Milwaukee on Monday night, has not divulged his plans. The AL had planned to set the dates Friday for his suspension and that of Collins.

``There was a clear breakdown in leadership and the managers must assume much of the responsibility,'' Budig said in announcing the suspensions Friday. ``The American League has a right to expect much from its field managers. They are the ones who determine in large measure player attitudes and actions.''

Budig suspended nine players for a total of 22 games and fined them $7,500 each.

Baughman sidelined: Angels rookie second baseman Justin Baughman will be sidelined for the next seven to 10 days after getting hit in the face by a line drive in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Colorado Rockies.

Baughman, 23, suffered cuts on his chin and upper and lower lips when he misjudged Curtis Goodwin's liner in the seventh inning. He was taken to Chapman General Hospital in Orange and underwent a CAT scan and X-rays on his upper and lower jaw.

The X-rays were negative, although he was diagnosed with a slight concussion and received stitches to close the cut on his upper lip.

ANGELS vs. ARIZONA

Time: 7:05 p.m. at Bank One Ballpark.

TV/Radio: Ch. 9; KRLA-AM (1110), XPRS-AM (1090 Spanish).

Matchups: The Angels' Chuck Finley (6-2, 2.22 ERA) opposes the Diamondbacks' Willie Blair (2-8, 4.78 ERA). The Angels take an eight-game winning streak into their first-ever series against the expansion Diamondbacks. It is the longest winning streak of the season for the Angels.

--- Joe Haakenson

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Photo, Box

PHOTO TERRY COLLINS

The Angels manager will begin serving his eight-game suspension tonight.

BOX: ANGELS vs. ARIZONA (see text)