ANGELS NOTEBOOK: CONTACT TROUBLES LEAVE GLAUS WATCHING AGAIN.

Byline: Gordon Verrell Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Slugging third baseman Troy Glaus was absent from the Angels' lineup Wednesday night for the same reason he left Tuesday night's game in the fourth inning: contact problems.

They are the ones he wears to help his eyesight and have nothing to do with making contact with his bat, although there could be a connection: He's hitless his past 15 at-bats.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said the problem isn't a new one.

``It's been a nuisance for him on and off the last couple of years,'' Scioscia said. ``Right now he's having a little problem with clarity. It's something we want to address.

``It doesn't make much sense having him out there (playing) when he can't focus. I'm sure he'll have a pair of glasses and, hopefully, it'll be (today).''

Glaus is hitting just .195 but leads the Angels in RBI (10) and home runs (3).

--Percival returns today: If the Angels need to protect a ninth-inning lead this afternoon in Oakland, Scioscia already has the script and it's got a familiar ring: Troy Percival.

``He's ready to be thrown right back into a game,'' Scioscia said of Percival, who's been sidelined since April 3 because of a strained muscle in his right rib cage. ``If the opportunity presents itself, he's in there.''

Percival, who was activated following Wednesday night's game, threw a one-inning, 15-pitch simulated game Tuesday, after which he told reporters, ``I'm tired of sitting.''

When Percival showed up Wednesday night with no holdover problems from the workout, Scioscia decided it was time.

``Most important is the way he came out of it (Wednesday),'' Scioscia said. ``He turned the loose pain free.''

--Heads up, Erstad: Scioscia gave the center-field wall - not to mention Darin Erstad's head - a well-deserved break by using Erstad as the designated hitter Wednesday night.

Erstad, who doubled home the tying and winning runs in the 10th inning Tuesday night, earlier in the game crashed into the center-field wall head-first trying top make a catch.

With a day game today, Scioscia decided to give Erstad a modest break, making him the DH.

``Knowing Ersty, he'll probably be the guy going out between innings to warm up the outfielders,'' Scioscia said.

ANGELS vs. OAKLAND

Time: Today, 1:05 p.m., Network Associates Coliseum.

TV/Radio: No TV; 570-AM, 1090-AM.

Matchup: Ramon Ortiz (1-1) for the Angels, Erik Hijius (1-1) for the A's. ... Today is the start of a seven-game trip, with four games in Oakland and three in Seattle. Against the same clubs last week at Anaheim, the Angels lost six of seven, including two out of three against the A's. Last year, they lost seven of 10 against the A's in Oakland and have had four successive losing seasons at the Coliseum. ... Ortiz has never beaten the A's, losing his only three decisions against them, including a 5-1 loss last Friday night. ... The next night, Hijius beat the Angels 7-2 allowing two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings.

- Gordon Verrell

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ANGELS vs. OAKLAND (see text)