ANGELS NOTEBOOK: DEFENSE CAN'T REST AT COORS.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

DENVER - Playing defense in Coors Field this weekend presents a challenge to the Angels outfielders, particularly because they are not used to playing in such an expansive ballpark.

It's 415 feet to straight-away center, but it's even farther to the gaps - 420 to left-center and 422 to right-center. But that doesn't mean the outfielders will play deeper.

``You don't want singles to beat you, you don't want little bloopers to fall in front of you,'' center fielder Darin Erstad said. ``Fly balls hit deep are probably gone anyway, so you want to make sure you stay aggressive on the short ones.''

Said manager Mike Scioscia: ``That's a lot of ground to cover. Any way you slice it, it's a spacious outfield. It takes good speed to cover it, which we have.''

Erstad said he learned a lesson playing in Detroit's Comerica Park, which also has considerable outfield room. Earlier this season, he dived for a ball hit in the gap there and missed. It went all the way to the wall and the Tigers' Damion Easley had an inside-the-park home run.

``If you dive, there's no one to help you and no wall,'' he said. ``I got burned in Detroit. But that's how I play; I still want to be aggressive.''

Scioscia even said playing four outfielders in the right situation wasn't out of the question.

``We've talked about that,'' he said. ``What if Larry Walker's up with the winning run on third and less than two out? What's wrong with four outfielders there?''

--Slow going: First baseman Larry Barnes was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake when Wally Joyner retired but hasn't come close to hitting as he did with the Stingers (.311, 10 homers, 37 RBI).

With the Angels, the left-handed-hitting Barnes is hitting .105 with one homer and two RBI, getting starts against most right-handed pitchers. However, he was on the bench for Thursday's game against A's righty Gil Heredia.

It's possible Barnes could be the everyday first baseman next season, with Mo Vaughn becoming the designated hitter. But Scioscia said this season hasn't turned into a developmental one.

``He'll get his opportunities,'' Scioscia said. ``But our goal hasn't changed, and that's to be a contending ballclub. With Tim (Salmon) and Mo out, we've had to rely more on matchups. With (Shawn) Wooten swinging as well as he is, we have to try to get his bat in the lineup. And first base is the way to do it.''

--Odds and ends: Adam Kennedy's seven-game hitting streak was put on hold Friday because he was on the bench against Rockies lefty Mike Hampton. ... Third baseman Troy Glaus' home run Thursday in Oakland was his first on the road since May 28 at Tampa Bay. ... Since returning from a seven-week stay on the disabled list, catcher Bengie Molina is hitting .192 (5 for 26). ... The start of Friday's game was delayed 26 minutes because of a thunderstorm.

ANGELS vs. COLORADO

Time: 5:05 p.m., at Coors Field.

TV/Radio: Ch. 9; 570-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Jarrod Washburn (6-4, 3.55 ERA) will start for Anaheim against Colorado's Denny Neagle (6-2, 4.36). Washburn has become the staff ace, going 5-0 with a 2.81 ERA in his past nine starts. Washburn is a fly-ball pitcher, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Washburn can't change the way he pitches because he's in Denver. ``If you're a sinkerball pitcher pitching on AstroTurf, you don't change your game. You've got to go take your best stuff and go with it.''

- Joe Haakenson

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ANGELS vs. COLORADO (see text)