ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ECKSTEIN LOOKS TO GET IN SWING.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

SEATTLE - David Eckstein can tell he's pressing because, as he puts it, ``I'm squeezing the blood out of the bat.''

Eckstein, the Angels' shortstop and leadoff hitter, has had his share of funks in his three-year major-league career. But never has he been hitting .244 this late in the season, as he was entering Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

On Wednesday, he had an early batting practice session with hitting coach Mickey Hatcher, a sequence he hoped would help develop more rhythm at the plate and open up his stance. Eckstein entered Wednesday in a 7-for-34 funk, and his on-base percentage of .329 was far off his career mark of .359.

Eckstein admittedly is his own worst critic and still feels the need to prove himself. While he became something of a national darling during the Angels' World Series run, Eckstein also knows his popularity guarantees him nothing beyond this year.

``They're not going to keep putting you out there because you're a good guy,'' he said. ``You have to produce. I feel I've got to prove myself every day. There's always somebody out there trying to take your position. I definitely want to start turning this around to help the team offensively. That's where the pressing comes in.

``The swing I was taking was horrible mechanically,'' he said. ``I feel if I'm able to get it back to a free swing, I'll get it back to where I need it to be.''

Despite his perceived value to the team, the Angels did not offer Eckstein a multiyear contract this spring, instead signing him for one year and $425,000; he will be eligible for arbitration after this season. Eckstein said such uncertainty hasn't affected him this season because he never takes his job security lightly.

--Glaus gets rest: Third baseman Troy Glaus, in an 0-for-24 skid, was given the day off, his first since April 27. Manager Mike Scioscia said the decision was partly because Glaus recently fouled a ball off his shin but mostly because ``it was a good time for him to mentally relax a bit.''

``These are the first real struggles he's had,'' Scioscia said of Glaus, whose average dipped from .310 on June 4 to .271 entering Wednesday.

--All-Star coaches selected: Scioscia added Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire and Chicago White Sox manager Jerry Manuel to his coaching staff for the July 15 All-Star Game, to be played in Manuel's home park. Manuel's job security has been in question for much of this season.

``(Manuel) is doing a good job in a city that's tough to manage in,'' Scioscia said. ``He's very deserving of the honor.''

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

ANGELS vs. SEATTLE

- Gabe Lacques