ANGELS NOTEBOOK: EDMONDS ACKNOWLEDGES ROLE IN ANGELS' MISERY.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

After Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, Jim Edmonds said he ``shouldered part of the blame for the Angels' horrible season.''

How could Edmonds, who had shoulder surgery in April, be at fault when he missed four months? It is because he missed four months.

``I put the blame on my shoulders,'' said Edmonds, who is hitting .247 with one homer and 10 RBIs in 22 games. ``I wasn't here for anybody. Deep down I'll always put blame on my shoulders. I could be at fault as much as anybody. We might still be five, 10, 15 games out, but we wouldn't be 22 games out if I had been here all year. Every guy adds a different dimension. We lost three dimensions (Edmonds, Gary DiSarcina and Tim Salmon). We've had guys out there who aren't supposed to pick up the slack.''

Back to Fenway: Mo Vaughn returns to Boston this weekend for a three-game series Friday-Sunday, but it won't match the hype of his first visit there in May.

Vaughn was the biggest story of the year in Boston to that point, and he had a forgetable three days, going 1 for 11 with six strikeouts. And it didn't help that Vaughn's severely sprained left ankle was in bad shape.

Vaughn missed the entire four-game series with the Red Sox in Anaheim earlier this month because of a staph infection in his right shin.

Numbers game: At 51-75, the Angels are on pace to lose 96 games this season, which would set a club record. They lost 95 in 1968 and '80.

In order to match their record under manager Terry Collins in his first year in Anaheim in 1997, the Angels would have to go 33-3 the rest of the way.

Erstad to return: The Angels will activate first baseman/outfielder Darin Erstad from the disabled list today. In order to make room for Erstad on the 25-man roster, pitcher Mike Holtz was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained right hamstring.