ANGELS NOTEBOOK: GIANTS DISAPPROVE OF EDISON'S RUBBER TRACK.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - When Anaheim Stadium was renovated and became Edison Field in 1998, a synthetic, rubberized warning track was installed behind home plate in each direction to the ends of both dugouts.

The reasoning was there would be no dust and dirt from a traditional warning track to bother the fans seated in the dugout suites behind home plate. But it also can be dangerous for players, evidenced by the slip and fall of Giants first baseman J.T. Snow in Game 1 on Saturday.

Snow managed to get up and make the play but wasn't happy about what happened.

``That's dangerous, whatever they call that stuff,'' Snow said. ``I'm surprised that nobody caught that or saw that because I would hate for somebody to get hurt and miss a chance at playing in the World Series. I don't think that's up to Major League standards, that tarp or that turf or whatever you call it.''

The Angels don't care for it either, but they play on it all season so they know to tread carefully on it.

``I don't like it,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``I just don't like synthetic surfaces anywhere on a baseball field.''

First basemen, third basemen and catchers are the ones who must deal with it the most.

``The track is a little slick if you wear plastic spikes, which I do as well,'' Angels third baseman Troy Glaus said. ``But it's happened a couple times. If you got metal spikes on, it's not a big deal. For the guys who wear plastics, you just have to kind of be careful when you go over there.''

Head groundskeeper Barney Lopas said after the season he will meet with the front office to consider tearing out the rubber track and replacing it with the traditional dirt track.

--Extra work: When Kevin Appier exited the game after only two-plus innings, the Angels went to John Lackey, who was slated to start Game 4 Wednesday in San Francisco.

Lackey, who pitched 2 1/3 innings and made only 32 pitches, said he is still the scheduled starter for Game 4.

``I asked (Angels manager Mike Scioscia) for the ball, and I got it,'' Lackey said.

--Better with press: Glaus hasn't exactly been a media darling in his short major league career, often abrupt even when asked about his successes. But the media crush during the World Series is unavoidable, and Glaus seems to be handling it.

``The experience will help him a bit,'' Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher said. ``The toughest thing for young guys is when you fail and have to answer questions that aren't positive. You don't want to be emotional. This experience will help him in many ways.''

On the field, Glaus is having no problems. Including Sunday's game, Glaus is hitting .349 (15 for 43) with six homers and seven RBI.

--Playing through pain: Angels left fielder Garret Anderson is still bothered by a sore right hamstring that was injured on Sept. 14. It was evident in Game 1 when Anderson ran from first to third on Scott Spiezio's fourth-inning double.

There's always a risk of aggravating the injury, but Anderson isn't about to rest it.

``He'll stay as aggressive as he can,'' Scioscia said.

--Odds and ends: With Tim Salmon's two home runs Sunday, the Angels set a record with 21 home runs in a single postseason, breaking the mark of 19 they shared with the 1995 Atlanta Braves. ... Angels DH Brad Fullmer stole home on the back end of a double steal in the first inning Sunday, marking the 14th steal of home in World Series history. The previous steal of home came when the Cardinals' Tim McCarver stole home in the 1964 World Series. ... The Angels' five runs were the most in the first inning of a World Series since the Baltimore Orioles scored five in Game 1 in 1979 against Pittsburgh. ... Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett caught a foul ball hit by Brad Fullmer in the bottom of the seventh inning. ... Lakers players Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Robert Horry, Tracy Murray and Samaki Walker attended Sunday's game.