ANGELS NOTEBOOK: GLAUS' DISPLAY A GOOD START.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. - Barry Bonds was the first San Francisco Giant to arrive at Tempe Diablo Stadium for Tuesday's game against the Angels, and the first person he spotted was Angels third baseman Troy Glaus standing behind the batting cage waiting to take his cuts.

``You spend all that money yet?'' Bonds asked.

``Not yet,'' Glaus replied.

``That money'' is the $400,000 Glaus walked away with by winning the Home Run Challenge in Las Vegas just before spring training. In succession, Glaus beat Bonds, Jim Thome and Juan Gonzalez to win the title.

``You want to go up against the best players in a home run contest,'' Glaus said. ``Somebody had to get hot and it happened to be me. Last year I was up against (Rafael) Palmeiro. I had nine and he had something like 50.''

Glaus hit 41 home runs last season, his second consecutive season with at least 40 (47 in 2000). He's the only player in Angels history to hit 40 in a season. But Glaus intensified his offseason workout program and says he's stronger this year.

``I wasn't satisfied with anything from last year,'' Glaus said. ''Every offseason you want to get better. If you're ever satisfied, you become complacent.''

However, he did take some satisfaction in beating Bonds and Co. in the contest.

``It was fun,'' Glaus said. ``Hopefully, it's a signal we're going to have a strong season.''

--Sele starts: Pitcher Aaron Sele made his spring debut in the Angels' 6-3 win over the Giants. And like Kevin Appier on Monday, Sele showed he has to work through the cobwebs of the offseason.

Sele gave up two runs and four hits, walking two and striking out three in 1 1/3 innings.

``In spring training, I'm usually pretty bad,'' said Sele, who signed a three-year, $24 million contract Dec. 26. ``But I'm not concerned. I just want to get comfortable and build arm strength. ... It was a typical spring-training game.''

--A change of pace: Pitcher Scott Schoeneweis threw two scoreless innings Tuesday, and though the result was good, it wasn't the primary objective. Schoeneweis is working on a changeup this spring, a second pitch he feels he needs to complement his sinker.

``During the offseason, I evaluated the things I had to do to not be a .500 pitcher with a 5.00 ERA all my career,'' said Schoeneweis, who was 10-11 with a 5.06 ERA in 32 starts last year. ``It's a matter of getting a feel for it and having the confidence to throw it. It's such a feel pitch.''

Said Angels manager Mike Scioscia: ``Scott's come a long way from the pitcher he was a couple years ago. He's grasping the need to pitch inside and he did that last year. Now he needs to change speeds. The whole package is evolving for him to do what he needs to do to be a consistent winner.''

--Touch 'em all, sorta: The Angels hit their first home run of the spring, but they haven't hit one over the fence. Darin Erstad hit a line drive to center that Giants center fielder Marvin Benard tried to catch at his shoestrings. But the ball got past him and went to the fence at the 420-foot mark, allowing Erstad to circle the bases and score standing up.

``It's safe to say my legs aren't quite there yet,'' Erstad said. ``I didn't feel very good the next couple innings. I'm not quite in shape yet.''

ANGELS vs. SEATTLE

Time: 12:05 p.m., Peoria, Ariz.

Radio: 570-AM.

Matchup: The Angels, 4-1 in Cactus League games, travel to play the Mariners. LH Jarrod Washburn will make his second spring start for Anaheim against Seattle RH Freddy Garcia.

- Joe Haakenson

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ANGELS vs. SEATTLE (see text)