ANGELS NOTEBOOK: GREGG SURPRISED, PLEASED TO GET CALL FROM ANGELS.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

MINNEAPOLIS - The Angels invested $1.8 million to sign Chris Bootcheck just before the second of their two first-round picks in 2000 showed up for his senior year at Auburn.

Kevin Gregg's entrance into the Angels organization was much less dramatic and much less lucrative. Cut loose in November 2002 by the Oakland Athletics after a mediocre season split among three minor-league affiliates, he took the advice of his agent, Danny Horwitz, who said the Angels would be his best bet among a handful of teams expressing interest in him.

Wise move. The Angels are scheduled to play a doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday at Edison Field, and Gregg, 25, is expected to make his second start of the season.

Gregg was called up Monday from Triple-A Salt Lake over Bootcheck, who went 8-8 with a 4.29 ERA but finished the year strongly. Given Bootcheck's pedigree, Gregg, a quiet Corvallis, Ore., native, was surprised the Angels called on him again. Gregg was recalled in August to pitch the opener of a doubleheader at Cleveland and was impressive, giving up one run in six innings.

``Boot was a No. 1 pick, got a lot of money and is a big part of the future,'' Gregg said. ``To be included in that realm, as a minor-league free agent, is nice.''

The Angels have struck gold in recent years by giving chances to waiver claims and minor-league free agents. Gregg, who went a combined 11-7 for their Double-A and Triple-A clubs this season, would like to think he'll be a rotation contender next season if a front-line free-agent starter isn't signed and Scot Shields proves not durable enough to start.

--Hudler arrested: Angels broadcaster Rex Hudler was arrested at Kansas City International Airport over the weekend for investigation of misdemeanor marijuana possession, a team spokesman said Wednesday.

Hudler, 42, was arrested Sunday and released after posting bond.

``We've been informed of the incident Sunday and at this point in time, it is a legal matter so we really don't have any further comment,'' said Tim Mead, Angels vice president of communications.

Asked if Hudler would work the television booth Friday when the Angels host Kansas City, Mead said he couldn't comment.

--Double the fun: The doubleheader Saturday is scheduled to begin at 4:05 p.m., with a single admission charge, and the Angels will be the home team for both games even though one game is a makeup of a rainout in Kansas City. The second game will be broadcast by Channel 9.

Much to the Angels' delight, Major League Baseball scrapped the option of having the Angels come to Kansas City and play the Royals today, after the Royals played a makeup game against Arizona.

--Also: Garret Anderson, who began the day in a virtual tie for the American League batting lead, went 0 for 5 against the Twins and is hitting .319. ... Ramon Ortiz (15-11) was staked to a 4-0 lead but gave up three runs in the sixth inning to earn a no-decision, dashing any hope he had to win 20 games.