ANGELS NOTEBOOK: HILLENBRAND IS OK WITH SITTING OUT.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA 

Staff Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas -- On Day 3 and counting, Shea Hillenbrand still was out of the lineup and perfectly content with the managerial decision.

Hillenbrand, in the throes of a 6-for-39 skid since April 28, has been working on his swing with hitting coach Mickey Hatcher and says he has resolved some flaws. He has altered his setup at and claims to feel more comfortable.

Hillenbrand apparently has been working on his temperament as well. While time on the bench was enough to set off Hillenbrand in the past, he said an open line of communication with manager Mike Scioscia has diffused any possible rift.

"Mike has communicated with me throughout this whole process. I respect him tremendously for that, because I've had difficulty in the past with managers doing and saying things," Hillenbrand said. "When you're told the truth about situations, you know how to handle them. That's all you want as a player, to know how to prepare yourself to compete on a consistent basis."

Relations between Hillenbrand and Toronto Blue Jays manager Jay Gibbons were so strained, the two nearly came to blows. Hillenbrand reportedly expressed some negative feelings on a dry-erase board in the clubhouse and Gibbins challenged him to a fight.

Colon expected to start: Bartolo Colon will take the mound today against the Rangers despite some lingering soreness in his strained right triceps. Colon tried pitching through the soreness in his last start but took himself out after seven strong innings against the Chicago White Sox.

"Dealing with the triceps is probably a little less worrisome than some other parts would be like with a shoulder," Scioscia said. "What he has, if we can monitor it and keep it down to a minimum, it's something he definitely can pitch with."

Matthews cleans up: Gary Matthews had a crowd of local reporters around his locker before the game, his first in Texas since leaving the Rangers this off-season.

While his return was worth talking about, so was the fact that he was batting cleanup for the first time this season.

He had led off for 29 games before batting third for four games this week. On Friday he was batting behind Vladimir Guerrero, providing protection for the slugger.

"Today it's fourth, tomrorow it might be somewhere else," Matthews said. "I don't expect them to pitch (Guerrero) any different. There's a handful of guys in the league that you're better off not pitching to in some situations and he's one of those guys."

Kendrick going to Salt Lake: With three day games against the Rangers in this series, the Angels sent Howie Kendrick to Triple-A Salt Lake to make sure he gets some infield work. The Angels are not going to take infield or hit in the batting cages Sunday and Monday.

A decision will be made early next week as to when Kendrick might begin a rehabilitation assignment.

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ANGELS at TEXAS

- Doug Padilla