ANGELS NOTEBOOK: K-ROD MAKES FIRST TRIP TO THE DL.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Francisco Rodriguez tends to exude an air of invincibility, which only made accepting the reality of his situation even harder Monday.

For the first time in his major-league career, the 23-year-old All-Star reliever is going on the disabled list.

The Angels placed Rodriguez on the DL, retroactive to May 15, after his strained right forearm flared up again during a bullpen session Sunday. The club anticipates activating their closer next Monday, when he's eligible to come off the DL, but his persistent injury has created enough concern that they'll keep him off a mound until Wednesday.

Rodriguez said the club decided to shut him down after he felt tightness Sunday, but he admitted that ``they surprised me'' with a message on his cell phone Monday telling him he was on the DL. He had a closed-door meeting with manager Mike Scioscia in the afternoon and emerged realizing the reasons for the club's caution.

``What can I say? There was no pain, it just felt tight. That's probably a wake-up call, saying I'm not ready yet,'' he said. ``It's frustrating because I'm not out there helping the team. At the same time, I want to make sure I'm ready and not letting my team down. I can't help them now, so I should get my rest.''

The club recalled Triple-A reliever Joel Peralta for bullpen depth.

Set-up man Scot Shields has been perfect (3 for 3) in the closer's role, giving up one hit in four innings with five strikeouts. But Rodriguez remains their closer of the present and future and will be handled as such. He's incapable of throwing on consecutive days with his current injury.

``It would be very foolish to try to save three or four days of a guy's availability and risk 15 years (of a career),'' Scioscia said. ``We want to get him to the point where he can turn it loose. We'd rather err on that side than jeopardize his career.''

--Slumping Cabrera drops to eighth: Orlando Cabrera's 1-for-16 skid sent his average tumbling to .223 entering Monday, and his spot in the lineup fell, too. He hit eighth for the first time this season.

``He's changing leagues, he's getting used to differences of hitting backgrounds, pitchers and what they're trying to do,'' Scioscia said. ``There's no place you can hide a guy but at times. Guys can take on too much hitting second or third, fourth or fifth.''

Cabrera singled and doubled in his first two at-bats Monday.

--Quick study: Peralta probably will return to Salt Lake when Rodriguez returns, but even a one-week big-league stint will be a major victory for the 29-year-old Dominican. He was a shortstop in Oakland's organization but was released in 1998 and playing amateur ball when he decided to become a pitcher.

The Angels signed him as a free agent in '99, and after six minor-league seasons and seven saves at Triple-A this year, he's in the big leagues.

--Gregg demoted: Following Wednesday's game, the Angels optioned reliever Kevin Gregg to triple-A Salt Lake and recalled Chris Bootcheck. Gregg's ERA was 7.77.

--Also: Vladimir Guerrero has shed the protective sling around his injured left shoulder. A contrast MRI will be performed today, which could clarify his prognosis. ... Triple-A outfielder Chris Prieto was designated for assignment to create 40-man roster space for Peralta.