ANGELS NOTEBOOK: KENNEDY, ESCOBAR MAKE UP.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. - If he sticks around the game long enough, a player is bound to welcome a new teammate he once had a conflict with in the intensity of competition.

Such was the case this winter, when the Angels acquired pitcher Kelvim Escobar, who twice in a six-day period last May mixed it up a bit with second baseman Adam Kennedy.

In one of the lower points of the Angels' 77-85 season, they were swept in three games by Toronto. The capper was an 8-2 Blue Jays victory in which the Angels were held hitless for the final 5 1/3 innings, a flaccid display that prompted manager Mike Scioscia to close the clubhouse doors and, as he put it, ``bounce some things off them.''

Escobar, in the process of re-converting from closer to starter, pitched the final three innings, striking out four, and he capped the game by striking out Kennedy on a 3-2 off-speed pitch. Given the game scenario, Kennedy was not pleased with the pitch selection and the two barked at each other while they headed off the field. Five days later in Anaheim, Escobar plunked the pinch-hitting Kennedy in the leg with a pitch.

But the two have already to some degree buried the hatchet. While they haven't specifically discussed the incident, Kennedy was one of the first players to welcome Escobar to the team's fan festival earlier this month, and the former Cal State Northridge star is glad Escobar is on his side and not pitching for the opposition.

``You like to have a guy like that on your team who's so competitive,'' Kennedy said. ``You hear it all the time - you hate to play against them, but love to have them on your team. It was frustration. We weren't playing well at the time. The frustration builds up. It happens.''

Escobar enjoyed much prosperity against the Angels last season, shutting them out for 13 1/3 innings over three appearances, including an 8 1/3-inning stint that went a long way toward piquing the club's interest in him.

Now, Escobar has blended in seamlessly with the team he dominated and doesn't hold any ill will toward Kennedy.

``I think he was going through a tough time,'' Escobar said. ``But I understand. It's part of the (bad) momentum at that time. We're going to spend more time with each other than our own families. It was nice of him to say welcome to the team, nice to have you here.''

--Advice on Guerrero: Montreal Expos shortstop Orlando Cabrera said he believes former teammate Vladimir Guerrero will make a more concerted effort to communicate as part of the responsibilities that come with signing a five-year, $70 million contract last month.

``He said he's going to try to get a guy to work with him and translate, because I told him, 'You want to open that money, now you got to open your mouth. They're going to expect that from you,''' Cabrera told the Montreal Gazette. ``Last year here, he was better. He was starting to talk. Maybe he was practicing.

``He's a guy, you have to take it slow. He came from so low in society, you have to take it slow with him or he just gets mad - and you don't want the big guy mad at you.''

--Also: Scioscia said the club will hold an intrasquad game, likely Tuesday or Wednesday. The team opens its Cactus League schedule Friday at Tempe Diablo Stadium against San Diego. ... The Seattle Mariners have named Jamie Moyer as their opening-day starter against the Angels on April 6 at Safeco Field.''

Gabe Lacques, [phone]

gabe.lacques(at)sgvn.com

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Photo:

Tim Salmon, shown signing autographs Saturday, and the Angels open Cactus League play Friday against the San Diego Padres.

Paul Connors/Associated Press