ANGELS NOTEBOOK: NAPOLI STRUGGLES AT PLATE.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA Staff Writer

OAKLAND -- Mike Napoli's track record suggests that his productive stretches at the plate will be sprinkled with some rather forgettable at-bats.

Napoli has been feeling good at the plate lately, but he struck out twice in two of the three games at Seattle. It was something along the lines of a calculated risk that led to his recent expanded hitting zone.

``I'm trying to be a little more aggressive especially with people on base more,'' Napoli said. ``I'm trying to get pitches to hit and I've just been missing pitches. It's going to happen. I'm not going to hit every single pitch.''

There was no request from manager Mike Scioscia or hitting coach Mickey Hatcher to be more aggressive in those spots.

``I don't feel like I'm going to get away from the get-on-base approach,'' said Napoli, who typically displays excellent pitch selection. ``It's just something I've been going through a little bit. I'm not pressing, but once I get in an RBI situation I'm going to try and do something with it, and I think I've just been missing some pitches. I don't feel like it's going to be a big problem.''

Napoli had struck out 45 times in his 127 at-bats before Thursday's game, which equates to a 35 percent strikeout rate. He struck out 32 percent of the time last season at Double-A Arkansas and 34 percent of the time in 2004 at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.

While Napoli might be fishing for pitches now, he won't always use the current approach.

``It depends on how I feel at the plate,'' he said. ``If I'm feeling good then I'll be aggressive.''

Rotation reconfiguration: Scioscia admitted that he will reconfigure the starting rotation for the second half. The Angels will head into the All- Star break after Sunday's game and get four days off before returning to action next Friday at home against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Scioscia said he won't announce the new rotation order until later in the series so he can see how pitchers come out of their final first-half starts.

Erstad still nursing injury:Darin Erstad, who is on the disabled list with irritation to the joint in his right ankle, rejoined the team Thursday. He said he received a cortisone injection last week, the third time this season he has gone that route to help with his injury.

Erstad started non-impact aerobic exercises this week and does not know when he will try running again. He plans on giving the ankle a stern test before he attempts another return to the roster.