ANGELS NOTEBOOK: RODRIGUEZ WILL BE A LATE ARRIVAL.

Byline: Ben Villa Staff Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Angels had four players that competed for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic and after they got eliminated by the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, they returned to camp on Thursday.

Well, most of them anyway.

Edgardo Alfonzo, Kelvim Escobar and Juan Rivera returned to Angels camp on Thursday but closer Francisco Rodriguez was noticeably absent.

Rodriguez, who tied Cleveland's Bob Wickman for the American League lead in saves last year with 45, was traveling Thursday but was expected in Tempe later in the day and is scheduled to pitch today against the Oakland A's.

``We wish he were here with the rest of the guys,'' Angels general manager Bill Stoneman said. ``But it's our assumption that he's going to be back in time to play against the A's.

``We checked and there are no rules when a player is supposed to be back from the WBC. Venezuela handled all the travel arrangements when he left camp and they're handling his arrangements back here to Tempe.''

--Looks are deceiving: Rivera struggled in the WBC, batting .154 in five games but you wouldn't have known it by watching him play Thursday in a 7-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

He started in left field and batted cleanup, going 2 for 3 with two RBI. In his first at-bat, he crushed a double to center to drive in Orlando Cabrera and his second time up, he singled home Chone Figgins to give the Angels a 5-4 lead.

--Short rest: Pitching on three days rest because of the rainout this past Saturday, Jeff Weaver struggled for the third straight game.

He allowed four runs in the first inning and he was finished after four, allowing five runs and nine hits. But afterward, Weaver said it's all part of getting ready for the regular season.

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