ANGELS NOTEBOOK: ROENICKE ENJOYS THE HELM.

Byline: BEN VILLA Staff Writer

After not managing anywhere for the past seven years, Angels bench coach Ron Roenicke had all but given up the thought of becoming a big league manager one day but after getting a taste of it again, he admitted on Friday that his juices are flowing again.

Roenicke managed the Angels to a 5-2 win Thursday against Seattle after Mike Scioscia began serving the first of his three-game suspension resulting from the brawl in Texas on Wednesday.

It was the first time Roenicke had managed a team since 1999 when he was the skipper of the Fresno Grizzlies, a SanFrancisco Giants affiliate.

``I do have to admit, it was fun,'' Roenicke said before Friday's game with the Mariners. ``At the beginning of the game, I was a little uncomfortable because I had to learn all the signs because I didn't know that Mike would start his suspension so soon, but I enjoyed it once the game started.

After the Angels won the World Series in 2002, Roenicke interviewed for the vacant Mariners job and according to Scioscia, he wouldn't be a surprised if Roenicke received more offers to manage again after the season was over.

And if that comes to fruition, it wouldn't be the first time another organization has tried to pick an apple off the Angels tree.

After a long career with the Angels, former bench coach Joe Maddon left this season to take over the managerial job with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and it long has been speculated Roenicke is a future manager in the making.

Kicking back: So what does a suspended big league manager do during the game if he can't take part in it?

Absolutely the same thing, said Scioscia.

``I was watching Thursday's game on TV in my office and I was so into it, that all of a sudden I started flashing the signs and I was all alone,'' he said. I was that drawn into it.''

Scioscia suspension ends after tonight's game and he'll return to the dugout Sunday.

Feeling fine: After admitting his arm was a little tired Wednesday after throwing so many innings this year, Angels left-hander Joe Saunders said Friday he's feeling much better and ready to make his next start Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox.

The most innings Saunders has ever pitched in a season was 165 last year and this season, he's thrown 134 2/3 at Triple-A Salt Lake and another 29 2/3 with the Angels, giving him 164 1/3 for the season.

Wednesday, he suffered his first loss with the Angels, getting shelled in a 9-3 loss to the Rangers.