ANGELS NOTEBOOK: SALMON PERPLEXES.

Byline: Gordon Verrell Staff Writer

Mickey Hatcher, the Angels' hitting instructor, knows all about slumps.

``I was in one my whole career,'' he said, laughing.

Actually, Hatcher hit .280 over a 12-year career. But the prolonged skid of his No. 1 project, Tim Salmon, is one of the more puzzling things he's endured.

``It's tougher for Tim,'' Hatcher said. ``He's never gone through anything like this. The biggest thing is the mental part. I've told him not to worry where his hands are, or what his stance is. Just see the ball and hit it. That sounds easy, but there's more to it. Part of not seeing the ball is being overly aggressive. You get impatient, you begin to swing at bad pitches. And being aggressive, sometimes there's movement, and that takes away from seeing the ball.''

Hatcher recalled one of his own slumps, when he labored through a 2-for-29 stretch while with the Minnesota Twins.

``The thing is, I was hitting the ball, hard, but right at somebody,'' Hatcher said. ``It was unbelievable. One game, I lined out to the first baseman, lined out to the second baseman, lined out to the shortstop and lined out to the third baseman. I was 0 for 4 and never got out of the box.''

Another game at Minnesota, Hatcher was at the plate ready to hit when the inflated roof at the Metrodome gave way and started to sag.

``That's when I knew I really going bad,'' he said, ``when the roof fell in.''

--Glaus returns: Troy Glaus, hitless in 16 at-bats starting the night, was back at third base and in his customary cleanup spot in the lineup after sitting out Sunday's game in Seattle, the only game he's missed this season.

``Sometimes you need to sit back and just watch a game,'' said manager Mike Scioscia, who admitted Glaus didn't like sitting.

``It'll be better for him in the long run,'' Scioscia insisted. ``I believe a day off now and then helps a player ... unless maybe if you're Cal Ripken.''

--Rehabbing: Right-handed reliever Shigetoshi Hawegawa made his first rehab appearance Monday night, starting for Class A Rancho Cucamonga. Hasegasa threw 13 pitches in his on inning and gave up a leadoff double and one unearned run.

Hasegawa has been sidelined since May 20 with a partial tear in his right rotator cuff.

The catching Molina brothers, Bengie and Jose, will be on rehab assignments beginning tonight, Bengie at Rancho Cucamonga, Jose at Triple-A Salt Lake City.

Bengie has been sidelined since May 4 with a strained right hamstring. Scioscia said Bengie's close.

``He worked out (Monday) and he threw well,'' Scioscia said. ``We want him to get in a good game environment. We're being cautious, giving him an extra day.''

Jose is not as close. He has been out since May 21 with a fractured left thumb.

ANGELS vs. TEXAS

Time: 7:05 p.m. at Edison Field.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 570-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Matt Wise (1-1) makes his third start against Texas this season and second against Rick Heiling (5-7). In seven innings against the Rangers, Wise has allowed five earned runs (6.43 ERA) and lost his only decision, last week to Heiling.

- Gordon Verrell

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ANGELS vs. TEXAS (see text)