ANGELS NOTEBOOK: SOME FOND MEMORIES.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Terry Collins and the Angels crossed paths Friday for the first time since his tearful resignation as the club's manager in August, 1999. Collins, now the Devil Rays' third-base coach, is simply happy to be wearing a major-league uniform again.

Collins went 214-235 in 2 1/2 seasons (1997-99) as the club's manager, following three seasons as the manager of the Houston Astros (1994-96). But he said he's not looking to manage in the big leagues again.

``It doesn't matter to me anymore,'' he said. ``I've done it. I had my chance. I just want to stay on the field as long as it's still fun.''

Collins' Angels teams finished with winning records in both 1997 and 1998 before clubhouse turmoil led to his resignation, but he said he looks back fondly at his time in Anaheim.

``I had some great times,'' he said. ``I enjoyed it, it was fun watching them play. The players played hard. We had a bad year. That's the way it goes.''

Collins was an advance scout for the Chicago Cubs last season but felt out of place.

``I thank (Cubs manager) Don Baylor for keeping me involved,'' he said. ``But that's not me. I tip my hat to those guys. That's a tough job. My first time out, I was on the road for 60 days, from April to June. All you have is your suitcase.''

Collins began the season as the Devil Rays' bench coach. But after manager Larry Rothschild was fired, Hal McRae moved from the third-base coaching box to the manager's seat and Collins took over as the third-base coach.

--Mad Mickey: Hitting coach Mickey Hatcher said he is miffed about being thrown out of Thursday's game at Camden Yards by home-plate umpire Bill Welke.

Hatcher and other Angels have had problems with the way some umpires have interpreted the ``new'' strike zone. They say the umps have called the high strike as instructed but haven't adhered to a tightened strike zone on the corners.

When Wally Joyner was called out on a strike that Hatcher said was about eight inches off the plate, Hatcher reacted.

``I asked him, 'How many meetings have you had for the new strike zone?' '' Hatcher said. ``He said he doesn't go by the new strike zone. We understand it's going to be tough to make adjustments. But we're going to make our comments and stand up for our guys. I said, 'Keep the ball on the plate,' and he said he didn't want to hear it.''

When told of Welke's comments to Hatcher, manager Mike Scioscia said: ``We're still waiting for the turbulent waters to settle with a correct understanding of what the strike zone is, with a slight variation from umpire to umpire. But it's not the umpire's zone, it's baseball's zone.''

--Florida homecoming: Shortstop David Eckstein had his own rooting section at Tropicana Field, where about 40 friends and family members attended the game. Eckstein grew up in Sanford, Fla., about a two-hour drive from St. Petersburg.

Eckstein said he's doled out about 60 tickets for today's game.

--Rehab assignment: Glenallen Hill's sore right hamstring checked out fine and he was sent to Southern California where he'll begin a rehab assignment for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga tonight.

ANGELS VS. TAMPA BAY

Time: 4:15 p.m. at Tropicana Field.

TV/Radio: No TV; KLAC-570, XPRS-1090.

Matchup: Jarrod Washburn (2-4, 5.11 ERA) will start for Anaheim against Tampa Bay's Paul Wilson (2-5, 6.62). Though the Angels have struggled offensively this season, they do have league leader in one category. David Eckstein has been hit by a pitch nine times this season, tied with Oakland's Olmedo Saenz for the A.L. lead.

- Joe Haakenson

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ANGELS vs. TAMPA BAY (see text)