ANGELS NOTEBOOK: THE FIRST FATHER MEETS THE ANGELS.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

BOSTON - The Angels have never been invited to the White House, so mingling with former president George H. Bush will have to do for now.

President Bush watched batting practice and talked with players before Thursday's game. Shortstop David Eckstein and designated hitter Shawn Wooten had their pictures taken with him, and Scott Spiezio and a few others had Bush sign baseballs.

Manager Mike Scioscia chatted briefly with Bush.

``He's one guy you're not worried about being second-guessed by,'' Scioscia said. ``You'd just say, 'OK, Mr. President.'

``In this job you get to meet tons of interesting people. Musicians, former presidents, writers ... you gotta take the good with the bad.''

--Washburn likes Yankees: Even though he grew up in Wisconsin, pitcher Jarrod Washburn was a Yankees fan.

``My dad was a Yankees fan, and his dad was a Yankees fan,'' Washburn said. ``They were terrible when I was following them (in the 1980s), but I loved Don Mattingly. I always dreamed of playing in Yankee Stadium.''

Washburn will get his chance tonight, starting against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium for the first time in his career. And he couldn't be pitching much better - he hasn't lost since May 8, going 8-0 with a 2.83 ERA in his past 14 starts.

``I think I'm showing signs of what I'm capable of,'' he said. ``But I'm not as good as I'm going to be, as long as I keep improving and keep learning.''

Washburn is 9-4 and his ERA is 3.42, tied for ninth-best in the American League.

--Levine emerges: Outside of Troy Percival, Al Levine has become the Angels' best reliever this season. He's 5-5 with a 1.95 ERA while leading the bullpen with 43 appearances and 55 1/3 innings pitched.

He's allowed only one earned run in his past 24 2/3innings, and his 1.55 ERA as a reliever (he made one start this season) is the best in the league among relievers with at least 45 innings.

``Luck,'' Levine said when asked to explain his success this season. ''I have no idea. I wish I had an answer, but I don't.''

Scioscia did.

``He's throwing a much higher percentage of strikes,'' he said. ''It's important for him to hit his spots and he's doing it.''

--Pesky Pole: Tim Salmon had some adventures in right field during the three-game series at Fenway Park. He had to deal with ``Pesky Pole,'' the right-field foul pole that is only 302 feet from homeplate.

He had to catch a fly ball near the wall while avoiding stepping on a beach ball on Wednesday night. And during batting practice before Tuesday's game, he ran over a fan as he was running after a fly ball.

``The fan's out there trying to catch the ball and he's calling for it,'' Salmon said. ''I caught it and stepped on him. I said, 'Who are you?' And he said, 'I'm with him,' pointing to (pitching coach) Bud Black.''

Black didn't know the fan, who jumped back into the crowd.

ANGELS vs. NEW YORK 

Time: 4:05 at Yankee Stadium.

TV/Radio: Chn. 9, 570-AM, 1090-AM (Spanish)

Matchup: Jarrod Washburn (9-4, 3.42 ERA) will start for Anaheim against New York's Andy Pettitte (11-6, 3.42). Washburn hasn't started since July 24, missing a turn in the rotation so he could return to his home state of Wisconsin for the funeral of his grandfather. Washburn is 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA against the Yankees in one career start.

- Joe Haakenson

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ANGELS vs. NEW YORK (see text)