ANGELS NOTEBOOK: TIGHT HAMSTRING SIDELINES GLAUS.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

SEATTLE - Third baseman Troy Glaus is happy to report the tendinitis in his right wrist no longer is hindering him. So naturally, it was time for his left hamstring to tighten up.

Glaus said the hamstring began pestering him last weekend in Oakland. On Tuesday, it flared up enough for manager Mike Scioscia to remove him in the second inning of the Angels' 5-0 loss to Seattle.

``I tried my best to argue (to stay in the game), but you don't argue with Mike on that,'' Glaus said. ``You won't win that one.''

Scioscia said Glaus was in ``dangerous territory'' and that he didn't want to risk a long-term injury. Glaus wasn't sure if he'd be available for tonight's game.

``I've never pulled a muscle in my life,'' he said. ``It wasn't a pull or an explosion; it just felt different, tight.''

Scioscia tried to give struggling first baseman Scott Spiezio the day off, but Glaus' injury forced Spiezio to fill in at third. Spiezio went hitless in three at-bats, dropping his average to .083 (2 for 24), and had a mixed performance at third. He made a nice snag of a short-hop line drive off Bret Boone's bat to start a bases-loaded double play to end the third inning, But his throwing error to home plate in the fifth cost the Angels a run.

Spiezio was just 5 for 29 (.172) lifetime against Seattle starter Jamie Moyer, and Scioscia said Spiezio was getting the day off because ``when you keep banging your head against a wall, sometimes it's better to take a step back.''

--Advice for Appier: Scioscia usually doesn't monitor his pitchers' off- day throwing sessions, leaving that to pitching coach Bud Black. But on Sunday in Oakland, Scioscia made an exception, wandering down the right-field line to observe Kevin Appier work in the bullpen.

Appier gave up eight hits and seven earned runs in four-plus innings in his first start of the season Friday. Scioscia said he wants the former Antelope Valley High and Antelope Valley College star to simplify things in his second start tonight.

``Ape is going to get back to basics a little bit,'' Scioscia said. ``Sometimes he tries to do too much. He's a pitcher that relies on fastball command and the ability to throw the breaking ball at any time in the count. He's lost some of that by trying to do some different things. But he'll be OK.''

--Also: Starter Aaron Sele reported no pain after throwing 29 pitches in his first rehabilitation start Sunday for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. He threw a bullpen session Tuesday in Seattle and will make his next rehabilitation start Friday in Rancho Cucamonga. ... Jarrod Washburn, struck on the left triceps by a line drive in his last start, threw without complications Tuesday and will start Thursday. ... The Angels reached an agreement with KWKV 1220-AM of Pomona to serve as their alternate Spanish-language station. KWKV will broadcast 48 games; the remainder will be on XKAM 950-AM.

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ANGELS vs. SEATTLE

- Gabe Lacques