ANGELS NOTEBOOK: VAUGHN SHOWS TEAMMATES WHO'S BOSS.

Byline: Joe Haakenson

On a grease board in the Angels clubhouse Tuesday afternoon, the message was short and sweet: ``Players meeting. 5:50. 42. Today!''

First baseman Mo Vaughn wasted no time making his presence felt, calling the players-only meeting. It's something he started with the Boston Red Sox and now does before the first game every season.

``When I was in Boston we had a lot of different leaders, Mike Greenwell, Roger Clemens,'' Vaughn said. ``All of a sudden I looked up and everybody was gone. I had to address the situation.''

Vaughn's message to his teammates Tuesday was simple - it's time to put up or shut up.

``Play with no excuses,'' he said. ``We have injuries, but there's still a job that's got to be done. That's the message I'm trying to get across. From here on out, we've got to have that attitude, that drive. As players, we've got to make sure we're on the same page.''

``One of the things we got Mo for was leadership,'' manager Terry Collins said. ``One thing I want to come out of (the meeting) is to make sure we're ready to play every night.''

Vaughn had T-shirts made that many of the players wore under their jerseys. It said: ``Together we can fly. The journey begins - 1999.''

Down in the dumps: Center fielder Jim Edmonds seemed a little depressed Tuesday, and with good reason. His injuries - strained right groin, cyst in right shoulder area - are keeping him out of the first week of games.

Edmonds was sore after having a needle stuck into the shoulder joint Monday to inject dye and get a better look at the cyst. He says he can't swing a bat now, and is simply waiting for Dr. Lewis Yocum's decision to either drain the cyst or let it heal on its own.

``They don't know what to do with it,'' Edmonds said. ``He's going to talk with some other doctors about it. Until they find out what's going on, I just have to wait and see.''

Sheets on Sheets: He's no Gary DiSarcina, but Andy Sheets knows it. Sheets, acquired by the Angels last week in a trade with the San Diego Padres, is DiSarcina's replacement at shortstop until DiSarcina returns from a broken bone in his left forearm sometime around the All-Star break.

``I can't be him,'' said Sheets, 27, a career utility player. ``He's a big-leaguer on and off the field. I can't step in and do what he does. I'll do my part on the field. With this lineup, I don't need to worry about offense.''

Also: Before Tuesday's game, the Angels paid tribute to former owner Gene Autry, who passed away Oct. 2. A riderless horse was paraded onto the field and a video montage was played on the stadium Jumbotron. . . . Ex-Angel Mark Langston, who has signed with the Indians, said reports that he retired were untrue. ``It was ridiculous,'' Langston said. ``It's like reading your obituary before you die.''

ANGELS vs. CLEVELAND

Time: 7:35 p.m. at Edison Field.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West; KIK-FM (94.3).

Matchup: The Angels and Indians continue their series tonight as Ken Hill (9-6, 4.98 ERA in 1998) starts for Anaheim against Cleveland's Dave Burba (15-10, 4.11 in '98). Hill has been called the key to the pitching staff this year by manager Terry Collins. Hill had elbow surgery last season but says he feels fine.

- Joe Haakenson

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BOX: ANGELS vs. CLEVELAND (see text)