ANGELS NOTEBOOK: VLAD IS GIVEN DAY OFF.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA 

Staff Writer

SEATTLE -- Vladimir Guerrero's unexpected day off Tuesday seemed to scream trouble.

Not so, said Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who insisted that Guerrero was not being held out of the opener of a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners because of anything physical.

"When (coach) Alfredo (Griffin) and I talked to Vlad, he didn't say there was anything physically hurting him,' Scioscia said. "It's just a day to say, 'Let me get a little more gas in my tank.' He's been playing a lot and we want to keep him as fresh as we can."

Keeping Guerrero fresh was presumably what Monday's role as designated hitter was supposed to do. There also is a day off on the schedule Monday after a three- game series against the Dodgers.

Guerrero has played every day since missing two games (April 17-18) after he was hit by a pitch on the inside of his right wrist, but Scioscia said his slugger did not ask for the day off.

Sore point: Reggie Willits was playing hurt Tuesday after his Monday afternoon collision in the outfield at Texas. It wasn't so much Willits' sore chin that bothered him as much as his sprained right thumb.

Willits came in on Nelson Cruz's popup in the second inning Monday while Orlando Cabrera raced back. The players collided as Cabrera made the catch, with Cabrera's shoulder connecting directly with Willits' chin.

Cabrera said the impact hardly fazed him, while Willits was dazed. Willits didn't even realize Cabrera caught the ball until his teammates walked off the field following a fielder's choice by Ian Kinsler.

"I called the ball pretty early in the play but it was my fault," Willits said. "I should have continued to call it. I took my eye off to make sure where the wall was and didn't look at him. It was just a freak play that I learned from."

Izturis back: Maicer Izturis returned from the disabled list and was inserted into the starting lineup at second base. Izturis had missed the past 15 days with a tight right hamstring.

To make room on the roster, Matt Brown was sent back to Triple-A Salt Lake, as expected.

HDTV: Fox Sports Net West will provide its first of 50 broadcasts in high-definition tonight when the Angels play at Seattle. Thursday's game also will be available in high-definition.

Six cable providers will carry the game in high-definition: Bright House, Champion Broadband, Charter, Cox, Time Warner and Wave Broadband.

Two satellite providers also will carry the game in HD: DirecTV and Dish Network.

Fiber provider Verizon FiOS also will carry it.

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