ANGELS NOTEBOOK: WATSON WILL INVESTIGATE SCUFFLE.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Bob Watson, Major League Baseball's vice president of on-field operations, plans to investigate Tuesday's pregame scuffle between Angels second baseman Adam Kennedy and Texas Rangers catcher Gerald Laird.

Typically, suspensions and fines are meted out by Watson's office after reviewing reports filed by umpiring crews. But there was no report filed by Tuesday's crew because the fracas occurred about 90 minutes before game time.

Watson was in Baltimore on Wednesday to hear Boston designated hitter David Ortiz's appeal of his five-game suspension and was unavailable for comment. But Major League Baseball spokesman Matt Gould confirmed Watson will review the incident despite the lack of a report.

``His office is definitely looking into it,'' Gould said. ``There is no umpire report, but they'll look at video and do whatever they can to gather information from the incident. They'll go through the standard on-field process and render a decision.''

Video shot by a local cable company appeared to show Kennedy lunge toward Laird to ignite the scuffle.

The involved parties did not think a suspension or fine is necessary.

``I don't think it's an issue that needs any punishment,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``(Tuesday) was a misunderstanding of what Adam was trying to communicate and talk to Laird about. I don't think anything needs to be looked at.''

When asked Wednesday if he expected a fine or suspension, Kennedy said: ``I don't think there was anything to warrant that.''

Kennedy said Tuesday night that he felt the tension between he and Laird was over. Laird felt similarly Wednesday.

``I didn't have any intent of doing anything,'' said Laird, who was booed by the Angel Stadium crowd in his first at-bat. ``I don't have any hard feelings. I thought it was over with.''

--Anderson to DH: On Wednesday, for the second time since straining a groin muscle last Thursday, Garret Anderson returned to the lineup as the designated hitter. Scioscia said Anderson's condition might force him to stay at DH for several games.

Anderson left Sunday's game after one at-bat when his groin acted up again.

``If he has to stay in this role for a while, we'll absorb it because I'd like to have his bat in the lineup,'' Scioscia said. ``We're hoping he can hold up at DH.''

--Waiting for No. 300: Troy Percival began the season with 283 saves, as many as New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. Rivera notched his 300th two months ago; Percival landed on the disabled list last month and entered Wednesday's game with 299 saves.

``It might be two more months before I get there,'' he joked. ``I was really hoping to do this about the same time as Mariano. I've been told, 'Hurry up and get there,' because they've got T-shirts printed and they're sucking up storage space since I can't get it.''

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