ANGELS NOTEBOOK : CIRILLO EXCITED BEING AMONG AL'S BEST.

Back when Jeff Cirillo was playing at Providence High School and USC, many scouts said he would never hit major-league pitching.

Cirillo's refrigerator says otherwise.

There, featured prominently for the last month, has been a listing of the American League's leading hitters. Names like Frank Thomas, Roberto Alomar. And Cirillo.

``It's an honor,'' Cirillo said of being among the game's elite. ``My wife cut out the paper the first day I made it in the top 10 and put it on the refrigerator.''

That clipping is still there because Cirillo, 26, is still there, hitting at a .335 clip to rank sixth in the AL.

``The kid's good and he's going to be good for years to come,'' Milwaukee manager Phil Garner said of his third baseman. ``I thought because he's a USC kid, he wouldn't be able to hit.''

Thursday, Cirillo was more occupied with his prep alma mater in Burbank, rather than USC.

Cirillo received a fax Thursday from his brother, former Providence teammate Adam Grant, who requested 26 passes to the game. Most of them were from former classmates.

Angels in the outfield: It's been six games since Jim Edmonds returned from the disabled list, and six days of juggling four everyday outfielders.

With Edmonds' return, and the emergence of rookie Darin Erstad, manager Marcel Lachemann has been using a rotation in an effort to keep everyone happy.

With the July 31 trading deadline quickly approaching, speculation continued that a trade may be forthcoming.

The name thrown around most has been Kennedy High product Garret Anderson, who was the odd man out again Thursday, his third benching since Edmonds' return.

``You can't do it like this forever,'' Lachemann said of the rotation of Anderson, Erstad, Edmonds and Tim Salmon. ``It should be addressed. They're all people who should be playing every day.''

Ouch: With 60 games remaining in the season, the Angels have already used the disabled list more than any other time in club history (19).

Some relief may be on the way, however.

Left-handed starter Mark Langston (right knee) and catcher Don Slaught (back spasms) are expected to come off the list Saturday.

Add Langston: Langston, who threw on the side for 12 minutes Thursday and may start against the Brewers Saturday, now seems to be an authority on leg injuries.

His most recent stint on the DL was caused by nerve irritation behind his right knee.

Langston was asked about the performance of American gymnast Kerri Strug, and the wisdom of her competing with a badly sprained ankle.

``Are you kidding?'' he said. ``I'd blow myself out for a gold medal or a World Series ring. No question.''