Guerrero no fan of Scioscia's DH plan

TEMPE, Ariz. -- A question about spending more time at designated hitter hadn't even been interpreted to English when slugger Vladimir Guerrero began shaking his head firmly.

"No, no DH," Guerrero said Tuesday, before switching to Spanish.

"I'm a right fielder," he said through first base coach Alfredo Griffin, who was interpreting. "I've got to wait until the season starts, see how my body responds, then we can decide what's best for me."

With numerous injuries having slowed Guerrero in recent seasons, especially in September and October, the Angels figured more time at designated hitter would be best for the 32-year-old, who in 16 playoff games with the Angels has a .183 average (11 for 60), one home run and seven runs batted in, four on a 2004 division series grand slam.

That's one reason they signed center fielder Torii Hunter to a five-year, $90-million deal, so ousted center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., oft-injured left fielder Garret Anderson and Guerrero could rotate through the corner outfield and DH spots, keeping them fresh deeper into the season.

But a day before the team's first full-squad workout, Guerrero balked at Manager Mike Scioscia's four-man rotation plan, and Anderson didn't seem real enthused.

"Until I talk to him, I can't say I'm on board with anything," Anderson said. "I'm not saying I'm not on board, but . . . I haven't heard it from him yet, so until that conversation takes place, my mind-set is to come and play left field."

With closer Francisco Rodriguez in a contract dispute, could the Angels' clubhouse be filling with unhappy campers?

"We'll work through it -- it's not going to be a negative," Scioscia said. "Those four bats have to be in the lineup, and [the DH spot] is going to be a tool to rest some guys. In talking to Vlad, it's not going to be a six- or seven-days-a-week DH thing.

"But there are definitely times when a DH day would have done him good. We're going to have that option now. If he comes in and his legs are a little stiff, he's still going to get his at-bats. Nobody's talking about an everyday DH position with him."

An inflamed right triceps reduced Guerrero to a full-time DH last September, and Guerrero said Tuesday that the elbow is "still a little sore," which could limit him early in camp.

Guerrero hit .324 with 27 homers and 125 runs batted in but .270 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs in 159 at-bats as a DH.