Outcome Could Be Awkward

If an arbitrator rules in favor of Jose Guillen in today’s grievance hearing and orders the Angels to reinstate the suspended outfielder, it could produce a potentially vexing situation for the Angels: a player in the clubhouse and on the bench whom the Angels do not want in either place right now.

“I’m sure it would be a little awkward, but whatever happens, our team is mentally strong enough to handle any situation,” pitcher Jarrod Washburn said. “No matter what an arbitrator rules, it’s not going to affect our business.”

Guillen was suspended for the rest of the regular season -- and possible playoffs -- without pay for the tantrum he threw when he was pulled for a pinch-runner last Saturday against Oakland and an ensuing verbal altercation with Manager Mike Scioscia in the clubhouse.

The players’ union filed a grievance on Guillen’s behalf, and the hearing will be held this morning in San Francisco. General Manager Bill Stoneman, Scioscia and the Angel coaching staff are expected to attend, as will Guillen, his agent and a union representative, but no other Angel players will be there.

Even if the suspension is overturned, Guillen would not play again for the Angels this season and would not be put on the postseason roster should the Angels reach the playoffs.

Most of Guillen’s outbursts have been sparked by playing-time issues -- a manager pulling him from the starting lineup or pulling him from a game. How would Guillen, one of the team’s top run-producers, react if he were reinstated but relegated to the bench as the Angels fight for a playoff berth?

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Scioscia said. “Right now, we’re taking it one step at a time.”

The Angels have won four of five games since the suspension, and several players have noted the atmosphere in the clubhouse is better now than it has been all season.

The Angels seem intent on winning in spite of the Guillen situation.

“I don’t think the situation with Jose makes us want to win more,” Washburn said. “It’s not like he’s hated in the locker room. Most of the time he’s a good guy, and he plays hard on the field. If anything, we may want to win more because everyone thinks we can’t win without him.”

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Center fielder Garret Anderson sat out Thursday’s game because of an irritated tendon in his left knee, a condition that has hampered him for almost two months and flared up again when he ran out a fifth-inning grounder Wednesday night.

“Very rarely is he out of the lineup,” Scioscia said. “When he is, it’s a concern.”

Anderson was forced to sit out games on Aug. 6 and Sept. 17 because of the injury and relegated to designated hitter for several games afterward. But with Troy Glaus limited to DH because of shoulder surgery and swinging a relatively hot bat, it’s not as easy to just slide Anderson into the DH slot.

And, with Oakland starting left-handers Mark Mulder and Barry Zito in the first two games of a critical three-game series beginning tonight, Scioscia probably would stick with Glaus as his DH tonight and Saturday, meaning Anderson would have to be strong enough to play center field to return to the lineup before Sunday.

“I don’t know,” Anderson said, when asked if he could play tonight. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

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ON DECK

Opponent -- Oakland Athletics, three games.

Site -- Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland.

TV -- Channel 9 tonight and Sunday; Channel 13 Saturday.

Radio -- KSPN (710), KTNQ (1020).

Records -- Angels 90-69, Athletics 90-69.

Record vs. Athletics -- 8-8.

Tonight, 7 p.m. -- Bartolo Colon (17-12, 5.19) vs. Mark Mulder (17-7, 4.31).

Saturday, 1 p.m. -- Kelvim Escobar (11-12, 3.86) vs. Barry Zito (11-11, 4.54).

Sunday, 1 p.m. -- Jarrod Washburn (11-8, 4.64) vs. Tim Hudson (12-6, 3.57).