Cabrera Angry to Sit Out

Orlando Cabrera was miffed that he was not in the starting lineup for the first time this season, and when asked about it the shortstop said angrily, “That’s a question for the ... manager.”

Manager Mike Scioscia simply smiled and said he was keeping Cabrera, the lone Angel to start the first 58 games, “off his feet.”

Cabrera, who signed with the Angels as a free agent after helping Boston win the World Series, is leading major league shortstops with a .992 fielding percentage. He won a Gold Glove with the Montreal Expos in 2001. And although he is batting only .242 -- eight for 33 -- on the trip, that is one point higher than his season average.

Cabrera has averaged 160 games over the last four seasons -- 638 overall -- with only the Baltimore Orioles’ Miguel Tejada (648) and the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez (640) playing in more games during that span.

Cabrera entered Wednesday in the seventh inning and flew out in his lone at-bat.

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Vladimir Guerrero, on the disabled list since May 21 because of a partially dislocated left shoulder, took on-field batting practice for the first time since suffering the injury.

After Guerrero took 40 full-effort swings, five rounds of eight swings each, Scioscia said the right fielder could be activated for this weekend’s series in New York against the Mets.

“I was really watching his swing for flaws, but when he’s hitting the ball 75 rows up there aren’t too many flaws to find,” hitting coach Mickey Hatcher said. “He’s having fun, and there’s no signs of injury.”

But in the clubhouse, Guerrero was anything but playful when asked how his shoulder felt, waving off the question.

Guerrero has progressed from hitting soft-toss balls Monday to swinging in an indoor cage Tuesday to Wednesday’s on-field session.

Scioscia said he was inclined to give Guerrero a respite today, which the team has off.

“A little breathing will feel good for him,” Scioscia said.

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The Angels’ third draft pick, No. 71 overall, shortstop Patrick Phillips from Redan High in Stone Mountain, Ga., worked out with Guerrero and outfielder Curtis Pride, who is on the disabled list because of a strained right wrist.