Troy Glaus didn't win last Saturday's Big League Home Run Challenge, losing to eventual champion Magglio Ordonez in the annual, union-sponsored home run derby in Las Vegas. But Glaus has won plenty lately -- a World Series ring and a Series MVP trophy, to name a few little trinkets.

With just a few days before reporting to Arizona for spring training, Glaus is trying to look considerably more forward than back. Many people have forgotten, and he wouldn't mind joining them, that as fantastic as last season ended it wasn't exactly his best on a personal level: His numbers declined from an average of .267-44-105 with a .952 OPS from 2000-01 to .250-30-111 with an .805 OPS in 2002. He discussed his offseason, last year and his expectations for this one season -- preferably without ThunderStix -- before leaving Las Vegas for his final few days off at home.

	Troy Glaus was the 2002 World Series MVP after batting .385 with three homers and eight RBI.

Question: How has this offseason been different for you?

Glaus: Well, it's been a little shorter. We've all been trying to keep things as normal as possible. We get recognized a little bit more. Even in Anaheim.

Q: People don't go to you, "Hey, there's Darin Erstad!" anymore?

Glaus: Nope, not anymore. Supermarket and going to dinner, it's been different. It takes some getting used to.

Q: Do you watch the tapes?

Glaus: That's all people want to do when they come over.

Q: If you could cue up one play from the Series -- and not the final out -- which would it be?

Glaus: Honestly, Game 6, (Scott) Spiezio's three-run home run. That got us right back in it. It got us right where we needed to be.

Q: Personally, your regular season was down from your previous years. What did you learn, and how do you take those lessons into this year?

Glaus: It's just about being consistent. I went through a stretch where I really didn't have a lot of luck going. I was hitting the ball pretty well, but it just wasn't falling. That happens. That's the game.

Q: Your walk total decreased. Were you getting a little anxious?

Glaus: The walks happen. I'm not up there trying to walk. There were many reasons why they were down, as far as where I was batting in the lineup, stuff like that. They had Spiezio and (Brad) Fullmer (batting) behind me, both having good years. The pitcher's gonna come at you a little bit more.

Q: Angels management has made even fewer changes to the team this offseason than it did last year. In fact, the entire rotation, lineup and most of the bullpen is returning. Not like your team needed a lot of work, but other teams are out there presumably getting better.

	“	It was good that (management) kept everyone together. The chemistry on the team was phenomenal (last year). There's no reason why it shouldn't continue. ”
		— Troy Glaus

Glaus: It was good that they kept everyone together. The chemistry on the team was phenomenal. There's no reason why it shouldn't continue. We picked some key guys up who will help us and try to make another run at it. I think Eric Owens is going to help us out a lot -- a fourth outfielder who can spare (Tim) Salmon in right field sometimes.

Q: Last year the Angels got off to a 6-14 start. How do you avoid that this year when everyone's gunning for you?

Glaus: It's tough -- our division is probably the best in baseball. When you start off playing those guys 10-11 times or more, it's tough to get off to a fast start. You're playing Oakland, Seattle and Texas all the time.

Q: What should we expect from John Lackey this year? Young World Series pitching heroes in the recent past like Jaret Wright and Livan Hernandez haven't been able to pitch that well again.

Glaus: I would expect nothing less than the 100 percent he's given already. He doesn't really get fazed by much. I expect him to step in and do a great job all year.

Q: Fifteen or 16 wins, a frontline guy already, or still some growing pains?

Glaus: There's still some growing pains. He's 24. He's gonna learn and take some lumps, then he'll figure it out. He's a very intelligent kid who knows what he's doing.

Q: ThunderStix -- pro or con?

Glaus: Con. I think it disturbs people who are sitting behind you. You can't really watch the game.

Q: You had a 1.000 fielding percentage in two games at shortstop last year and turned a double play. Should David Eckstein be worried?

Glaus: I don't think so. If we get to the point where I've got to start playing shortstop, we've got a whole lot of other problems.

Q: Last thing, you didn't repeat as the Big League Home Run Challenge champion this year. Was it the absence of the Rally Monkey that did you in?

Glaus: The Rally Monkey's fun. The fans really get into it. They get loud. But I don't personally have one. I'll have to get one for next year.

Alan Schwarz is the Senior Writer of Baseball America magazine and a regular contributor to ESPN.com.