ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Bible almost got it right. The bees — not mankind — are just a little lower than the angels. Especially in September, when Major League Baseball teams expand their rosters to 40 and summon their minor leaguers.

Not long ago, the Los Angeles Angels called up a half-dozen Salt Lake Bees to go with the Salt Lake players the team elevated earlier in the year.

"It looks a little like the Salt Lake Bees clubhouse down there right now," said Nancy Mazmanian, director of communications for the Angels.

A quick check shows that a dozen members of the current Angels roster spent time playing baseball in Salt Lake City this year. Some, like Reggie Willits, were shuttled back and forth between the Bees and Angels several times in 2009. Howie Kendrick was sent down to Salt Lake for a few games to work out some kinks in his swing. Bobby Wilson was called up to the Angels earlier to firm up the catching crew.

Others, like Chris Pettit, are getting their first look at the Big A.

Freddy Sandoval, Terry Evans, Brandon Wood and others have had cups of coffee in the Big Leagues in the past, but they are now hoping to impress coaches enough to get a full meal there.

Ryan Budde, Bees catcher in 2009, is among those. Budde was up with the Angels for three games in 2007 and eight games last year. This year, he's seeing even more time in L.A.

"I'm just trying to help out the best I can," he says. "I try to take in information from everybody and keep playing hard. Eventually, I'll get my chance."

For young players learning the ropes of big-league ball, attitude is key. Brandon Wood says he tries to do a lot of listening and not much talking. As a rookie, Chone Figgins said he just tried to get a little bit better with each game.

Making the jump from the minors to the majors is always exciting — and a bit daunting.

"I think the coaches in Salt Lake City do a good job of bridging guys from the minor leagues to the majors," says Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "They let the players know what they're going to have to do once they're up here."

For the moment, the new "Angelbees" are only seeing time on the field as late-inning defensive replacements and pinch runners. But as the Angels close in on the American League West pennant, the time will come when Scioscia will likely rest his weary starters for the playoffs and let his new crew of Bees have a look at big-league pitching and hitting while he takes a look at them.

To a man, the fresh Angels will tell you major-league ball is a whole new ballgame. But the players who will eventually return to Salt Lake City next year for more seasoning will bring with them new insights about the game and bring some fire in the belly to get back to L.A.

And that can only mean good things for the Los Angeles Angels and for local fans who enjoy quality baseball.

e-mail: jerjohn@desnews.com