Angels in dire need of an Athlete Whisperer campaign

Last Friday, between Lakers series, I stopped by Dodger Stadium and had a chat with Andre Ethier.

I whispered a challenge to him, told him it was time to deliver or he’d be throwing away the Dodgers’ great start, and so later that night he won the game, the next day hitting two home runs to win another game, then adding two more homers Tuesday night.

Ethier takes instruction very well.

It’s just what I do as the Athlete Whisperer -- back in the day when it was still fun talking to Kobe Bryant, telling him the mother of the 7-Eleven Kid could shoot threes better than he could, later that night Kobe accepting the challenge and setting the NBA record for most threes in game.

I sat down a few years back with Shawn Green, who had more strikeouts than hits, challenged him, and he set the Major League Baseball record that week for total bases in a single game with four home runs and a double.

I whispered to Manny last year it was time for a home run, and while it might have been steroids, the Drug Man came through.

So that brings me to Wednesday, a sweltering day here between Lakers playoff games, and what a downer.

One night at a Lakers game, the next with the Angels, and a king-size challenge for the Athlete Whisperer.

The Lakers two wins from a championship, the Angels a flop, and embarrassingly dreadful against the Rays in Tropicana Field.

The Angels have scored 269 runs, the opposition 280, and remember when the Angels could be counted on for being really good?

They are one game above .500, a team that won 100 games a year ago, but now curling up into a ball every time the call goes down to the bullpen.

Juan Pierre has a better arm than most of the guys the Angels have in relief.

“Who is your eighth-inning pitcher?” I asked, and Manager Mike Scioscia was stumped. Not a good sign.

I thought about whispering to one of the Angels’ relievers, but most of them probably won’t be here in the coming weeks.

If the Angels are going to be any good, they’re going to have to start swapping out stiffs for lottery tickets in hopes they hit it big with a reliever acquired from elsewhere.

They’ve already sent Jose Arredondo, the next Frankie Rodriguez, off to the minors to bring up one of the Jetsons, or maybe it was Jepsen -- whatever, he doesn’t figure to be around that long.

These relievers are so bad, starter John Lackey had given up seven runs in less than three innings and no one was warming in the bullpen. Lackey gave up nine before being pulled.

It’s going to take time to rebuild the pen, so the guys with bats better start swinging them, which brought me to Howie Kendrick.

“I’m doing fine,” he said, bringing back memories of Andruw Jones and so many other athletes who live in denial.

The guy is hitting .236. Does that sound fine? He’s a .306 lifetime hitter in the majors, .360 in the minors, and he’s saying, “I don’t need anyone to challenge me. I challenge myself.”

Yeah, how’s that working so far?

“You don’t bother me,” Kendrick said, and while really a very nice guy, every time they say that you know it’s because they’re bothered.

Right now Kendrick is hitting ninth because baseball rules prohibit the Angels from hitting him 10th. Gary Matthews Jr. is hitting in front of him, and it doesn’t get more embarrassing than that.

“It’s time to produce like the star you’re projected to be,” I said, apparently loud enough for Torii Hunter to hear, Hunter urging Kendrick to accept the Athlete Whisperer’s challenge.

“I don’t pay attention to the media,” Kendrick said, the shield still up, the Angels losers again. “Besides, we probably won’t see you again but once or twice the rest of the season.”

Not the way they’re playing. Most of my time now is spent with winners, moving from the Lakers soon to the Dodgers.

KURT RAMBIS reportedly turned down the chance to be Sacramento’s head coach. Any chance he has been told by Phil Jackson this might be it for Jackson?

The inside betting line has Byron Scott replacing Jackson down the road because he would appeal to Kobe Bryant more than Rambis, but Scott has another year left on his New Orleans contract.

If Jackson passes Red Auerbach in a few days, might it be enough for him to retire, using his leverage off yet another championship to push for Rambis’ hiring?

WHEN IT came time to replace Jackson in Chicago, it was Tim Floyd who took his job. Floyd is available again, but tough to reach. That will teach him for not taking any calls.

I mentioned in Wednesday’s column I considered Floyd a “good” guy, which drew an emotional response from broadcaster Jim Gray.

“Floyd is not a good guy,” Gray said. “A good guy tells the truth.”

Gray said he broke the story that Floyd would be replacing Jackson in Chicago long ago, learning Floyd had already hired the Saints’ athletic trainer. Mike Ditka, the Saints’ coach, confronted the Saints’ trainer upon Gray’s request, and the trainer confirmed he had been hired by Floyd.

But Floyd denied it, called Gray demanding a retraction, called Ditka and Gray’s TV boss to complain. He told them Gray was a liar. A short time later Floyd replaced Jackson and the Saints’ trainer joined him in Chicago. “Anything that comes out of his mouth has to be considered suspect,” Gray said.

A text to Floyd for comment was not returned.

In closing, Gray said, “You’re going to probably rip me for bringing up something that happened 11 years ago.”

No way. He should be proud of the last story he broke.

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t.j.simers@latimes.com