Anderson Put in a Tough Position

The season is nine games old, and already center fielder Garret Anderson has misjudged three bloop hits, breaking back several strides before charging in, only to have the balls drop.

And at Texas Monday, Anderson took the wrong route on Todd Zeile’s gapper to left-center, running what looked to be a crossing pattern before realizing he should have run a post, as a ball that might have been catchable caromed off the wall for a double.

The problem is not really Anderson--though criticized for not diving for more balls, he is a smooth-fielding, above-average outfielder with excellent range and a solid arm.

The problem is Anderson is essentially out of position, a left fielder in a center fielder’s shoes because Gold Glove outfielder Jim Edmonds is on the disabled list.

“You do something for nine or 10 years, you get used to certain things,” said Anderson, the most versatile of the Angels’ four front-line outfielders. “With experience, I’ll get better at it.”

The challenge for Anderson is to get better jumps at the crack of the bat, but that’s not easy in center field. Balls hit to left and right are usually hooked or sliced, and their trajectory is more predictable.

Balls hit to center are straighter and have more backspin, making their trajectory more difficult to determine upon initial contact.

“And when you see a guy like [Rafael] Palmeiro or [Mike] Macfarlane take a big swing, you expect the ball to be hit hard,” Anderson said. “With a little guy, you don’t break back, but with a big guy you’ve got to give him the benefit of the doubt. It bothers me, because I’m not used to that.”

*

An examination of Edmonds’ right shoulder Wednesday showed some improvement, although Edmonds continues to experience discomfort that limits his ability to swing a bat. It’s highly doubtful Edmonds, who was eligible to come off the disabled list Wednesday, will play by Sunday. He is scheduled to be reexamined this weekend.

There is a very slim chance if Edmonds’ labrum doesn’t improve, he could require shoulder surgery that would sideline him for months. But the current plan is to continue therapy in an effort to strengthen the shoulder enough for Edmonds to return soon, putting any surgery off until after the season.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ OMAR OLIVARES (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

vs.

ATHLETICS’ GIL HEREDIA (1-0, 3.55 ERA)

Oakland Coliseum, 1 p.m.

Radio--KLAC (570).

* Update--Olivares is coming off a 7 1/3-inning, three-hit, no-run performance Saturday over Texas. “Last year I had 11 games in a row where I gave up three earned runs or less,” Olivares said. “I want to get on one of those rolls and stay that way the whole year. I want to be consistent.” That has been a problem for Olivares, who seems to pitch a lot better when he attacks hitters instead of nibbling around the strike zone. “I have to hit my spots and be aggressive,” Olivares said. “I need to have command of my sinker on both sides of the plate.”