Mercker Budding With Optimism

Kent Mercker stopped and smelled the roses, literally. He spent most of June at home in Dublin, Ohio, the first time he’d been there in summer while the flowers around his house were in bloom.

But now it’s time to get back to work.

A third angiogram Friday revealed no aneurysm in Mercker’s brain, and the Angel left-hander, who suffered a life-threatening cerebral hemorrhage on the Edison Field mound May 11, has been medically cleared to resume playing.

In a June 13 interview, Mercker said he was targeting Aug. 1 as a return date. But he has made so much progress in the last two weeks, he’d like to come back sooner.

“If I’m going to be in the bullpen, I feel I could be ready in 10 days,” said Mercker, who was used as a reliever and starter this season. “I don’t feel any different now than I did when I went to spring training. These guys have been pitching good, though. I don’t even know if they need me.”

When Mercker began jogging in early June, he experienced headaches, neck and back pain and fatigue--the first time he ran he had to stop and lean against a tree.

But those symptoms disappeared in the past two weeks--doctors believe it’s because the blood trapped in his brain has dissipated--and Mercker has been able to run three or four miles at a time. He plans to resume throwing and lifting weights this week.

Still, as happy as the Angels were to see Mercker back in the clubhouse Saturday, they’re not expecting him back right after the All-Star break.

“That’s wildly optimistic, but I’m not going to say it’s not possible,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “As much as we want Kent back, 10 days might be a little aggressive of a schedule.”

The Angels plan to treat Mercker like a post-concussion patient. Though he probably won’t undergo a full-blown stress test, the team’s medical staff will monitor him by periodically, taking his blood pressure while he’s riding an exercise bike.

There were doctors who advised Mercker to take the rest of this year off, but most told him he will not put himself at any risk by pitching again.

“The doctors said I shouldn’t ever go through this again,” Mercker said. “It’s great to be back. I’m here for good . . . unless they release me.”

*

The more home runs Garret Anderson hits, the more he has to convince people--his manager as well as the media--that he’s not trying to hit home runs. The Angel center fielder hit his 22nd of the season Friday night. He surpassed his career-high of 21 homers, set in 1999, in half a season.

“I’m just trying to hit the ball hard, and wherever it goes, it goes,” said Anderson, who had 57 runs batted in entering Saturday night’s game. “I haven’t altered my swing at all. Maybe it’s my natural swing that is producing more home runs. I also know I’ve gotten stronger and a little older. That has a lot to do with it.”

Scioscia has talked to Anderson several times about his swing, not because he doesn’t like home runs, but because Anderson’s average has lagged in the .240 range, far below his .300 career average entering the season.

“He says he’s not trying to force home runs, that he’s not making a conscious effort to hit the ball out of the park,” Scioscia said. “But there has to be some middle ground where his average should be in relation to his career average. We know he’s not a .240 hitter. I’d rather he was a .270-.280 hitter who drove in 110 runs a year.”

TODAY

ANGELS’ TIM BELCHER

(2-1, 4.97 ERA)

vs.

ATHLETICS’ TIM HUDSON

(9-2, 4.30 ERA)

Edison Field, 5 p.m.

TV--ESPN. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--This series has featured three players who are considered leading candidates for the American League rookie-of-the-year award: Oakland center fielder Terrence Long, who entered Saturday’s game with a .275 average, nine homers and 36 RBIs; Angel catcher Bengie Molina, who was batting .314 with seven homers and 33 RBIs and playing top-notch defense; and Angel second baseman Adam Kennedy, who was batting .285 with four homers and 36 RBIs. Belcher should be fresh--he threw only 47 pitches in his last start because he was ejected in the second inning of a 5-3 loss in Seattle Tuesday for arguing a balk call. Hudson, the 1999 rookie of the year, is 8-0 with a 3.82 ERA over his last 12 starts.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.