Scioscia Encouraged About Mercker After ICU Visit

Kent Mercker will remain hospitalized through this week while doctors perform additional tests, including another arteriogram, in an effort to determine the cause of his cerebral hemorrhage.

Manager Mike Scioscia visited Mercker for about 20 minutes in the intensive care unit at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange on Saturday afternoon and said the pitcher, who remained in stable condition, was in good spirits.

“He felt more comfortable, and hopefully we’ll get some good news as the weeks go on,” Scioscia said. “I was very encouraged.”

Team physician Lewis Yocum said neurologists still haven’t pinpointed the source of the bleeding between Mercker’s brain and skull. The bleeding stopped Friday, but until the cause is found, a course of treatment, which could range from pain relievers to brain surgery, can’t be prescribed.

Initial tests did not show an aneurysm--which can cause death or serious injury if ruptured--or tangled blood vessels, but neurologists usually repeat tests to be safe because of the potential severity of those conditions.

Some Angels were still having a difficult time Saturday coming to grips with Mercker’s life-threatening condition.

“He’s a healthy guy, that’s the thing about it,” first baseman Mo Vaughn said. “He didn’t have a car accident or something, it’s like there’s no cause. A guy is pitching in the big leagues, working out every day, doing normal things and just falls down. It kind of makes you wonder about life.”

When Mercker dropped to one knee in the second inning against the Rangers on Thursday night, seemingly struggling to catch his breath, Vaughn, the former Boston Red Sox star, had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“It reminded me of Reggie Lewis,” Vaughn said of the former Boston Celtic player who collapsed and died in 1993. “You walk around this world playing baseball, doing all these things, and it’s like you’re indestructible. Then, by some force of nature, Kent’s in this situation.”

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Tim Belcher, whose rehabilitation from elbow surgery was derailed in late April, threw for 15 minutes off flat ground Saturday. It was the first time the right-hander had thrown for any considerable time since May 5.

TODAY

ANGELS’ JASON DICKSON (2-2, 4.73 ERA) vs. RANGERS’ ESTEBAN LOAIZA (1-1, 3.41 ERA)

Edison Field, 1 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports Net. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--Dickson, sidelined because of a strained left hip flexor, will be activated off the disabled list and take Kent Mercker’s roster spot today. The right-hander has had four bullpen workouts in the last week or so, and the Angels believe he’ll be ready to return without the benefit of a minor league rehabilitation start. Loaiza was bombed for eight runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings of his last start against Seattle on Tuesday. The Angels entered Saturday night’s game ranked second in the league with 54 home runs, but their pitchers had given up a league-high 58 homers. With three days off in the next eight days, the Angels will not need a fifth starter until May 27, so they will use a four-man rotation of Kent Bottenfield, Scott Schoeneweis, Washburn and Jason Dickson until then.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000.