Poor Numbers Hold Starters Accountable

The Oakland Athletics hand the ball to Barry Zito with a knowing smile.

The Chicago White Sox hand the ball to Bartolo Colon with the confidence that he will pitch at least six innings and put the team in a position to win.

The Angels hand the ball to their starting pitchers, cross their fingers and hope for the best. At least that’s the way it has been the first three weeks of the season, when Angel starters have recorded only four quality starts (six innings or more, three earned runs or fewer) in 18 games.

“One thing we are searching for is that rhythm of our starting pitching,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “I think each guy has maybe some things they’re searching for. One common denominator could be being behind in the count a little too often. Some guys are getting strike one, but they’re turning right around and getting in a 2-1 or 3-1 count after that. I think we just have to get back to basics and execute pitches.”

Jarrod Washburn, Kevin Appier, Ramon Ortiz, John Lackey and Mickey Callaway had a combined 5.77 earned-run average before Saturday, a big reason the Angels’ team ERA of 4.81 is one of the worst in the American League. Lackey (1-2), whose ERA of 7.17 is the worst among the starters, has yet to produce a quality start -- in the terms described above, anyway -- in four appearances.

“John is throwing the ball not to his potential as far as results go,” pitching coach Bud Black said. “But John is not that far from having the results show up. He just needs to get a little bit in the strike zone a little sooner per at-bat, and when he does need to make a pitch, he needs to make it.”

One positive is that the starters had registered 64 strikeouts and issued only 36 walks in 96 2/3 innings, almost a two-to-one ratio, before Saturday. Washburn (1-2), the staff ace, has struck out 15 and walked three in 20 2/3 innings while compiling a 3.92 ERA, but even he has had limited success in the won-lost column.

Scioscia said he isn’t concerned about the rotation’s slow start, noting that it sputtered at times last year but eventually became a key component of the team’s championship run.