Funk Continues for Angels

The leadoff hitter has the lowest batting average among the regulars. The offense has briefly reverted to old and passive ways. The starting pitchers have yet to display anything resembling championship-caliber consistency.

The frustration of it all bit at Angel Manager Mike Scioscia on Tuesday. After an 8-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners, Scioscia kept two doors shut for 20 minutes, the one outside his office and the one outside the clubhouse, even as players trickled out, freshly showered and dressed.

He said he did not address the team, but the disappointment over a season so far stuck in neutral was evident in his voice. The Angels lost their third consecutive game and slipped back to .500 yet again, this time 12 1/2 games behind the Mariners in the American League West and 5 1/2 games out of the wild-card lead.

The Angels, so dependent on manufacturing runs, did nothing of the sort. Scioscia said he was not ready to remove David Eckstein from the leadoff spot, but he did indict the offense on a night the Angels hit four solo home runs but otherwise got one runner past first base.

“I don’t think we feel good about that type of offense,” Scioscia said.

The ever-positive manager also expressed a hint of impatience with the starters, whose collective earned-run average rose to 5.01 Tuesday. While they have pitched somewhat better lately, their performance still falls far short of the game-in, game-out consistency necessary for that elusive winning streak.

“It’s frustrating when you don’t see guys doing the things you know they’re capable of doing,” he said. “It’s obviously getting to a point where you’re looking for starters to show that cohesiveness. But there’s no knee-jerk reaction because some guys aren’t pitching the way they could. It’s a championship-caliber starting rotation, but it’s not performing where it needs to.”

The season is approaching the halfway point. Still, the Angels are extending their starters some slack for several reasons. The Angels proved last year they can win with this rotation. Kevin Appier and Aaron Sele spent time on the disabled list, and John Lackey is just now rounding into form. They also do not believe they have a better alternative in the minor leagues right now, and reliever Scot Shields -- the next man into the rotation -- last started seven weeks ago.

Appier, Tuesday’s starter, gave up five hits over six innings. He also gave up six runs, because two of those hits were solo home runs by Ichiro Suzuki and a third was a grand slam by Bret Boone.

“That was one of the best cruddy games I’ve ever thrown,” he said.

The Angels did hit four home runs, by Garret Anderson, Darin Erstad, Brad Fullmer and Tim Salmon. Anderson’s home run was his ninth in the last 14 games. His nine homers in June are the most of any major leaguer this month.

But on a night Suzuki got four hits and scored four runs, his counterpart atop the Angel lineup struggled again.

Eckstein’s average dropped to .244, the lowest among the regulars. His on-base percentage fell to .329, lower than any regular except catcher Bengie Molina and first baseman Scott Spiezio. He does not have an extra-base hit since May 22.

“Although they’re a little down,” Scioscia said of Eckstein’s statistics, “I don’t think they’re grossly lacking.”

He is not the only hitter in a funk, certainly. Third baseman Troy Glaus went hitless in four at-bats Tuesday and is hitless in his last 24 at-bats. Second baseman Adam Kennedy went hitless in three at-bats Tuesday and has one hit in his last 20 at-bats.

But Eckstein makes the Angels go. For now, Scioscia said he is not considering removing him from the leadoff spot.

“He’s an incredible catalyst,” Scioscia said. “If we have to adjust, we will, but we’re not at that point right now.”