Short Off-Season Did Take Toll

From the first day of spring training, the Angels weren’t right. They played sluggishly and erratically through the exhibition season in which catalyst David Eckstein and ace Jarrod Washburn both missed time because of injury. Center fielder Darin Erstad, third baseman Troy Glaus, right fielder Tim Salmon and starter Aaron Sele had to work back from off-season surgery.

“I’ve learned a lot more appreciation for the Yankees, Atlanta, the teams that win every year,” Salmon said. “You don’t realize how valuable the off-season is to heal, and to get mentally ready.”

Manager Mike Scioscia noted the Angels won 12 of 16 games before the All-Star break. “At this point, it’s tough to correlate everything that’s happened this year to a shorter off-season,” Scioscia said. “It definitely affected us this spring, trying to develop continuity with so many guys banged up.

“But it was something we should have been able to get over, and I think we did. You can’t hang on the short off-season as an excuse for all our woes.”

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ON DECK

Opponent -- Seattle Mariners, three games.

Site -- Edison Field.

TV -- Fox Sports Net tonight and Wednesday; Channel 9 Tuesday.

Radio -- KSPN (710), XKAM (950).

Records -- Angels 73-83, Mariners 89-67.

Record vs. Mariners -- 6-10.

Tonight, 7 -- Jarrod Washburn (10-14, 4.36) vs. Jamie Moyer (19-7, 3.42).

Tuesday, 7 p.m. -- Scot Shields (4-6, 3.11) vs. Freddy Garcia (12-14, 4.66).

Wednesday, 1 p.m. -- John Lackey (9-16, 4.85) vs. Ryan Franklin (10-13, 3.50).