Slow Start Doesn’t Bother Guerrero

Mike Scioscia attributed Vladimir Guerrero’s .262 batting average, which qualifies as a slump for a slugger whose lowest monthly average is .301, to “over-swinging a bit” and trying to make too big an impact in his first month as an Angel.

“He’s got incredible hand speed, incredible bat speed,” the Angel manager said Thursday. “When you try to do too much, sometimes it makes you just miss pitches instead of being on them.”

Guerrero said slow starts were nothing new, pointing out that he hit .271 last April, though his career average in the month was .322 before this season. The right fielder said he did not alter his routine after his numbers slid.

“Usually the first month, it takes me a little while to get going,” Guerrero said through an interpreter. “The one thing I worry about is winning; I know producing will take care of itself.”

Guerrero has displayed a tendency to swing at first pitches, a trend that continued in the first inning Thursday when he grounded out to third baseman Hank Blalock on Chan Ho Park’s first offering.

Guerrero also flied out to left field after swinging at a first pitch in the fifth.

“Since the minor leagues, if I see the first pitch and I think it’s within my zone, I’m swinging,” Guerrero said.

Said Scioscia: “Even though he’s aggressive, he’s pretty selective.

“He’ll lay off some pitches to get into a hitting count and he’ll turn it loose.

“Aggressiveness is part of why he’s successful, and I don’t think you want to temper that.

“You want to stay aggressive with the balls he feels he can hit.”

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That leadoff hitter David Eckstein has drawn only one walk through the first 16 games has less to do with a lack of selectivity at the plate than a concerted effort by pitchers to throw him strikes, he said.

“Right now, with the way things are setting up, guys are just coming straight after me,” said Eckstein, whose on-base percentage dipped to .300 Thursday when he went hitless in four at-bats but was hit by a pitch for the third time this season.

“The main thing is to get a little more aggressive, not letting them keep throwing first-pitch strikes. I’ve been swinging a little more early in the count than I had in the past.”

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Center fielder Garret Anderson was scratched from the lineup with upper back stiffness and is listed as day to day. Chone Figgins replaced Anderson in center.... Scioscia said he would determine whether Tim Salmon would return to the lineup tonight against Oakland after watching the designated hitter in pregame batting practice. Salmon has missed the last three games with soreness in his left knee.

ON DECK

Opponent -- Oakland Athletics, three games.

Site -- Network Associates Coliseum.

TV -- Fox Sports Net tonight, Channel 9 Saturday and Sunday.

Radio -- KSPN (710), KTNQ (1020).

Records -- Angels 8-8, Athletics 10-6.

Record vs. Athletics -- 1-2.

Tonight, 7 -- Jarrod Washburn (2-1, 6.89) vs. Barry Zito (2-1, 3.32).

Saturday, 1 p.m. -- Kelvim Escobar (0-1, 4.58) vs. Mark Redman (1-0, 2.70).

Sunday, 1 p.m. -- Ramon Ortiz (0-2, 12.66) vs. Rich Harden (0-1, 5.73).