Scioscia Has a Rare Outburst

It was as if some wires got crossed, or Manager Mike Scioscia and left fielder Jose Guillen underwent some temporary brain transplant.

Guillen, the most outspoken player on the team and often the center of controversy, clammed up Saturday when asked about the near-brawl he and Cleveland reliever David Riske provoked Friday night.

And Scioscia, who downplays or avoids even the slightest hint of controversy and who rarely utters a critical word about a player, launched into what was, for him, a Guillen-like tirade.

Asked if he was concerned that, in the wake of Friday night’s stare-down between Riske and Guillen, opponents might try to rattle Guillen more often, Scioscia said, “Jose is not going to get taken out of his game by all these things, whether it’s getting hit by a pitch or some idiot trying to stare him down on the mound.”

Reporters who have covered Scioscia for years did double takes, with one asking the manager if he had said what he thought he said. Indeed, he had.

“The response of Riske was idiotic,” Scioscia reiterated. “He’s a competitor; we know that. But what was he upset about? Because we swung on a 3-and-0 count? He better get used to it. Because he gave up a home run? He better get used it, because he’s going to give up more.”

With the Angels leading, 5-4, in the seventh inning Friday, Guillen hit a home run off Riske, taking two hop-steps out of the box before breaking into his trot.

Riske, who later said he thought Guillen was showing him up, stared at Guillen as he rounded the basepath, and Guillen had to be restrained from charging the mound after he crossed the plate. Both benches emptied, but no brawl ensued.

It was Guillen’s third stare-down incident of the season, after exchanges sparked by Yankee reliever Paul Quantrill’s brushback pitch on May 11 and Toronto starter Justin Miller’s pitch that hit Guillen in the back on May 24.

“I’m not concerned about anything,” Guillen said, when asked if his reputation as a bit of a hothead might lead more opponents to incite him. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Neither did Riske.

“That’s over with. I’m not talking about that anymore,” Riske said. “Everyone’s entitled to their opinion.”

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The Angels optioned struggling reliever Ben Weber to triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday in hopes that with regular work the right-hander can iron out the problems that have led to an 0-2 record and 8.06 earned-run average in 18 games. Right-hander Matt Hensley, who had a 1.57 ERA in 19 games at Salt Lake, was recalled.

“What’s troubling him is a combination of things,” Scioscia said of Weber. “It’s mechanical, it’s confidence, it’s rhythm. He’s really been searching. He hasn’t taken any steps forward, so now we’ll take a couple steps back and go from there.”

Weber went 19-5 with a 2.80 ERA in 3 1/2 seasons with the Angels, limiting opponents to a .256 average, but he has been rocked for 20 earned runs and 37 hits, including four home runs, in 22 1/3 innings this season. Opponents are batting .368 against him.

“You can’t tell me I’m really good for three years and then I’m horrible,” Weber said, when reached by phone by MLB.com. “I mean, it’s a catch-22. I need to pitch more to do better, and if I don’t do better, I don’t pitch.... I’m not happy with the situation, but the silver lining is I’m going to get to pitch more.”

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Tim Salmon (inflamed left knee) completed a minor league rehabilitation assignment Saturday night and could be activated today, but the Angels may hold off on a decision until they determine whether shortstop David Eckstein (strained right hamstring) or catcher Bengie Molina (strained left calf) will have to go on the disabled list Monday.... Darin Erstad (strained right hamstring) will attempt to come out of the batter’s box and run the bases at full speed Tuesday. If he passes that test, he’ll probably begin a rehab assignment later this week.... Brendan Donnelly (elbow tendinitis) threw off a mound again Saturday and will throw batting practice Tuesday.