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Donnelly’s Slippage Showing

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Times Staff Writer

A 9-3 record and 3.77 earned-run average in 62 appearances would be considered a good season for many relievers. For Brendan Donnelly, a revelation during a breakthrough 2002 season and an All-Star during a dominant 2003, it is a major disappointment.

Donnelly, with a filthy fastball/split-fingered fastball combination, was nearly untouchable for two years, going 1-1 with a 2.17 ERA in 46 games in 2002 and 2-2 with a 1.58 ERA in 63 games as the Angels’ primary setup man in 2003.

But since shattering his nose in a freak spring training accident in 2004 and experiencing arm problems early last season, Donnelly has not been the same. The 34-year-old right-hander’s fastball still hits 91-92 mph, perhaps a tick off from 2003, but his split-fingered pitches haven’t been as consistently nasty.

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Mechanical problems have led to occasional command problems, more pitches left over the plate and more runners on base. Donnelly has limited left-handers to a .209 average, but right-handers are hitting .280 against him. Donnelly has given up nine home runs, equaling the total he allowed in three previous years combined.

“If you compare the numbers to the past, that’s where you see some slippage,” Donnelly said. “The numbers aren’t terrible, but people, including myself, have gotten used to me being better than what my numbers say now.”

The Angels also are used to better from Donnelly, who rarely appears in key eighth-inning situations anymore. Scot Shields took over that role early this season, and Kelvim Escobar’s recent return has pushed Donnelly another notch down in the bullpen pecking order. But Donnelly has taken his demotion in stride.

“Having Escobar back is huge because he’s a good pitcher -- he’s valuable and gives us more depth,” he said. “As a player, everyone wants to be ‘the guy,’ but the fact is, there are 25 guys, and you have to come together in some way, shape or form to put wins on the board. ... No one person in here is bigger than the team.”

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With so much focus on when Bartolo Colon is pitching -- would he pitch on three days’ rest last week? Will he this week? -- it’s easy to lose sight of how Colon is pitching.

Two of Colon’s last three starts have been rocky, and the right-hander, a leading Cy Young Award candidate, has been bothered by lower-back stiffness, which would seem to be of concern to the Angels, considering the playoffs start in a week.

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Colon (20-8) gave up seven earned runs and nine hits in five innings against Detroit on Sept. 15, and six runs and 10 hits in five innings against Tampa Bay on Sunday. Still, Manager Mike Scioscia is confident Colon will be able to start Thursday’s series finale in Oakland on short rest.

“No pitcher is going to be on for every outing ... Bart has a tendency to spoil you,” Scioscia said. “But there are no concerns with his back affecting him. If he was out of his mechanics, not getting his legs extended, we’d look at that. Some of his pitches have been elevated and flat, but it’s not due to his back; he’s just been out of sync.”

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Garret Anderson started his third consecutive game at designated hitter Monday night and struck out in his first two at-bats. He is not expected to return to left field until later this week at the earliest.

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