This Comedy of Errors Isn’t That Funny

It’s not only the sheer number of errors -- an American League-leading 56 -- that have completely befuddled the Angels. It’s the timing and impact of those miscues, which have led to a major league-leading 51 unearned runs, or an average of 0.74 unearned runs a game.

“It seems like every time we make an error, whether there’s one out or two out, they score,” shortstop Orlando Cabrera said. “It’s been like that all year. That’s why it’s been a big deal. We’re giving away too many outs.”

The defensive lapses, stunning for a team that led the league in fielding percentage and gave up only 45 unearned runs last season, have strained a pitching staff that has had to work overtime for outs and put even more pressure on an offense that is not built to out-slug its opponents, let alone its own mistakes.

“Defensive slumps are definitely real,” second baseman Adam Kennedy said. “It’s killing us that a lot of us are not real sharp right now, and it’s flat-out amazing that every mistake has been so costly.

“If we were scoring six or seven runs a game, we could get away with them, but when you’re scoring three or four a game, there’s so much tension, knowing one mistake can let a team back in the game.”

The Angels committed 16 errors in their first 17 games this season but seemed to solve their defensive woes, committing one error in 17 games from April 22 to May 9.

Then balls started clanging off gloves again, balls started bouncing in the dirt, and the Angels committed 40 errors in their next 38 games. It’s probably no coincidence their defensive problems coincided roughly with the loss of center fielder Darin Erstad and first baseman Casey Kotchman, and Chone Figgins’ move from third base to center.

“The defensive chemistry isn’t there right now,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

“We played at such a high level last year, and while you don’t expect that every year, to go from the best defensive team in the league to the worst is disturbing.

“Coupled with our offense being stuck in the mud, it’s put a lot of pressure on our pitchers.”

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Erstad, who left Saturday’s game because of recurring irritation in his right ankle, is not expected to start during this series against the Giants, and there is a chance he will have to return to the disabled list.

“If he can’t do the things he needs to do to help us win, if we can’t define a role for him, if this seriously impacts his ability to move and play, we’d have to consider it,” Scioscia said.

Erstad, who sat out all of May and two weeks in June, doesn’t even want to think about going back on the DL. Asked whether his ankle feels about as bad now as it did when he went on the DL, Erstad let out a long sigh and said, “Oh, I don’t know ... let’s see how I feel in a few days.”

Erstad will be limited to a reserve role for several days, because “right now, nine innings might be a lot to get through,” he said. “But if they need me, I’ll be there.”