Weaver Finds Source of Woes

Jeff Weaver is like the struggling batter trying to hit a three-run home run with no one on base or go five for four to lift his average. He gets into a jam -- and there have been many in a highly disappointing season, in which the Angel right-hander is 1-6 with a 7.40 earned-run average -- and he’ll try to get out of it with one magic pitch.

“When you have a bad start or two, you’re trying to get everything fixed in one pitch, and you can’t accomplish that,” said Weaver, who has lost four consecutive games, giving up 12 runs and 14 hits in 10 innings of his last two starts. “You can’t try to do too much with one pitch.”

Batters are doing plenty with his pitches. Weaver, who was supposed to fortify the Angel rotation after signing a one-year, $8.325-million deal on the eve of spring training, has allowed opponents to hit .306 and has given up 12 home runs, second-most in the American League.

After Sunday’s 9-4 loss to Seattle, in which he was rocked for seven runs and seven hits, including four homers, in 3 2/3 innings, Weaver was called into Manager Mike Scioscia’s office for a 20-minute closed-door meeting Tuesday. Also present were pitching coach Bud Black and catchers Jose Molina and Mike Napoli.

The diagnosis: Weaver, in an effort to impress his new employer and Angel fans, is overthrowing, missing too many spots up in the zone and is not pitching to his strength, which is to induce soft contact with pitches down in the zone.

“I’m not doing things that are characteristic of myself ... like when I missed location Sunday,” Weaver said. “I feel good physically and mechanically, but sometimes I’m not picking up the target at my release point. I’m going through the motions and expecting the ball to go where it’s supposed to.”

Weaver’s struggles are reminiscent of those he experienced after being traded from Detroit to New York in early July 2002. Weaver was 1-1 with an 8.00 ERA in four July starts before rebounding to finish 5-3 with a 4.04 ERA in 15 games with the Yankees.

“It could be an easy solution,” said Weaver, whose next start will be Friday night in Dodger Stadium, against his former team. “I was overthrowing then, trying to throw pitches by hitters, I was afraid of contact. For me, it’s location and contact.”

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Garret Anderson sat out Tuesday night’s game because of a sore left hamstring, an injury he suffered in the Angels’ 13-inning loss to the Mariners on Saturday, and he’ll probably sit out at least another game or two.

If Anderson, who has played all season with a strained left arch, is unable to return to the field by Friday, he may have to sit out this weekend’s series in Dodger Stadium, where there will be no designated hitter.

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Darin Erstad, who has a bone bruise and bone spurs in his right ankle, was eligible to come off the disabled list but the center fielder is not close to returning -- he has not resumed any baseball activity.... Bartolo Colon threw in the bullpen for the third time in five days and, barring any setback, will throw a simulated game or live batting practice before beginning a minor league rehabilitation assignment....Utility infielder Maicer Izturis (strained left hamstring) has begun taking ground balls.