Guerrero springs ahead after shaky training camp

You can’t tell if spring-training statistics mean anything until the season starts, so you had to wonder about Vladimir Guerrero, just a little. He’s the foundation of the Angels’ offense, but he hit .241 this spring, the lowest average among the regulars, with two home runs in 54 at-bats.

No worries, as it turns out. In his first 21 at-bats this season, he has 11 hits, including three home runs. He has driven in 10 runs, at least one in each of the first six games.

“When the season starts, so much adrenaline is flowing,” Guerrero said through interpreter Jose Mota. “Someone is trying to beat you for real.”

The Angels are not blessed with power, so conventional wisdom says Guerrero must hit 30 to 35 home runs for the team to have any chance to win. That’s nonsense, says hitting coach Mickey Hatcher.

“We’ve got a better team than that,” Hatcher said.

Hatcher says this year’s lineup has the depth and health to win.

“I will never say Vlad is going to be the key to us winning the Series this year,” he said. “I don’t think there’s all that pressure on Vlad. He’ll carry the team for periods of time. He’ll have his little funk. We’re a better team. We can get through those periods of time without struggling as much as we did.”

Guerrero, a seven-time All-Star, said he would be happy if he hit 15 or 20 home runs and the Angels won. He would not necessarily be happy if he hit 30 or 35.

“If that happens and we don’t win,” he said, “I don’t feel I did my job.”

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In January, the Angels removed Chris Bootcheck from their 40-man roster, then offered him this choice: Sign a minor league contract with us, or try your luck as a free agent.

The Angels had seven starters ahead of him and all but one spot settled in the bullpen. He had spent all or part of the last five seasons at triple-A Salt Lake.

But he wanted one more chance with the Angels, the team that drafted him in the first round seven years ago, and one more spring with Mike Butcher, the Angels’ new pitching coach and formerly their minor league pitching specialist.

So Bootcheck signed with the Angels. In the meantime, they traded for Phil Seibel and Chris Resop, two guys on major league contracts. But Bootcheck outpitched them in spring training and won that last bullpen spot, and Manager Mike Scioscia extended congratulations.

“One thing that will always stand out in my mind: He said, ‘You earned it,’ ” Bootcheck said. “As a player, I don’t think anybody can say anything else that would make you feel as good.”

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The Angels head into the deep freeze next week, playing in Cleveland and Boston, and designated hitter Shea Hillenbrand could end up on the disabled list if he cannot play by then.

Hillenbrand sat out his fourth consecutive game Saturday because of a strained groin. If he cannot play today, the Angels might not want to risk aggravating the injury in a week of cold weather.

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Jered Weaver is scheduled to make one more rehabilitation start, on Wednesday for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, then rejoin the Angels’ rotation April 16 in Boston.

Bartolo Colon is scheduled to make at least two more rehabilitation starts, Tuesday for Rancho Cucamonga and April 15 for Salt Lake, and could rejoin the Angels’ rotation as soon as April 20.

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bill.shaikin@latimes.com