Napoli eats up new diet

Mike Napoli’s second-half fade at the plate carried into the off-season, but the result wasn’t a lengthy winter-ball slump. The Angels catcher shed 15 pounds after a diet of pre-packaged meals, a loss he believes could lead to more consistent production in 2007.

“It stinks eating those meals -- you get a piece of chicken, three potatoes and some fruit,” Napoli said during the weekend FanFest at Angel Stadium. “But I’ve gained weight over the years, and I wanted to get back to where I felt good, where I felt athletic. I want to be the best I can be.”

For Napoli, 25, that meant trimming from 227 pounds, his 2006 closing weight, to 212 pounds. He added muscle while reducing his body fat, which should help his endurance.

After being recalled from triple A and hitting a home run in his first big league at-bat in Detroit on May 4, Napoli provided an unexpected power boost, batting .286 with 11 home runs and 27 runs batted in before the All-Star break.

But Napoli seemed overmatched in the second half, batting .164 with five homers and 15 RBIs, including a dismal .122 mark in August. Fatigue wasn’t the primary factor in Napoli’s struggles, but it played a part.

“I’ve got to take better care of my body,” Napoli said, “and eating habits have a lot to do with that.”

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Napoli’s loss was pitcher Joe Saunders’ gain. The Angels left-hander, who battled fatigue problems during the last six weeks of 2006, when he struggled on regular rest, added 15 pounds this winter, hoping the extra weight will increase his stamina.

Saunders, who was expected to open the season in the rotation while Bartolo Colon recovers from a rotator-cuff tear, was 7-3 with a 4.71 earned-run average in 13 starts last season, but he wasn’t as consistent or reliable as the numbers might show.

From Aug. 16 until the end of the season, Saunders was 0-3 with a 27.00 ERA in four starts on regular four days of rest. In five starts with an extra day of rest, Saunders was 3-0 with a 1.30 ERA. The 6-foot-3 Saunders closed the 2006 season at 205 pounds. He now weighs between 220-225 pounds.

“I lost some pounds during the season, and that may have contributed to my lack of endurance,” said Saunders, 25. “I really worked on my legs and my core. I’ve been eating good and working out, and hopefully that will help me.”

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Jered Weaver, who wore No. 56 when he was 11-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 19 starts as an Angels rookie last season, has switched to No. 36, the number his older brother, Jeff, wore with the Angels until he was designated for assignment in June. “That was my number in college,” Weaver said. “I’m comfortable with it.” ... Owner Arte Moreno said he expected season-ticket sales to surpass 30,000 for the second consecutive season.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com