Add defense to list of Angels’ woes

First baseman Albert Pujols and shortstop Erick Aybar have won Gold Glove Awards, Peter Bourjos and Mike Trout are considered Gold Glove-caliber outfielders, and third baseman Alberto Callaspo and second baseman Howie Kendrick are usually dependable if not flashy in the field.

So, how is it that the Angels entered Monday night’s game against the Seattle Mariners with a major league-high 53 errors, including 18 in their last 13 games, and a .980 fielding percentage, worst in the American League?

“Early on, there were some ticky tack errors, where we didn’t pick up a ball off the outfield wall cleanly or got lazy in our footwork,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We depend a lot on our defense, and we really feel it’s an asset for us, not only the range, but the dependability, and it hasn’t shown up the way we need it.”

The Angels are certainly capable of playing solid defense. In one 22-game stretch from May 8-30, they committed only seven errors. But the Angels committed errors in nine straight games through Sunday’s 6-5 loss to the New York Yankees, proving that defense, much like offense, can go into slumps, too.

Kendrick, who made several superb plays in April, leads the team with eight errors, but they are spread evenly throughout the season, and unlike Callaspo and Aybar, who have both been on the disabled list, he has started every game.

Callaspo committed six of his seven errors in a seven-game stretch from June 2-9. Aybar has seven errors, and right fielder Josh Hamilton has five. Backup catcher Hank Conger, plagued by throwing woes early in the season, committed three of his four errors in one game, against Houston on May 7, but has looked much better lately.

The Angels, through Sunday, had allowed 21 unearned runs, tied with Cleveland for sixth-most in the AL. Compounding matters: The Angels have allowed 60 stolen bases, most in the AL, and have caught only 11 runners attempting to steal.

According to Fangraphs, the Angels rank last in the AL with -51 defensive runs saved, meaning they’ve allowed 51 runs more than an average defensive team.

“These guys are good defensive players,” Scioscia said. “We’ve definitely hit some bumps in the road.”

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