Pitching still Scioscia's biggest worry

The manager squirms in his seat, grimaces and shakes his head. He has plenty to worry about.

Torii Hunter, his best player by an Orange County mile, has a sore groin that could put him on the disabled list. Vlad Guerrero, who used to be his best player, is injured again and clearly won't be 100% for a while.

Yes, Mike Scioscia is worried, but not so much about that. What really has him worried is his pitching.

Some managers say pitching is 80% of the game. Spend any time around Scioscia, and you realize he thinks it is more like 95%. It is his priority. Always has been, always will be.

So you can understand why, with his staff as discombobulated as it's been in years, why the Angels manager isn't feeling too chipper heading into this weekend's series with those pinstriped guys from New York.

"We're still searching for continuity on our pitching staff," he says. As understatements go, that one ranks right there with the teenage boy in your house telling you he doesn't mind that new hamburger commercial with the hot girl in the bikini. (Note to teenager: Your dad and granddad don't mind it, either).

Getting back to the Angels and Scisocia, this is what his current staff looks like:

Jered Weaver: The one rock in the starting rotation. He has nine wins and could have 11 or 12 with a little luck. Where would the team be without him? The manager doesn't want to think about it.

Joe Saunders: Last year's rock has shrunk into a pebble of late. Lost his rhythm and confidence. Right-handed hitters are killing him. Can he get his groove back? The manager sure hopes so.

John Lackey: Just when he seemed about to recapture his peak form, the roof caved in on him in one inning the other night. The Angels need him to be as consistent as he was two years ago. Of course, two years ago, he didn't have the pressure of being in his contract year.

Ervin Santana: He is the pitching equivalent of Howie Kendrick. They're both enigmas. Santana's arm seems fine now. He was hitting 93, 94 on the radar gun the other night and his slider was moving. But the Rangers still treated him like a batting practice pitcher. Something is still very wrong.The question is, can anyone find out what it is?

Sean O'Sullivan: He's in triple-A getting his regular starts, but he'll be back. The way Santana is going, Sully might pass him in the rotation. That wouldn't be so bad, except Sullivan really needs a bit more seasoning. Will forcing him over his head hurt his future? It could. It's happened before.

Brian Fuentes: The one solid part of the bullpen. He had a shaky start, but has been terrific ever since, leading the league in saves and usually closing out games without those old K-Rod, nerve-jangling theatrics.

Justin Speier: Probably the leading setup man at the moment. Or at least he was until Hank Blalock crushed his first pitch over the weekend in Texas. He's obviously better than he was a year ago. But no one is sure he's ready to be the regular setup guy.

Darren Oliver: He can set up, too, but is better suited as the bullpen wild card. Wily and usually effective, he isn't the real power arm type you'd like in the eighth inning.

Jason Bulger: He's come on the past month and could pass Speier to be the eighth inning guy. But again, he's unproven down the stretch, let alone in October.

Kevin Jepsen: He'd been awful until his last two appearances. Scioscia's eyes light up when he talks about his stuff. Maybe he's finally turned the corner. Or maybe not. We'll see.

Matt Palmer: A good story early. But it's no longer early. Any of the rest of those shuttling back and forth from Salt Lake City really aren't worth talking about.

"Right now," the manager notes, squirming again in his seat, "I'd say our pitching right now is unsettled."

I'd say that's a fairly accurate statement.

 --Steve Bisheff

Joe Saunders #51 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is pulled from the game by manager Mike Scioscia as catcher Jeff Mathis #5 looks on in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Angel Stadium June 24, 2009 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Rockies 11-3. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Comments

[shaun]

Again, why don't the Angels make an offer to Paul Byrd? I don't think Santana is fully healed. He should make a couple of rehab starts in Triple A, as his stuff just doesn't seem right.