The Angels have been waiting all season for designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero to start swinging the bat like the Vladimir Guerrero of old. But what they're getting still looks like an old Vladimir Guerrero instead.
After going 1-for-4 Friday, Guerrero has just two home runs in 160 at-bats this season. Only 10 of his 45 hits (22 percent) have been for extra bases. That pales next to his career mark of 39 percent. His slugging percentage and OPS this year and well off his career numbers, too. His 14 RBIs are fewer than any other Angels regular including catcher Jeff Mathis (16), who splits the job with Mike Napoli and has 43 fewer at-bats than Guerrero. "Vlad, right now, is searching for a lot of things that maybe came easy for him when he was in sync," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Vlad's bat speed is there. His swing is as dangerous as it's ever been.
"Hopefully, he's going to emerge from this little funk of not driving the ball."
Scioscia pointed to last season's slow start by Guerrero as an example of another extended "funk" Guerrero emerged from and pointed to the challenges posed this season by Guerrero's off-season knee surgery and spring pectoral injury.
"I don't think he's found a comfort level yet in the batter's box," Scioscia said. "Spring training was a little limited for him because of the knee surgery. Then as we started the season, he got derailed pretty quick by that (pectoral) injury.
"I don't think it's a thing where he has not been productive at all. There's one stat that's pretty glaring that you're looking at and that's slugging percentage and I think we'll all be surprised if he doesn't pick up that pace."
ORIOLES 6, ANGELS 4: RHP Ervin Santana returned from his second stint on the DL and made his first start since June 11. Santana's velocity and movement seemed to be improved, but the Orioles scored five times in the first three innings against him on their way to the victory. Luke Scott (a two-run double in the first) and Aubrey Huff (a three-run home run in the third) did the damage. Santana is now 0-2 with a 12.12 ERA at Angel Stadium this season.
