ANGELS NOTEBOOK: `EXCITABLE' ORTIZ GUILTY OF TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Pitcher Ramon Ortiz struggled again in his last start, giving up six runs and five hits in six innings Saturday against Tampa Bay. But the problem is not Ortiz's shoulder, which has a small tear in the cartilage.

Ortiz's problem is in his head.

Catcher Matt Walbeck called Ortiz's performance Saturday ``squirrelly.'' Translation?

``I think Ramon is trying too hard,'' Angels pitching coach Bud Black said. ``He's trying to throw too hard, he's trying to throw his slider with too much break. When you try to do too much, you run into command problems, which is not unlike a lot of young pitchers.''

A lack of command means his pitches are not going where he's trying to throw them. For example, Ortiz tried to throw a 0-1 fastball to Jose Canseco low and away Saturday, but it was down the middle. Canseco hit a three-run homer.

``He's a very emotional and excitable player,'' Black said. ``We're working on calming him down. It's a daily process, with daily conversations, video, anything. It's part of the process of getting a young player over the hump.''

Catcher Bengie Molina is part of the club's effort to settle Ortiz down. And Molina has to do it during the heat of battle.

``He gets hyper, so I go out and tell him,'' Molina said. ``I tell him to calm down and just be himself. I have to say it probably almost every pitch. I'm going to be on him every single pitch. I don't want to do it so much because I've got other things to worry about. But I have to do it with him. That's my job as a catcher.''

Ortiz, who is 1-1 with a 5.51 ERA in three starts, will make his next start Thursday in Anaheim vs. Tampa Bay.

--Injury report: Shortstop Gary DiSarcina (bruised left thumb) will be activated from the disabled list today and start tonight's game vs. the Tigers. And he's ready just in the nick of time.

Benji Gil, who has filled in for DiSarcina, also hurt his left thumb diving for a ball in Sunday's game. Gil's injury is not as serious as he stayed in the game.

DiSarcina worked out with the team during the trip, doing drills and working his way up to playing.

``It's really better to be mentally stimulated by doing some things instead of sitting on the bench eating sunflower seeds,'' DiSarcina said. ``It definitely helped time go by faster.''

ANGELS vs. DETROIT

Time: 7:05 p.m. at Edison Field

TV/Radio: No TV; KLAC-AM (570), XPRS-AM (1090 Spanish)

Matchup: The Angels begin a seven-game homestand vs. the Tigers (three games) and the Devil Rays (four games). Ken Hill (1-3, 8.84 ERA) starts for Anaheim after his worst outing of the season - 10 runs, 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings vs. Toronto. Dave Mlicki (0-3, 7.50 ERA) starts for Detroit.

- Joe Haakenson

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Box: Angels vs Detroit (see text)