ANGELS NOTEBOOK: SCIOSCIA, BLACK ATTEMPT TO IRON OUT PITCHING WOES.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Start with bad mechanics, add some questionable pitch selection, sprinkle in a dose of self-doubt and you have the current state of the Angels' pitching rotation.

Angels starters entered Thursday's game against the New York Yankees in a rut, so manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Bud Black met with them before the game. The mood reportedly was light, because the staff and the coaches know what needs to be done.

``When they get going in the wrong direction, you start pitching defensively,'' Black said. ``You fall behind in counts, you start pressing and that's what happens. On the other end, when you're going well and you get that confidence, it has the opposite effect.''

High pitch counts and poor control have been the problems of late. John Lackey and Mickey Callaway, who started the first two games of the series, both had abysmal ball/strike ratios, with Lackey throwing just 49 of his 86 pitches for strikes. The Angels issued the fourth-most walks in the American League entering Thursday, and their starters had a combined 6.31 ERA.

``Right now, what we're doing is throwing a couple of good innings and then missing our spots,'' catcher Bengie Molina said. ``We didn't expect it to happen this early, but it's happening, and we need to deal with it. They're not too far off, not too far away.''

It hasn't helped they had to face the Yankees in such a state. Callaway said ``whatever I threw up there, they hit,'' referring to his 4 2/3-inning, 10- hit outing Tuesday. Callaway also said these phases can come and go, and ``you have to keep it light, keep it comfortable.''

That was at least partially the reason Scioscia gathered his charges Thursday.

``Some could be pressing mentally a bit,'' Scioscia said. ``Whatever the reason, it's important for Buddy and I to stay in touch with them to make sure they're on the path to where they need to be.''

--Not spooked by SARS: After a 10-minute meeting in which trainer Ned Bergert addressed the team, the Angels did not seem concerned about the risk of acquiring severe acute respiratory syndrome during their trip to Toronto next week. Bergert was on a conference call Thursday with Major League Baseball's medical adviser to discuss the SARS situation in Toronto, where 16 people have died.

Angels players were advised to wash their hands frequently, avoid public transportation and stay away from large crowds in cramped areas.

``The more information I receive, the more comfort I have,'' pitcher Scott Schoeneweis said. ``I feel 100 percent safe with the information we received and the precautions we're taking.''

Several players said they planned to spend more time in the team hotel than usual.

--Also: Center fielder Darin Erstad missed his fourth consecutive game with a swollen tendon in his right hamstring. Erstad said he can swing the bat without complication but has yet to run the bases. He hopes to return this weekend. ... Scioscia said reliever Francisco Rodriguez should rejoin the team Tuesday in Cleveland and could possibly be back Sunday. Rodriguez is in Venezuela after the death of his grandmother.

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ANGELS vs. BOSTON

- Gabe Lacques