K-ROD NOT OK FIRST FULL YEAR FOR RODRIGUEZ NO WALK IN PARK.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - These days, Francisco Rodriguez can sit in virtual solitude in the Angels' clubhouse, free to watch DVDs or listen to music on a shiny new laptop computer, or maybe chat in Spanish with some of his Latin American compadres on the team.

The K-Rod phenomenon, for the time being, is over. The Angels' most unlikely postseason hero last fall is now a highly talented, 21-year-old rookie reliever struggling with his mechanics.

Oh, Rodriguez still has that devastating slider and mid-90s fastball that thrust him on to the international stage in the World Series. And the Angels are confident the dominant Rodriguez will return.

But for now, he is trying to work through an inconsistent delivery that has caused control problems.

``I thought I'd do better,'' said Rodriguez, whose 4-1 record belies an erratic first quarter of the season that has produced a 4.98 ERA. ``But I knew this would be my year to learn, to learn the hitters, learn the league. I just have to make an adjustment in my mechanics and I'll be back on track.''

Rodriguez said this casually, his confidence hardly shaken by a rookie campaign in which hitters have let him get himself in trouble when his slider dips and darts unpredictably. When that happens, they can sit on his fastball.

It's a far cry from last October, when Rodriguez set a postseason reliever record with 28 strikeouts and tied Randy Johnson's record for five wins in one postseason, all after just 5 2/3 regular-season innings pitched.

This season, the American League Rookie of the Year Award was his to lose, and the countdown was on for Rodriguez to assume the closer role from Troy Percival, most likely after the 2004 season.

Instead, it has been Brendan Donnelly setting up Percival; Donnelly has yet to give up an earned run in 23 2/3 innings.

Rodriguez has uncorked five wild pitches, second-most in the AL, and four have led to opponents scoring runs. On Friday against Boston, he blew a save when a wild pitch led to the tying run in the seventh inning.

On Wednesday at New York, the Angels rallied for a three-run, eighth- inning lead and entrusted it to Rodriguez, who allowed two hits, a walk and a run. With the tying run at the plate in the eighth, Donnelly was summoned for the fourth time in five games, and he struck out Jorge Posada to bail Rodriguez out of the jam.

The first sign of trouble for Rodriguez came in the sixth game of the year, when he issued two walks and two wild pitches at Oakland, giving up three runs to blow a 5-4 lead in a 7-6 loss, the first of his career. A week later, he slipped and fell off the mound delivering a pitch, and later said, ``I looked freakin' stupid out there.''

The dominance remains at times; Rodriguez has struck out 21 in 21 2/3 innings. But the wild pitches, 11 walks and 17 hits were something Angels fans might not have expected.

Manager Mike Scioscia is hardly surprised, however.

``He was much better last year repeating pitches,'' Scioscia said. ``I don't think you ever expect guys not to achieve, but it happens to everybody. Everybody at the big-league level is faced with the challenge of learning and growing. I don't know if it's ever a blessing, but for it to happen early, that's (better).

``You don't want to see it happening in August, September. There's growing pains involved, but he'll be better for it.''

Catcher Bengie Molina said he ``sees the same Frankie'' as last year, with one difference. When Rodriguez doesn't get the first slider he throws over the outside corner, batters will lay off the next one, usually away and in the dirt.

``I guarantee you that if he throws the first one for a strike, they'll swing at the next one in the dirt,'' Molina said. ``Sometimes his control is not where he wants it to be. You get behind hitters, they're going to get you. But it's all normal for a (young pitcher).''

Scioscia said Rodriguez has a ``high-maintenance delivery,'' making consistent mechanics a challenge. Rodriguez said the main trouble comes when he doesn't break his arms and feet apart simultaneously at the outset of his delivery, which ruins his control.

``They don't have to tell me when I'm doing something wrong,'' he said. ``I know.''

He has more than four months to figure it out, followed by what appears to be a decorated career ahead of him.

``I'm pretty sure I can do way better than how I'm doing now,'' he said. ``It's not how you start, it's how you finish.''

ANGELS vs. BALTIMORE

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

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net; 710-AM, 950-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: RH Kevin Appier (2-2, 5.52 ERA) starts for the Angels, opposed by Baltimore RH Rick Helling (2-4, 5.51). This homestand with the Orioles and Tampa Bay accounts for the Angels' only six home games in a 24-game stretch; the Angels are 12-9 at home, 9-12 on the road. Baltimore ranks 10th in the American League in batting and 12th in home runs. Five of its nine offensive starters are hitting .259 or less. Wednesday - Angels RH Aaron Sele (1-1, 9.72) vs. Baltimore RH Sidney Ponson (4-3, 3.88); Thursday - Angels RH Ramon Ortiz (4-4, 5.88) vs. Baltimore RH Jason Johnson (4-2, 3.00).

- Gabe Lacques

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Photo:

The Angels' Francisco Rodriguez has struggled this season after a dominant performance in the playoffs last year.

Matt York/Associated Press

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ANGELS vs. BALTIMORE (see text)