Angels losing the spring in their step

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The Angels enjoyed their only off day of the spring Monday -- or at least some of them did.

Left-hander Scott Kazmir was one of about two dozen players -- most of them nonroster invitees to spring training -- who took part in a ‘B’ game with the Colorado Rockies at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Even without that game, though, the Angels have now been in camp for a month, long enough for the newness to wear off. Yet opening day is more than two weeks away, a little too far to grasp just yet.

And that, Kazmir says, makes this among the most difficult times of the spring.

‘I can speak for all of us,’ he said. ‘We’re ready to get this thing going.’

Outfielder Vernon Wells, who spent his off day in Orange County looking for a place to stay during the season, agrees.

‘It’s spring training. So every day is kind of the same routine,’ he said. ‘But it’s a necessary step to get a jump into the bigger season. I concentrate on that last week, week and a half to start playing every day. So I kind of look forward to that.’

When the full team returns to work Tuesday, Manager Mike Scioscia says he’ll vary the routine a bit by dropping some of the morning fundamental drills and emphasizing the afternoon exhibition games a little more. But, he said, that’s not a concession to the building boredom.

‘These guys know what they have to do to get ready for the season. And we’re still in that process,’ he said. ‘You don’t see anybody that mentally fried to where it’s affecting anything they’re doing on the field.

‘I don’t know [that] we’re seeing any dog days yet. Every spring you start to see that a little bit as you get closer to the season.’

-- Kevin Baxter in Tempe, Ariz.