Anderson Says He’s Feeling Great

Angel first baseman Darin Erstad could sense something different about Garret Anderson the moment he shook hands with him at a charity golf tournament last week.

“I could feel his strength,” Erstad said. “I could tell he’s not in pain. After last year -- man, what a miserable year that had to be for him -- it’s got to be great for him.”

Anderson is still on medication for inflammatory arthritis in his upper back, a condition that limited him to a career-low 112 games in 2004. But he said Saturday he feels none of the symptoms that contributed to a subpar season in which he hit .301 with 14 home runs and 75 runs batted in.

“I don’t know if it’s the medication or not, but the symptoms are gone,” Anderson said during the team’s fan-fest, which drew a crowd of 7,867 to Angel Stadium. “I don’t even think about it anymore. It’s not going to be in my mind at all.”

Though he said he didn’t lose any strength last season, Anderson admits he “couldn’t physically do what I needed to do.” Anderson, who will move from center field to left this spring, began his winter workout regimen much earlier than usual, and Manager Mike Scioscia said the veteran is “in great shape.”

A return to the form that enabled Anderson to average 30 homers and 120 RBIs from 2000-03 should give an offense that features reigning American League most valuable player Vladimir Guerrero a considerable boost.

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Fans of catcher Bengie Molina will have a lot less to root for this season -- the Angel catcher lost 22 pounds this winter and will report to camp Wednesday in excellent shape. A Gold Glove winner in 2002 and 2003, Molina was limited to 97 games last season because of a series of leg injuries and a broken finger.

“I worked out harder this winter than I ever have,” said Molina, who mixed aerobic exercises with his regular baseball workouts and devised his own diet. “I want to feel better this year. I felt good last year, but my legs were heavy. Hopefully, I won’t get tired during the season.”

Scioscia would like Molina to catch at least 120 games this season. As a former Dodger catcher who had similar weight issues, Scioscia knows proper diet and exercise will benefit Molina.

“It’s been a battle for him his whole life, but we need him back there,” Scioscia said. “He’s a huge part of our success. He brings the physical package, and he’s extremely intelligent. He has a great baseball mind.”

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Angel pitcher Jarrod Washburn did nothing to douse a simmering feud with former teammate Jose Guillen, who was traded to Washington in the off-season after being suspended for the last eight games of 2004 and the playoffs because of his on-field outburst and subsequent clubhouse argument with Scioscia on Sept. 25.

“I know a lot of players there complained about me, but what can you do?” Guillen said in January. “I know who they are. Washburn is one.”

Responded Washburn: “With all the chances [Guillen] has gotten, I don’t see him changing as a person, so it was a good move [to trade him]. Mike and the staff are not blind. No one had to tell them anything. They could see what was going on.”

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Guerrero, who sprained his right thumb in a Dominican Winter League game Dec. 26, recently saw a hand specialist in Miami and was given a clean bill of health. General Manager Bill Stoneman said Guerrero has been “swinging a bat,” but he wasn’t sure for how long.