Anderson’s Injury Is a Deepening Mystery

BALTIMORE —  No news is not necessarily good news when it comes to Garret Anderson. The Angel center fielder has been out for more than three weeks, and doctors, according to the team, still have not determined the cause of the stiffness and pain in his upper back and shoulders that sidelined the All-Star on April 22.

“Sure, it’s mysterious, it’s mysterious for everybody,” General Manager Bill Stoneman said Sunday. “We’ve got access to the best medical people in the world, and I think they’ll figure it out. Hopefully, it will be soon.”

Meanwhile, Anderson’s teammates have been left in the dark, and the lack of information about the team’s most valuable player for the last three seasons is disconcerting.

“They haven’t come out and said they’ve found something that might be serious,” pitcher Jarrod Washburn said. “At the same time, he doesn’t seem to be getting any better. It’s not something we’re happy about. Hopefully we can get him fixed soon and get him back out there.”

Doctors have run a battery of tests on Anderson in recent weeks and have ruled out things such as nerve disorders, problems with his central nervous system, vascular problems, structural problems with his spine and rheumatoid arthritis.

Stoneman said Anderson is due to have another round of tests this week. He has not been cleared to resume any kind of baseball activity and has not done much physical therapy.

“What do you treat?” Stoneman said. “It’s tough to do therapy when you really don’t know the cause of your problem. He’s limited because of the discomfort he has in his shoulders.”

Manager Mike Scioscia is trying to maintain a positive outlook, even though his reports on Anderson haven’t really changed in three weeks.

“Any time you can’t pinpoint what his condition is, it’s a little disheartening,” Scioscia said. “If they find out what it is, they can address it. Until then, it’s tough to move forward. We all feel he’s going to get better. It’s just open-ended right now.”

Which means the Angels have no idea when their cleanup batter, who hit .300 and averaged 30 home runs and 120 runs batted in the previous four seasons and is on the disabled list for the first time in his 10-year career, will return.

“I know if he’s not in the lineup he’s not feeling good,” closer Troy Percival said. “You’re talking about a guy who doesn’t miss many ballgames. I am worried. He’s a good friend, and any time you have a guy who can’t play, you know something is wrong.”

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Shortstop David Eckstein looked like a human contusion Sunday. On the inside of each thigh was six-inch bruise from fouling pitches off each leg last week.

There was another bruise on his left hip from getting hit by a pitch in the third inning Saturday night and a bruise on his left shoulder blade from getting drilled in the back by an errant pickoff attempt in the sixth.

“I think Smitty wants to demagnetize me,” Eckstein said, referring to trainer Rick Smith. “The ball just finds your body. I’m a little black and blue ... but you don’t feel it once you suit up. Really.”

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Scioscia said reliever Brendan Donnelly, whose return from a broken nose was delayed because of elbow stiffness, could be activated within a week to 10 days. The All-Star right-hander is expected to throw in the bullpen this week and resume his rehabilitation assignment with triple-A Salt Lake by the weekend.