Angels’ Loss to Mariners Is a Case of Deja Voodoo

Angel left fielder Luis Polonia, believing he has been cursed, burned the plastic voodoo doll that was part of his life for the past five years.

Starting pitcher Julio Valera changed his pitching style.

Rookie first baseman J.T. Snow, introduced to the man who couldn’t bear to attend an Angel game since last playing 27 years ago, wonders if perhaps the pep talk could turn his season around.

In a 12-7 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, little seemed changed for the Angels, but they believe their destiny could turn.

The Angels (30-29), losers of nine of their last 12 games, committed three errors that produced four unearned runs; yielded 18 hits, including nine by Valera in 2 2/3 innings; and had thousands among the Little League Day crowd of 28,611 at Anaheim Stadium wondering if this is really the big leagues.

Yet, if you listen to the Angels, particularly to Polonia and Snow, you would believe the worst indeed could be over.

“It can’t get any worse than this,� said Polonia, who spiked the baseball in frustration after catching the final out of the Mariners’ six-run third inning that left the Angels trailing, 9-1. “Right now, it’s just a disaster.

“I think we’ve been putting too much pressure on ourselves. Instead of getting better, it’s been getting worse. I think a lot of it is because teams are playing us tougher.

“At the beginning of the season, it was like people were saying, ‘Hey, we’re playing a triple-A team.’ Well, they know better now and know we can win.�

Polonia, who is batting .270 with the second-lowest on-base percentage among regulars, decided to take care of matters himself late Saturday night in the trainer’s room. Polonia, who has hung his voodoo doll in effigy, kicked it and cursed it plenty over the last five years, decided the time was right to destroy it.

Polonia took the doll--named Jo Vu--out of his locker, doused it with rubbing alcohol and lit a match. He watched the doll slowly burn, and soon, the clubhouse was filling with smoke.

“I wanted to make it disappear, to take care of all of the evil spirits,� Polonia said, “but so much smoke was coming out that I thought the (ceiling) sprinklers would start coming on.

“I was believing he was my lucky charm, but it wasn’t a good lucky charm anymore. I’m the one who wasn’t doing my job, and I’m going to go on my own from now on.�

Snow, who has been trying to escape a seven-week slump during which his batting average has gone from .407 to .212--was greeted by a surprise guest at his locker. It was Jackie Warner, who had a glorious April in 1966, only to suddenly lose his stroke, get sent to the minors and never be heard from again.

Warner, a truck driver who said it was too painful for him to attend an Angel game after his release, returned 27 years later so he could talk with Snow. He took him aside, talked with him for a couple of minutes and then watched the rest of the game in the stands behind home plate.

“It was tough to come out here,� Warner said, “but I really wanted to talk to him. I know he’s been struggling, and I didn’t want to see him go through what I did.

“I told him, ‘a batting slump takes place between the ears. It’s all mental. Just take the ability that God gave you to get this far, and just relax. Enjoy it. Go have fun.’

“I’m rooting for him big-time, and I think he’ll be all right.�

Snow, who also was provided pregame encouragement by Angel owner Gene Autry, had the first three-hit game of his career, going three for four with a double and run batted in. It was Snow’s first multiple-hit game at Anaheim Stadium since April 24, the eve of his hitting slump.

“It didn’t make me feel good that we didn’t win,� Snow said, “but the way things have gone for me, I’d be crazy to tell you I wasn’t happy for what I did today.

“I’m trying to get back where I was at the beginning of the year, and I think it’s coming. I’m starting to be myself again.�

The Angels hope Valera, 3-6 with a 6.13 earned-run average, can soon be himself again. Valera yielded nine hits and eight runs, four earned, in his shortest outing since June 25, 1992. His ERA against the Mariners is 22.85.

“It got real frustrating today, because they didn’t hit the ball hard,� Valera said. “It was just one of those days. Everything they put their bat on, they got a hit.�