"The mystery of what is ailing Scott Kazmir has confounded and frustrated the Angels all season. So even before Kazmir took the mound Saturday for his final home start of the season, Manager Mike Scioscia said the search for a cure will continue into the off-season.

"Scott understands the challenge in front of us," Scioscia said. "He's a guy really fighting to get a foothold as a major league starting pitcher again. And continue his career."

The only thing that continued Saturday was Kazmir's struggles, with the left-hander lasting only one batter into the fourth inning of a 6-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Things have gotten so bad, in fact, on this night he couldn't even fool Manny Ramirez, whose third-inning run-scoring double was both his second extra-base hit and second run batted in since the Dodgers shipped him to Chicago last month. The result was not only Kazmir's shortest outing of the season, but his 10th loss in 12 decisions, part of a 14-start span in which he has posted a 7.00 earned-run average and his record has dropped to 9-15.

And if Kazmir can't get that turned around this winter, Scioscia said, there's a good chance he won't be in the rotation next spring.

"His ability to pitch and to shut down good offenses is still there. It hasn't been there on a consistent basis and that's Scott's challenge," Scioscia said. "You don't need numbers to evaluate his performance."

Part of the solution, the Angels hope, will come in Arizona, where Kazmir will work this off-season with pitching coach Mike Butcher while participating in an aggressive physical therapy program and a new strength and conditioning routine."