"If Scott Kazmir turned a corner with his strong outing in the Angels' final preseason game, it appears to have only led down another blind alley.

Kazmir's first start of the 2011 season was a continuation of the deterioration the Angels saw all too clearly last year. He lasted just 1 2/3 innings, retiring just five of the 14 batters he faced against the Royals Sunday.

After the longest winter of his career (he spent three months at the Angels' complex in Arizona going through a throwing and conditioning program), the season started with the shortest outing of Kazmir's career.

"Kaz is a little more complicated, a little more baffling," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, comparing Kazmir's struggles Sunday with those of closer Fernando Rodney (who walked the bases loaded in the ninth inning on his way to blowing a save).

"His stuff was better in the bullpen than what we saw in the game. ... Right now, he doesn't have either velocity or command and that's something that has to sort itself out."

Asked if that meant a move out of the rotation for Kazmir, Scioscia responded with an inexact phrase he turned to often following Sunday's extra-inning loss: "We're going to sort some things out."

Kazmir's hold on a starting spot is based largely on the Angels' lack of options to replace him. They will already have to dip into their limited supply of starting pitchers to replace Joel Pineiro in the rotation at least once."