Anaheim Team News

First year Anaheim Angles owner Jared Crozier held a press Conference Yesterday to announce that long-time Angels Manager, Jose Akbar Shabaz, has been relieved of his managerial duties. The Angels have started out 32-39, and are already 15 games behind division leading San Diego.

Crozier cited the poor offensive output from a team that was supposed to contend for a playoff spot as the major reason for the firing. "With talent like Delgado, Thomas, Walker, Vaughn, Damon and Biggio, we should be lighting opposing pitching up on a regular basis. Instead it seems like we are being shut out every second game."

In his own defense, Mr. Shabaz questioned Crozier's pre-season deals involving perennial All-Star Ken Griffey Jr. and pitching aces Denny Neagle and Shane Reynolds, both traded away in separate deals, as one of the reasons for the recent poor showing. "Griffey and Neagle went to the Yankees, and they are in first place. Reynolds went to San Diego and they are kicking our ass in the West division."

In a Hollywood twist, Mr. Lou Brown has been hired to take over as the new skipper of the Angels. Brown's claim to fame was a one season stint as manager of the Cleveland Indians in the 1980's. He feels that the offense will come around and the pitching staff will fall into place. "I know the Angels have a number of great young arms in their system, and in a couple of years the rotation will be phenomenal." Brown has brought former Major League pitcher Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn (no relation to Angels OF Greg) to work with the young pitching prospects.

Mr. Brown has already started tinkering with the Angels roster, signing free agent 3B Jeff Cirillo to take some of the pressure off the struggling Travis Fryman. AAA Outfielders Luis Polonia and Al Martin have been released and RP John Johnstone has been demoted to AAA. Recent Amateur draft pick 3B Dave Ryan has shown promise and has unexpectedly been assigned to AAA.