Thursday, November 18 Angels name Mike Scioscia manager |
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ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- A long-time catcher of the Los Angeles Dodgers will try to turn the Anaheim Angels from one of baseball's most disappointing teams to a contender. The Angels today officially named Mike Scioscia as their new manager, filling baseball's last vacancy. The hiring is the first major move for new general manager Bill Stoneman, who replaced Bill Bavasi earlier this month. "I believe we have selected the best candidate for the future of the Angels," Stoneman said at today's news conference at Edison Field. "Mike's vast experience as a player, coach and minor league manager has prepared him for the challenges that come with being a major league manager." The 40-year-old Scioscia managed in Triple-A Albuquerque for two seasons after two years as the Dodgers' bench coach. He spent the majority of his 15-year playing career with the Dodgers and holds the franchise record for games caught with 1,395. "I'm very excited to have this opportunity at such a young age," Scioscia said. "It's a big step in my life. I believe this is the perfect time and situation for me." Scioscia, a member of the Dodgers' world championship teams in 1981 and 1988, credits his experience as a player for helping him to land the managerial job with Anaheim. "I was around a clubhouse that was always about winning," Scioscia said. "Dusty Baker, Davey Lopes, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Bill Russell, these guys knew baseball. We always talked baseball. I think that type of makeup helped me to get this position." Lopes was recently hired as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. Baker has been the manager of the San Francisco Giants for the last seven years and Russell is a former manager of the Dodgers. Scioscia succeeds Terry Collins, who resigned in September and was replaced on an interim basis by Joe Maddon. The Angels went 70-92 and finished in last place in the American League West in 1999, despite a $52 million payroll. "This club has a great nucleus," Scioscia said. "It's still young. We were very poor offensively last year, but we can turn it around. This offense is a sleeping giant." Despite the addition of free agent slugger Mo Vaughn, the Angels finished last in the American League in batting (.256) and on-base percentage (.322) and next-to-last in slugging average. Six teams have hired managers since the end of the regular season. Albuquerque was 65-74 in 1999 under Scioscia, who resigned following the season. Prior to his minor league managerial position, Scioscia served as the Dodgers' bench coach in 1997-98 and as the organization's minor league catching coordinator in 1995-96. He also managed the Arizona Fall League champion Peoria Javelinas in 1997. Scioscia, a two-time All-Star, played with the Dodgers from 1980 to 1992. He also played for San Diego (1993) and Texas (1994). Scioscia finished with a .259 career average with 68 home runs and 446 RBI in 1,441 games.
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