No Secrets as the Angels Win, 6-2

It was supposed to be a secret, a surprise announcement to be made in September, showing the world that the Angels are willing to put off their austerity program to bring a winner to Anaheim Stadium.

But the Angels’ cover was blown Saturday after their 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers when left fielder Luis Polonia revealed the Angels’ secret contract negotiations with him.

Owner Jackie Autry, persuaded by Manager Buck Rodgers and the front office, apparently has granted permission to make Polonia the Angels’ highest-paid position player.

Polonia, according to sources close to the negotiations, has been offered a four-year contract for about $9 million. Although he is seeking a three-year deal for nearly the same amount, Polonia is confident that a compromise will be reached soon.

“I think we can get this done pretty fast,” said Polonia, who is making $2.475 million this season. “I don’t need no agent or lawyers. We can get it done between ourselves.

“They told me they want me. I told them I want to be here. So the rest shouldn’t be that tough.

“Believe me, I really put my price down so I can stay with the Angels. I’m making it as easy as I can for them. When I go home for the winter, I want to know I’m coming back.”

Polonia, 28, who has spent the season batting nearly 50 points below his career .299 average, is showing the Angels these days how he can perform with peace of mind.

Polonia produced his second four-hit game of the season, stole his 44th base, scored a run and is batting .588 for the trip. In the last 16 games, he has increased his average from .254 to .275.

A coincidence?

“No way,” Polonia said. “For the first time all season, my mind is refreshed. They’ve told me they want me, and they’re proving it with the negotiations. Before, I had no idea what they were going to do, and it messed up my mind real bad.

“It’s funny how this has affected me. I’ve been waiting seven years to become a free agent, knowing how much this year would mean, and I couldn’t handle it. It’s been like a punishment for me.

“Now, you’re seeing the real Luis Polonia.”

The Angels--who also are hopeful of signing starter Mark Langston to a contract extension this winter before he becomes eligible for free agency after the 1994 season--would ease Rodgers’ anxiety by retaining Polonia.

Rodgers knows he has to live with Polonia’s baserunning mistakes at times, such as Friday night when he was picked off third base. Polonia often ignores the stop signs of the base coaches, with the latest occurring in the fifth inning Saturday when he stretched a single into a double. But Rodgers says that Polonia is one of the finest leadoff hitters in the game and has improved dramatically defensively.

“You’ve got to live with the baserunning,” Rodgers said. “If you don’t think Luis Polonia is going to screw up some times, you’re crazy. He goes at a high tempo, and there’s no tuning it down.

“But I also know how much he means to this team, and how important he is to our success. I think the uncertainty of his contract bothered him a lot. He put so much pressure on himself, he couldn’t perform.

“You’re seeing the difference now, and he’s given us that explosion.”

Polonia’s performance helped provide starter Chuck Finley with his 14th victory of the season. Finley, who yielded nine hits and two earned runs in 7 1/3 innings, moved into a fourth-place tie with Clyde Wright on the all-time Angel victory list at 87. Catcher Chris Turner, making his first major league start, went two for four with a double and two runs batted in.