Angels Seeking Mexican League Opponent

The Angels are negotiating to play an exhibition game against a Mexican League team at Edison Field, a game that could help the Angels expand their outreach into the Latino community.

The game is tentatively scheduled for April 3. The Angels traditionally play the Dodgers on the final weekend before the start of the regular season, but the Dodgers excused themselves from two of three Freeway Series games so they could play the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium.

Angel President Tony Tavares identified Latino marketing as a priority last year, when directional signs in English and Spanish greeted fans at the newly renovated stadium.

The Angels also revived Spanish radio broadcasts and, with the first Latino marketing budget in franchise history, printed pocket schedules in Spanish and placed advertisements in the Spanish-language media.

The discussions about the exhibition game follow other major league initiatives into Mexico. The San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies will open the 1999 season in Monterrey, and the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers will play an exhibition game in Hermosillo.

Angel spokesman Tim Mead said he could not confirm the discussions or comment on what Mexican League team might play in the exhibition game.