Eisner Disputes Tavares Quotes

Walt Disney Co. Chairman Michael Eisner took exception to recent comments by Angel President Tony Tavares, who said Eisner is “not passionate about having to own this team.”

Eisner, who watched Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Red Sox from his private box in Edison Field, said he spoke to Tavares about his quotes, which appeared in a March 30 story chronicling Disney’s ownership of the Angels. The Times taped the entire 40-minute interview with Tavares.

“He told me they were taken out of context, that they weren’t true,” Eisner said. “I wouldn’t stay up until 2 or 3 a.m. [in New York] to watch the Angels if I wasn’t passionate about them. I come to every game I can, I usually get to spring training every year.

“I don’t make all the decisions, but [not having passion for the team] is definitely not the case. I have too much passion, not too little passion.”

Tavares also said that if Eisner received “the right offer,” he would sell the Angels. “It’s not necessarily part of Disney’s core strategy any more,” Tavares said. “He’s accomplished what he set out to do, which is to ensure that major league baseball stays in Anaheim.”

Eisner did not dispute those comments.

“We have made sure Anaheim has a first-class stadium, we changed the name of the team [from California to Anaheim], we made sure no one could move the team away from Anaheim, no matter who owns it,” Eisner said. “We love having this team.

“But we’re a public company, and we can’t take the position that we’d never sell. We have to do what makes the most sense for shareholders.”

Eisner said he liked the direction the Angels are heading under new General Manager Bill Stoneman and Manager Mike Scioscia.

“Mike has completely given his spirit to this team, it’s almost like a high school or college athletics atmosphere,” said Eisner, who recently had lunch with Scioscia. “You can feel it. It’s not that I didn’t like [former Manager] Terry Collins, but Scioscia seems to be an infectious leader. I can sense it.”

*

X-rays on shortstop Gary DiSarcina’s left thumb, which he bruised while attempting a diving catch of Nomar Garciaparra’s one-hop smash Saturday night, were negative, but DiSarcina, who did not play Sunday, probably will be sidelined for at least another game.

DiSarcina, who tore ligaments and underwent surgery in the same thumb in 1995, suffered the injury in the second inning but remained in the game until the seventh.

“That’s because I’m stupid,” he said. “I iced it every inning, but by the sixth it was pretty immobile, I couldn’t even close my glove. The [negative] X-rays were a relief, but I’m not going to rush back. I’ve learned from the past that I have to take it day by day.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Toronto Blue Jays, three games.

* Site--Edison Field.

* Tonight--7.

* 1999 record vs. Blue Jays--3-9.

* TV--Fox Sports Net Tuesday night.

* Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Records--Angels 3-3, Blue Jays 3-4.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

SCOTT

SCHOENEWEIS

(1-0, 7.50 ERA)

vs.

BLUE JAYS’

CHRIS

CARPENTER

(0-1, 4.05 ERA)

* Update--The Angels are fortunate in that they will miss Toronto left-hander David Wells, who gave up two runs on 14 hits and struck out 10 in 15 innings of his first two starts. Blue Jay third baseman Tony Batista is off to a torrid start with four homers in seven games. Tuesday night’s game will feature the 2000 debut of Angel right-hander Ramon Ortiz, who is pitching despite a slight tear of his labrum. Angel left-hander Jarrod Washburn, sidelined because of a strained rib-cage muscle, was activated Sunday and optioned to triple-A Edmonton.

* Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Ramon Ortiz (2-3, 6.52 in 1999) vs. Kelvim Escobar (0-1, 5.06).

* Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Jason Dickson (1-0, 2.70) vs. Frank Castillo (0-1, 15.00).