Brown Calls Stoneman’s Claim ‘Insult’ to Angel Fans

In a stinging rebuke to the Angels’ new management, former club President Richard Brown wrote a letter to The Times this week, criticizing General Manager Bill Stoneman’s claim that the team would contend this year as an “insult” to fans.

Stoneman recently told a national baseball publication the Angels would be contenders in 2000, even without another player acquisition, so long as the team stayed healthy. Since Stoneman was hired 10 weeks ago to revamp the last-place team, the Angels have lost ace pitcher Chuck Finley and signed one major league free agent, infielder Scott Spiezio.

“Even with nobody getting hurt or catching a disease, they’re not going to contend” without player additions, Brown said Friday. “To say otherwise is just an insult.”

Stoneman could not be reached for comment. Angel President Tony Tavares declined comment.

Brown, the club president from 1990 to 1996, is no longer involved with the Angels, except as a season-ticket holder. He said writing the letter was “medicinal” for him.

In the letter, Brown said, “Where is the pitching? You will not win with [Ken] Hill and [Tim] Belcher as the aces of the staff. You can’t bring in [closer Troy] Percival to save a game when the game is already out of reach.”

Brown said he believed fans would support a rebuilding project accompanied by an honest explanation.

“They owe respect to the consumer, and the consumer here is the fan,” he said. “To say something that so patently insults the intelligence of the fan is a tremendous mistake. The credibility has been diminished.”