Ringing Rebuttal to Team’s Critics

The Angels will happily accept their World Series championship rings tonight, diamond-encrusted retorts to voices around the major leagues suggesting the champions were not the best team last season.

In trying to explain how underdogs can prevail, veteran infielder Lenny Harris of the Chicago Cubs called the 2002 Angels “a mediocre team.”

Said Angel closer Troy Percival: “When we came into camp last year, I’m sure we were perceived as a mediocre team. We ended up being a very good team. Anybody who’s ever played the game knows that if you win the World Series, you’re good.”

Harris told the Chicago Tribune that the Angels proved champions need not be favorites.

“They were a mediocre team,” he said, “but they put it together, got big hits when they needed it and won. That just goes to show anything can happen in this game.”

Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez, arguing that the Rangers’ 90-loss season was misleading within the rough American League West, told the New York Times that “Anaheim might have been the third-best team in our division and won the World Series.”

Said Percival: “Talent-wise, we might have been. Team-wise, we were the best. How many guys did Texas have last year that are going to the Hall of Fame?

“The one part of those statements that is misleading is the part about team. When you put us together as a unit, we were the best team.”

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Left-hander Joe Saunders, the Angels’ first-round draft pick last year, has been diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff within his left shoulder, General Manager Bill Stoneman said.

Saunders consulted Monday with orthopedic surgeon James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. According to Stoneman, Andrews concurred with Angel medical director Lewis Yocum, who recommended therapy rather than surgery.

Saunders also has damage to the labrum inside the shoulder, Stoneman said. Angel pitchers Dennis Cook and Aaron Sele opted for therapy first to treat similar shoulder injuries last season; both eventually required surgery. If months of rehabilitation fail and Saunders ultimately requires surgery, he would miss all of this season and could miss part of next season.

“The last resort is surgery,” Stoneman said. “We don’t think he ought to be looking at that right now. If the rehab program goes well, he’ll be pitching this year.”

The Angels signed Saunders, 21, for a bonus of $1.825 million. In 13 Class-A starts last summer, he went 5-2 with a 2.80 earned-run average.

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The San Francisco Giants are wearing a National League champion patch on their uniforms, but the Angels are not wearing a World Series champion patch on theirs. One club executive said the concept was not discussed this winter and that the Angels did not need a “target” on their sleeves that might motivate opponents.

Manager Mike Scioscia said, “I don’t think we need a patch to enjoy the achievement of last year. This is a new year.”