Veteran Scout Says He’s ‘Shocked’ by Dismissal

The Angels have dismissed the scout who signed longtime shortstop Gary DiSarcina and recommended the team put a waiver claim on shortstop David Eckstein, at the time a triple-A second baseman hitting .246.

Jon Neiderer had scouted for the Angels for 17 years when he was told this week that his contract would not be renewed.

“I’m very much puzzled,” said Neiderer, 52. “It really was a shock to me. I’m still trying to adjust to the idea I’m not an Angel any more.”

After he fired scouting director Donny Rowland last month, General Manager Bill Stoneman said that all scouts would be offered 2004 contracts, except the two who work most closely with the scouting director. Neiderer was not one of those two.

Stoneman declined to explain the decision but clarified that his remarks applied only to those who worked under Rowland and scouted amateur players. Neiderer was among six who worked under Gary Sutherland and scouted pro players. Stoneman said the other five would be offered 2004 contracts.

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For the first time in four years, the Angels will televise games on a Spanish-language channel.

Channel 22 has agreed to broadcast two home games during the final weekend of the season, on Sept. 26 and 28. The Angels hope to expand the agreement next season, perhaps airing a dozen or more games in Spanish.

Jose Mota, the Angels’ Spanish radio analyst, will work on the telecasts. Mota also has replaced the suspended Rex Hudler on the English-language telecasts. During a doubleheader last week, Mota called one game in Spanish and another in English.

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The Angels were worried that top prospect Casey Kotchman had suffered yet another injury this week, when he was hit by a pitch and forced to leave a minor league playoff game. They sent him for tests, which confirmed a badly bruised but not fractured hand, and minor league director Tony Reagins said Kotchman is expected to report to the Arizona Fall League as scheduled Sept. 24.

The first baseman has yet to complete a season uninterrupted by injury since the Angels made him their No. 1 draft pick in 2001 and signed him for a $2.075-million bonus. He hit .350 in 57 games at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga this season and reached base 10 times in 19 appearances during the playoffs.

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Angel coach Ron Roenicke will be paying close attention to today’s UCLA-Illinois game. His nephew walked on to the UCLA football team as a receiver but was switched this week to quarterback, his high school position. Josh Roenicke, who Ron said rejected Division II quarterback offers so he could play at Division I, is listed as the third-string quarterback on today’s Bruin depth chart.... Former Angel manager Gene Mauch, 77, is resting at his Rancho Mirage home after surgery last week to remove a cancerous part of a lung, team vice president Tim Mead said. Mead said he had spoken with Mauch’s wife and said Mauch is “doing fine.” Mauch managed the Angels’ last two division championship teams, in 1982 and 1986.