Stoneman Sets Record Straight on Disney

As new owner Arte Moreno pledges to spend money to attract top free agents, General Manager Bill Stoneman rejects the notion that he has somehow been unshackled now that Disney no longer owns the Angels.

“The perception -- and it came from you guys [the media] to a large degree -- was that Disney had unforgiving and unbending restraints,” Stoneman said.

“There were budgets, but there’s going to be a budget for next year too. Disney wanted to know what your plan was and how much money it was going to cost, and they let you run with it. They weren’t what they were painted to be.”

Disney did not mandate that Stoneman keep the World Series championship roster largely intact, but the company funded a $16-million payroll increase that enabled him to fulfill his wish to do so. Even with the hindsight afforded by this miserable season, Stoneman insists that no Angel had a career year in 2002.

“The group fed off the energy of each other and came together,” he said. “It didn’t work this year, for a number of reasons. I don’t even know all of them.

“But the fans really connected with this club. That’s rare nowadays, that you can keep a team relatively intact. The fans deserved to see this team intact.”

The Angels will finish with a losing record, but they also have drawn more than 3 million people for the first time in franchise history.

*

The Chicago White Sox have offered pitcher Bartolo Colon a multiyear contract, potentially taking one free agent the Angels coveted off the market. Colon, 14-13 with a 3.90 earned-run average, told Chicago-area reporters there was a “very good chance” he would return.

*

Reliever Derrick Turnbow, who has wowed the Angels this month with his strong arm, is expected to pitch as a starter in the Puerto Rican winter league.

Manager Mike Scioscia said starting would allow the right-hander “a broader canvas” to develop his changeup and curveball. Turnbow, who was selected the Angels’ player of the month after throwing 13 scoreless innings, could win a spot in the bullpen next season as a late-inning reliever.

*

Kevin Uhlich, the Angels’ senior vice president for business operations, said strong walk-up ticket sales in recent weeks bode well for next season, when the franchise will attempt to reach 3 million in attendance without the benefit of a World Series high.

The Angels have averaged more than 1,000 in walk-up ticket sales recently, Uhlich said, down from a midseason peak of about 3,000 but still impressive considering the Angels fell out of playoff contention long ago.

Uhlich said he expected more family ticket packages and special promotions to entice fans next season.

*

David Eckstein sat out his fourth consecutive game because of renewed nerve irritation in his right hamstring and will not play in today’s season finale. The shortstop is expected to receive treatment in the Angels’ rehabilitation facility at Mesa, Ariz., before resuming regular winter workouts.... With one game remaining, bargains aplenty can be found on World Series championship merchandise in the team store. T-shirts that had sold for as much as $27 have been marked down to $8 and $9.