Several Stations Will Show Games

With new owner Arte Moreno determined to televise almost all of the Angels’ games, team executives are negotiating a patchwork solution in which broadcasts could air on as many as eight stations.

The Angels believe they can televise 145 to 150 games this season. With Fox Sports Net committed to 50 games and Channel 9 to 46, and with several games scheduled for national broadcasts on ESPN and Channel 11, the Angels are in talks to add telecasts on Channel 5, Channel 30 and Channel 56, according to John Carpino, senior vice president of sales and marketing. The Angels also plan to air 10 to 12 games on a Spanish-language station.

While fans could get frustrated trying to figure out which station carries the game on any given day, Moreno believes that problem is preferable to the frustration of not finding the game on any station.

“Arte’s philosophy is, get the games to the people and they’ll find us,” Carpino said.

Fox Sports Net and Channel 9 are scheduled to pay the Angels a combined $15 million this year, in exchange for the right to choose which games to air. In order to broadcast additional games on local stations, the Angels plan to buy the air time and pay production costs, then sell commercials to recover expenses.

“We’re working really hard to get 90% of our games on TV,” Moreno said. “I’m not telling you we’re going to make a bunch of revenue on it. Right now, we have to introduce our product.”

Moreno committed $146 million to free agents, including stars Vladimir Guerrero and Bartolo Colon. If the team wins and ratings jump, the Angels believe they can command a more favorable television package. Their contract with Channel 9 expires after next season.

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Nearly two years after being demoted for what Angel officials described as repeated acts of immaturity, pitching prospect Bobby Jenks appears to be showing the focus required to go with his 100-mph fastball.

“The Bobby we’re seeing this year is a different package, so we’re excited about that,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s acquiring the discipline he needs to be a major leaguer -- the work habits, the commitment. I think he’s getting hungry as far as wanting to achieve and taste the success of what his talent says he can do.”

Jenks sat out nearly two months last season at double-A Arkansas because of a stress reaction in his pitching elbow, but he made up the lost innings by playing winter ball in Puerto Rico.

“I learned how to pitch against big-league hitters,” the right-hander said. “I’m able to focus in for an entire game instead of just stretches. I’m keeping out of those big innings.”

Jenks still needs to work on command of his pitches, according to Scioscia, and is not expected to provide depth this season at the major league level.

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Detroit outfielder Bobby Higginson took a friendly dig at new Angel utility player Shane Halter, the former Tiger who was quoted as saying the move from 119-loss Detroit in 2003 to an Angel team many expect to contend for the pennant in 2004 was akin to receiving a “get-out-of-jail-free card.”

Halter, who completed a two-year, $3.5-million contract in Detroit last season, signed with the Angels for $575,000 this winter.

“He made a lot of money when he was in jail,” Higginson told Detroit writers Thursday.

“He shouldn’t be complaining. He took a big pay cut to get out of jail. That get-out-of-jail-free card cost him $1.8 million.”

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Angel Spanish radio broadcaster Jose Mota will join broadcasters Rex Hudler and Steve Physioc for three innings during Channel 9 telecasts this season. Mota filled in for Hudler last September when the former Angel utility player was suspended after being arrested and charged with marijuana possession. Hudler was reinstated in November. ... Outfielder Jeff DaVanon and reliever Derrick Turnbow agreed to terms on 2004 contracts.

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Staff writer Mike DiGiovanna contributed to this report.