Judge Turns Down Anaheim’s Request

A judge denied the city of Anaheim’s request to permanently block the Angels from using “Los Angeles” in the team’s name, giving the team its fifth and possibly last court victory.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter Polos said Thursday there were no grounds to overturn last month’s jury verdict. By a 9-3 vote, jurors said the Angels did not violate five words in the stadium lease that required that the team “include the name Anaheim therein.”

During the 45-minute hearing attended by several city officials but no representatives from the Angels, Anaheim attorney Andrew Guilford argued that Polos had a clearer view of the case than the jury.

But Polos, who refused two requests last year to temporarily stop the team from using “Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,” said he failed to see where the city had suffered damages since the name change a year ago. In fact, he said the city “enjoys significant and numerous financial benefits” from the Angels’ playing in Anaheim.

“People continue to flock to the city and its attractions,” he said. “Over a million more people are going to the games since Disney had [the team].”

Anaheim Councilman Richard Chavez said the council would discuss whether to appeal the jury verdict at its meeting Tuesday night. A majority of council members said after the Feb. 9 verdict they would vote not to appeal the jury’s decision.

The Angels have said they would file a motion to recoup their attorneys’ fees -- believed to be about $7 million -- from the city.

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Pedro Martinez confirmed he would not pitch in the World Baseball Classic because of his sore toe, leaving the Dominican Republic without three of its biggest stars.

All-Star sluggers Manny Ramirez and Vladimir Guerrero also recently withdrew from the Dominican team.

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Cincinnati Red pitching coach Vern Ruhle has cancer but plans to stay with the team while getting treatment.

Ruhle, 55, informed Red players before the club opened its spring training schedule. He didn’t disclose what type of cancer he has but said that doctors expect him to make a full recovery.

The cancer was detected by a blood test given to players and coaches as part of spring training physicals.

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Florida Marlin slugger Miguel Cabrera agreed to a one-year contract that will pay him $472,000 in the majors, meaning he’ll likely be one of baseball’s best bargains again this season.

Cabrera batted .323 with 33 home runs and 116 runs batted in in his third major league season last year. He doesn’t have enough service time to qualify for arbitration.