MLB Franchise Notes

Angels Seeking Dismissal Of Lawsuit Stemming From Mother’s Day Giveaway

The Angels asked the Orange County Superior Court to “throw out a lawsuit alleging the team discriminated against men by not including them in a Mother’s Day tote bag giveaway.” The team argued the complaint is part of an “ongoing scheme to extort money from California businesses who dare to give a gift to individuals.” In L.A., Bill Shaikin notes attorney Alfred Rava, who filed the complaint, “has pursued similar litigation against more than 40 bars, cultural organizations and sports teams,” including the A’s and Padres (L.A. TIMES, 7/7).

RED SOX: In Boston, Gordon Edes provides a first look at “Feeding the Monster,” a book by Seth Mnookin that recounts the “inner workings” of the Red Sox’ front office during the ’05 season. Mnookin wrote about a meeting between Owner John Henry and GM Theo Epstein prior to Epstein’s resignation, “[Epstein] explained how he’d felt left out to dry after the [Nomar] Garciaparra trade, how he felt increasingly isolated from much of the organization, how he felt that the team’s obsession with generating more and more press coverage actually made it more difficult to focus on what he thought should be the team’s primary goal: winning baseball games.” Mnookin added that by then Henry was “aware of [President & CEO Larry] Lucchino’s unhappiness at press criticism, specifically from ESPN analyst Peter Gammons, which Lucchino felt originated from within the organization.” Henry is quoted in the book as saying, “You had this situation as far back as before we won the World Series [in ’04] where both [Epstein and Lucchino] felt the other was throwing him under the bus with the media, that they were out to get the other” (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/7).

Pierzynski Wins Online Vote For Last AL All-Star Spot

METS: The Mets have surpassed 3,000,000 in ticket sales for this season, the earliest they have eclipsed that mark since ’89. Last year, the Mets sold 2,829,931 tickets. The team has drawn 1,645,745 through 39 home games this season, up 22.4% from ’05. The Mets also lead the NL in road attendance with 1,549,665 (Mets).

WHITE SOX: In Chicago, Mark Gonzales noted White Sox C A.J. Pierzynski won the online Final Vote for the last roster spot on the AL All-Star team, edging out Twins P Francisco Liriano in what MLB.com “touted as one of the tightest races since the program started five years ago.” Noting the team’s “Punch A.J.” campaign, Pierzynski lauded the White Sox PR department “for coming up with a good slogan.” He also “spoke on the public address system and thanked fans for their support” before Thursday night’s game (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/7).

ASTROS: In Houston, Jose de Jesus Ortiz reports Gallery Furniture on Thursday gave out 30,000 replicas of the Astros’ ’05 NL Championship rings to fans at Minute Maid Park. Gallery also gave away one authentic ’05 NL Championship ring, which features ten-karat yellow gold and 19 diamonds making up the Astros’ logo. Four other fans received $500 from the store (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/7).