Disney Chair Michael Eisner said the Angels are "making
the necessary moves to build lasting success," according to
Kevin Acee of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Eisner, who said
that he "does not see the Angels ever having a Yankees-type
payroll," said the team would be "competitive." Eisner: "We
are competitive. I don't think there's any secret our
company has spent the money in every area, including the
stadium, including the executives and players, to be
competitive. ... We don't want to own a team that's not
competitive. We'd rather not be in the game." Acee wrote
that the theme of Eisner's comments "always returned to
Disney's long-term commitment," and that Eisner "even said
he can accept the Angels continuing to lose money for a
time" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/1). Eisner, on the team's
aim to sign young players to long-term deals: "It would be
nice to re-create the loyalty baseball used to have, for
fans to know you'll have certain players from one year to
the next." Eisner, on the team's goals: "What we're
building toward is having a winning organization year in and
year out, so that every season there's a sense of hope. You
just can't shoot from the hip." Eisner, on the Marlins: "To
me, I'm still idealistic, and I think it takes the luster
away if you buy a championship. I hope that was an anomaly.
I don't think the fans in Florida are going to be loyal if
they buy a team one year and dissolve it the next. I don't
think that will happen here" (L.A. TIMES, 3/1).
