A Much Happier Place on Earth

TEMPE, Ariz. —  The Angels hold their first workout of spring training today, kicking off a camp nearly free of competition and full of tranquillity. Everyone wants to be here, and what were the odds of that last fall?

The players and the fans were fed up with each other, the players ripping the beloved rally monkey, a three-game series in September attracting a total of 40,000 fans, and the Angels losing their final seven games and 19 of their last 21 to finish a franchise-worst 41 games out of first place.

Slugger Mo Vaughn didn’t want to be here, publicly appealing for liberation from the Angels on a Boston radio station before bothering to tell the team. All-Star closer Troy Percival didn’t want to be here, vowing to play out the final year of his contract and then leave as a free agent after blaming the team for disclosing details of failed negotiations for an extension. Tony Tavares didn’t want to be here, spending the final months of his team presidency negotiating his own buyout. And Disney didn’t want to be here, hoping desperately to sell the Angels to Florida Marlin owner John Henry, a buyer hand-picked by Commissioner Bud Selig.

In November, Henry jilted Disney, deciding the floundering Angels weren’t worth a premium price and instead joining the group that bought the Boston Red Sox. Paul Pressler, Tavares’ boss, then decided Disney ought to play to win so long as it owned the Angels, and he directed General Manager Bill Stoneman to abandon a trade that would have sent outfielder Darin Erstad to the Chicago White Sox for prospects. The Dodgers insist--and Stoneman denies--the Angels also abandoned a three-for-one trade for Percival.

On back-to-back days in December, the Angels spent $24 million on pitcher Aaron Sele, the second-largest free-agent purchase in franchise history, then dispatched Vaughn to the New York Mets for right-hander Kevin Appier, another veteran starter. In January, Tavares resigned, and within hours Percival’s agent said his client might just stick around. The Angels filled a five-year vacancy by acquiring a designated hitter, Brad Fullmer, who wanted to play at home on the West Coast as much as Vaughn wanted to play at home on the East Coast. Two weeks ago, Percival signed a two-year contract extension for $16 million.

“This commitment level that Disney and the Angels have made is beyond anything that I’ve experienced since I’ve been with the Angels,” Percival said.

So, with a tip of the new red caps to Disney, welcome to one of the happiest places on Earth. This could have been one of the ugliest camps in the major leagues--Vaughn declaring his distaste for the designated hitter role the Angels intended for him to fill and uncomfortably facing teammates alienated by his loud dissatisfaction despite his $80-million contract, Percival quietly counting down the days until free agency, assorted players sniping about corporate neglect.

But now, in addition to showing off their new uniform, the Angels actually have players happy to wear it.

Stoneman got a hint of fans’ anticipation when he spoke this week to a civic group in Tempe, the team’s spring home.

“You could see the glow on the faces of these people,” Stoneman said. “And these are not people from the Anaheim area. These are Phoenix-area people. And they’ve picked up on it. It goes beyond the California border.”

Excitement beats lethargy and frustration, but by itself it does not beat the Seattle Mariners or Oakland Athletics.

The Mariners tied a major league record with 116 victories in winning the American League West. The A’s won 102 games and the wild-card entry to the playoffs, finishing 14 games behind Seattle--and 27 ahead of the Angels.

The Angels never have won 100 games and last won as many as 90 in 1989. Their solid starting rotation affords them the chance to win 90 this season, if Erstad and Tim Salmon recover from miserable seasons and if outfielder Garret Anderson and third baseman Troy Glaus do not regress.

But those are questions for the regular season. There are no questions this spring, at least not with respect to winning a starting job. The only competition for roster spots, barring injury or trade, involves the last guy on the bench and the last guy in the bullpen.

Sele and Appier join Jarrod Washburn, Ramon Ortiz and Scott Schoeneweis in the starting rotation. In relief, Percival will be supported by Al Levine, Dennis Cook, Ben Weber, Lou Pote and one of at least a half-dozen candidates for the remaining spot.

Anderson will play left field, Erstad center and Salmon right, with Orlando Palmeiro backing up the outfielders. Glaus will play third, David Eckstein shortstop, Adam Kennedy second base and Scott Spiezio and Shawn Wooten will share first, with Benji Gil backing up the infielders. Bengie Molina and Jorge Fabregas will catch and Fullmer will DH, with Clay Bellinger, Jeff DaVanon and Jose Nieves competing for a utility spot.

With the roster remarkably set, Manager Mike Scioscia plans to use the spring to determine a set lineup. He used 130 lineups last year, more than all but one team in the league, trying frantically to shove his offense into hitting gear.

“We have to settle on a consistent offensive club that’s going to be able to support what we feel is an outstanding pitching staff,” Scioscia said. “You want to get that offensive chemistry lined up, and that’s going to take some work and some time.”

This spring, they’ll whistle while they work.