Team owner says Scioscia will be back with Angels next year
With multiple stories in national publications and online questioning the relationship between first-year general manager Jerry Dipoto and longtime manager Mike Scioscia and speculating that Scioscia would not return in 2013, Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno finally broke his vow of silence.
Moreno has declined numerous interview requests this year to discuss Scioscia's job security, sagging attendance at Angel Stadium and reports that he has begun exploring options to build a new stadium in the Los Angeles area. However, he chose to speak with an MLB.com reporter Saturday, denying that he was looking to move the team and assuring fans that Scioscia will return as manager in 2013.
"From my end of it, I have a commitment here. I love it here. I have a passion for it," Scioscia said before Sunday's 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. "I'm happy Arte feels the same way.
"There have been a lot of things floating around that weren't accurate. Now we can just concentrate on playing baseball."
Dismissing Scioscia would have been a costly decision for Moreno. The manager signed a contract extension in January 2009 that can run through the 2018 season and would cost Moreno $30 million to replace Scioscia at this point. But the Angels appear to be headed to a third consecutive non-playoff finish despite Moreno's commitment to a club-record payroll of more than $150 million this season.
Nonetheless, Scioscia said Moreno assured him "long ago" that he would be back for 2013.
"I'm not going to give specifics of our conversations," Scioscia said. "Some things stalled last year and we didn't quite get there the year before. We want to be here when this championship comes.
"I love it here and want to be part of this. Jerry, John (Carpino, the team president) and Arte feel the same way."
