Poitevint Still Reeling After Firing

SUN VALLEY —  Being fired by the Angels did not take Ray Poitevint totally by surprise. But the shock and pain have lingered anyway.

Poitevint, one of baseball’s most respected scouts, was cut loose Jan. 5 after three years as the Angels’ director of international scouting. Previously, he served as a scouting director for the Orioles and Brewers for 20 years.

“I’m a positive guy, but I’ve never experienced this kind of hurt,” he said. “I put 120% into the job and so did my scouts. I am disappointed because I honestly felt from the bottom of my heart that I did a good job.”

Poitevint’s relationship with the Angels began to deteriorate after Whitey Herzog resigned a year ago. Herzog had hired Poitevint, and the two enjoyed a trust and respect that had enabled Poitevint to develop a complex, mutually beneficial relationship with the team.

The Angels’ entire international scouting budget, Poitevint says, was paid for by fees he charged Japanese teams that sign U.S. players based on his recommendations. Poitevint, whose wife is the daughter of a prominent Japanese judge with baseball ties, is perhaps the American baseball figure most trusted by the Japanese.

In turn, the Angels allowed Poitevint to place players he believed would generate interest from the Japanese on Angel farm teams until they were sold. Players he sold to Japan include Alvin Davis, Max Venable, Larry Sheets, Ben Oglivie, R.J. Reynolds, Glenn Braggs, Mel Hall and Jim Traber.

Poitevint also brought to the Angels a ready-made department of 12 international scouts, a number that has grown to 16.

The Angels signed about 50 in international players during Poitevint’s tenure from countries as varied as Australia, Guam, Colombia and Korea.

Now, suddenly, it’s over. Although Poitevint refuses to speak disparagingly of anyone associated with the Angels, it is clear he did not enjoy the same closeness with team vice president Bill Bavasi or assistant vice president Bob Fontaine Jr. as he had with Herzog.

“It takes many years to build up a strong foundation in other countries,” Fontaine said. “In the past three years a lot of fine things were done. Obviously some things didn’t work out and Ray’s not here anymore. We think we are on the right track.”

The other international scouts, many of whom have worked under Poitevint for more than a decade, have guaranteed contracts through the 1995 season. So does Poitevint, although he won’t be asked to perform any duties.