Anderson: All-Star Fans Not Cheated

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —  In his first All-Star appearance, Garret Anderson heard boos, all around him. As Anderson stood in left field during the 11th inning of Tuesday’s All-Star game, with the crowd informed that the game was about to end in a tie, fans booed and chanted, “Let them play!”

While he said he understood that fans wanted to see the game end in a victory, he disputed the notion that fans who paid $175 a ticket were somehow cheated.

“They saw a great game. They got their money’s worth,” Anderson said. “Yeah, you’d like to see a winner, but nobody could tell you who won last year’s All-Star game. At least it wasn’t a 0-0 game. They saw Barry [Bonds] hit a home run. They saw [Curt] Schilling pitch well. They got what they paid for.”

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With the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians firing managers within the past week and intending to rebuild, the Angels are aware that such veteran relievers as Tom Gordon and Jeff Fassero (Cubs) and Paul Shuey and Ricardo Rincon (Indians) could be traded soon. And, with the Angels seeking a reliever and five days away from the first of 11 consecutive games against division rivals Seattle and Oakland, they would love to see General Manager Bill Stoneman make a deal in the next few days.

“But a lot of times when you’re looking for that one piece and one club has it, 10 teams want it,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “I think Bill is going to make sure he makes an equitable deal. I think he’d rather take his time and make a good deal than rush and make a poor deal.”

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Although outfielder Darin Erstad said last week he is willing to forgo free agency and sign a long-term contract extension with the Angels now, his agent said Thursday he had neither solicited an offer from Stoneman nor presented a proposal to him. Agent Jeff Moorad said he spoke with Scioscia at the All-Star game and assured him Erstad did not wish for his contract status to become an issue during the pennant race.

“Darin has made it clear his first choice is to remain in Anaheim and his desire is to have a deal in place sooner rather than later,” Moorad said. “Bill Stoneman and the organization were very clear in spring training--as I was at that time--that we felt the best thing to do was to put off the discussions until the end of the season. That continues to be our intent.”

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

KEVIN APPIER

(6-7, 4.69 ERA)

vs.

ROYALS’

JEFF SUPPAN

(7-6, 4.38 ERA)

Kauffman Stadium, 5 PDT

TV--Channel 9.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Update--The Angels activated Shawn Wooten--and started him at designated hitter--and optioned reliever Matt Wise to triple-A Salt Lake. Reliever Al Levine (shoulder tendinitis) could begin a rehabilitation assignment next week and rejoin the team during the following week. Infielder Benji Gil left Thursday’s game in the sixth inning because of cramping on his right side.