Anaheim Angels Baseball Team

If last weekend's Angel Fest in Anaheim is any indication, fans are still having a difficult time coping with the loss of popular shortstop David Eckstein, who was let go in December -- there seemed to be as many fans wearing Eckstein jerseys and T-shirts as there were wearing Vladimir Guerrero apparel.

Though the Angels and the representative for first-round pick Jered Weaver appear to be significantly apart in negotiations, owner Arte Moreno said Thursday that he was "cautiously optimistic" a deal would get done. The team and agent Scott Boras hoped to reach agreement by the start of spring training, but that soft deadline passed when pitchers and catchers held their first workout Thursday.

As the city of Anaheim prepares for a lengthy legal battle with the Angels, the team has asked for a judicial ruling that would all but throw the case out of court. The city alleges the Angels' new name, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, violates a stadium lease provision requiring the team name to "include the name Anaheim therein."

They read about the two-year, $12-million contract Troy Percival signed with Detroit, saw television clips of the former Angel closer pulling a Tiger cap over his head at a November news conference, and bid farewell to their comrade in arms in phone calls over the winter.

The Angels lost some heart, some soul, some grit, this winter when shortstop David Eckstein was let go, and they lost some conscience when veteran closer and team leader Troy Percival was allowed to leave as a free agent. They lost a chunk of muscle when they made no attempt to re-sign third baseman Troy Glaus, who is capable of hitting 40 home runs a year, and traded left fielder Jose Guillen, who had 27 homers and 104 runs batted in last season.

The Anaheim City Council redoubled its commitment to its lawsuit against the Angels on Tuesday, adding a prominent attorney to its legal team and mapping a strategy that could keep the case alive for months. As the newly renamed Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim open spring training today, with national media outlets set to drop the Anaheim Angel name, the council voted to file appeals designed to force the team to revert to its old name.

As the Anaheim City Council meets today to determine how to proceed in its lawsuit against the Angels, Councilwoman Lorri Galloway says dropping the case is not an option. "We're thinking about which way to go," Galloway said Monday. "We're not thinking about which way to stop." The council could consider an appeal of the ruling Jan. 21 by Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter Polos, who refused to stop the Angels from doing business as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Angel owner Arte Moreno acknowledged Friday that some fans were unhappy with the team's name change but said there had been no financial backlash. No one has canceled a season ticket between the bases or ended a luxury suite lease, he said on the team's website, Angelsbaseball.com, adding that season ticket sales were up nearly 25% over last year and spring training sales up 50%.

The costly dilemma facing the Anaheim City Council today: Find a graceful way out of a longshot lawsuit against the Angels, or approve a million-dollar legal bill in the hope of persuading a jury that the Angels have broken their stadium lease even though a judge says they have not.

The Angels are close to completing a television schedule in which a total of 140 games would air on Fox Sports Net West, Channel 9 and Channel 56. FSNW announced a 50-game broadcast schedule Monday. Channel 9 also has agreed to carry 50 games, including one exhibition. The Angels are expected to arrange for 40 more games to air on Channel 56. In addition, 10 games are scheduled for national broadcasts on ESPN or Channel 11.