ANGELS UPDATE: EISNER DELAYING ANGELS' GM HIRE : DISNEY BURROWS PAWS INTO THE DECISION.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

While the people at Fox have decided to diminish their involvement with the day-to-day operations of the Dodgers, those at the Walt Disney Co. have taken the opposite approach with the Angels.

The process of hiring a new general manager has become a mess, with Disney's corporate side getting involved. Some might say a better word is ``interfering,'' but no one involved with Anaheim Sports Inc. or the Angels will say so, considering who from the corporate side is involved.

Disney chairman and CEO Michael Eisner, according to sources, has become extremely active in the GM search. He's delaying the process.

With the World Series complete, managerial candidates like Don Baylor (hitting coach for the Braves) and Chris Chambliss (hitting coach for the Yankees) might not be available by the time the Angels have someone sitting in former GM Bill Bavasi's old office.

Just why is Eisner involved, and seemingly so suddenly?

Sources say Angels president Tony Tavares decided last week that Montreal Expos executive Bill Stoneman would be the new GM. Stoneman interviewed twice, and only a third and final interview, one that would include Eisner, stood in the way of an offer.

But Eisner, according to sources, was miffed that he was portrayed in newspaper stories as a ``figurehead'' and someone who had little input in the decision other than his rubber-stamp approval.

In response, Eisner did not approve Stoneman and recalled the other candidates for repeat interviews. Stoneman is still in the running, but Bob Watson, Jim Duquette and Omar Minaya were called back and met with Disney officials, including Eisner, in Burbank earlier this week.

The Angels also added a fifth candidate to the mix. Dan Evans, an assistant GM with the Chicago White Sox, is scheduled to be interviewed today.

Calls to Disney's corporate office in Burbank and Tavares' office in Anaheim were deferred to Angels spokesman Tim Mead, who said he didn't anticipate more interviews after today's with Evans.

``It remains this organization's intent to have closure as soon as possible,'' Mead said, ``so we can deal with other pending issues.''