SCIOSCIA HIRED BY ANGELS; MANAGER'S TASK WILL BE TO UNITE TEAM.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

Former Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia will be introduced as the new Angels manager today in a news conference at Edison Field.

Scioscia is believed to have received a three-year deal.

The announcement ends general manager Bill Stoneman's search that lasted 2-1/2 weeks since his hiring and included interviews with seven candidates.

Scioscia, who will turn 41 this month, beat out Chris Chambliss, Joe Maddon, Joel Skinner, Ken Macha, Bob Boone and Hal McRae for the position.

Scioscia's primary task will be to bring together a clubhouse that became so divided last season that manager Terry Collins resigned Sept. 3. Stoneman focused on looking for someone he thought would be able to manage people and gain the respect of the players.

``(I'm looking for) somebody who understands baseball is a team sport and treats the job as such,'' Stoneman said during the interview process. ``If somebody buys into that, we'll have a lot more fun.''

Last month Scioscia resigned as manager of the Albuquerque Dukes, the Dodgers' Triple-A team. After the Dukes finished the season with a record of 65-74, Scioscia decided it was time to pursue other opportunities in baseball.

CAPTION(S):

photo

PHOTO (color) Mike Scioscia