Oct. 16, 2007: Stoneman makes a move

Now we know why Bill Stoneman made no trades back during those lazy, hazy summer days when an October Freeway Series seemed like a can of corn compared to the odds of a World Series pitting Colorado against Cleveland.

He was making sure the cupboard wouldn’t be bare for Tony Reagins.

During a Tuesday news conference to announce the passing of the Angels’ GM baton, Stoneman said he was “worn down,” suffering from “the burnout factor.” This was greeted as shocking news by Angels fans, who assumed Stoneman had taken the summer off.

Actually, Stoneman kept busy enough. He said Tuesday that he began to talk with Angels owner Arte Moreno about potential successors three months ago. That takes us back to mid-July, just before the trade deadline. That, ultimately, was the big trade Stoneman was negotiating. Stoneman-for-Reagins, straight-up.

Future considerations?

None, unless you count how many times Reagins will consider Mike Scioscia’s opinion before making any kind of roster move. Scioscia’s dugout phone has just been equipped with new-for-2008 dialing options:

Dial “1” for the bullpen.

Dial “2” for pizza.

Dial “3” to tell GM Reagins to trade for a power hitter before the bottom of the eighth inning.

Stoneman steps aside with his Angels legacy chiseled into the artificial rocks beyond the outfield fence. He is the best general manager in the Angels’ 47-year existence. In fact, he is so far ahead of the competition that it’s tough to say who would be No. 2. Mike Port? He made fewer substantial trades than Stoneman. Buzzie Bavasi? He let Nolan Ryan get away. Harry Dalton? The best thing that could be said about Dalton is that he wasn’t Whitey Herzog.

Stoneman clinched the top spot five years ago, when The Angels Actually Won The World Series In Our Lifetime. Neo-fans who discovered the Angels after the Rally Monkey might not believe it, but there was a period of time when just the mention of the name “Angels” drew derisive laughs from sports fans. This period lasted from 1961-2001. It is also known among baseball anthropologists as “The No-Bling Dynasty.”

Impressively, Stoneman did not let the Angels back-slide after The Miracle of Katella Avenue. No doubt, he was greatly helped by the ever-timely infusion of Moreno’s millions, business savvy and enthusiasm. But Stoneman did tend to the farm system, and he closed enough free-agent deals to pave playoff runs in 2004, 2005 and 2007. This is harder than it might initially appear, as the Florida Marlins, Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals have recently learned.

New lessons have been provided the Angels this October.

They have seen that the road back to the World Series does not involve Alex Rodriguez. That has been a truism ever since A-Rod has been a big leaguer, since 1994, which was merely months after the Rockies played their first game.

We have also seen that the Red Sox can be beaten -- provided you can fight firepower with firepower. After losing ALCS Game 1, the Indians have taken the next three games from the Red Sox by the following scores: 13-6, 4-2, 7-3. Two of those games have featured seven-run innings by Cleveland.

The Angels had one three-run inning against Boston in the ALDS. They also had one one-run inning. And 25 no-run innings.

Reagins will have to find a way this winter to fill that gap. Provided Scioscia signs off on it first.

christine.daniels@latimes.com