One thing your analysis misses is just how promising the Angels' future looks with quality young pitching stars. Bottenfield and Hill have certainly been a disappointment, but the Angels corps of young hurlers -- Schoeneweis, Cooper, Ortiz, and Washburn -- have far exceeded expectations. If these pitchers mature quickly, the Angels could surprise in the second half. The overwhelming offensive power of this team means that the Angels need good -- but not great -- pitching to make the postseason.
David Byerman
Sparks, Nev.

Just like at the beginning of the season, the Angels starting pitching was presumed to be the worst in baseball. But our pitching held out to be respectable even with so many injuries. We are only five games back even when basically starting five rookies in the rotation. These young arms will continue to improve and should be a force in the second half and especially next year.
Bill Lapham
Glendale, Calif.

	“	The young guns are the best young rotation in baseball ”
		— Michael Mettert Colfax, Calif.

The Angels' "young guns" (Cooper, Ortiz, Schoeneweis, Etherton, and Washburn) have all made six or more starts and are 24 years of age or less. I believe the young guns are the best young rotation in baseball. Along with their young position players (Glaus, Molina, Kennedy, Anderson, and Erstad) they have a nucleus that should have them in contention for years to come.
Michael Mettert
Colfax, Calif.

Garrett Anderson already has 26 HR. The ball is juiced, need I say more?
Alan Sun
Rowland Heights, Calif.

I'm not sure how you can grade the Angels only 2 balls and say that their pitching staff with an ERA of 4.96 can't win the AL West when you grade Oakland (3 balls) and Seattle (4 balls) with ERA's .16 and .58 better? That doesn't seem that much better to me.
Robert De Capua
Glendale, Calif.

I'd say your analysis of the first half and the Angels' needs for the second half is most accurate. What they ought to do is unload fat Kent Bottenfield, who is in the last year of his contract. The same goes for Ken Hill and Tim Belcher. Because of all this, I say get whatever you can for the Old Three and let the kids pitch. They must address the DH problem. Scott Spezio is, at best, a utility player. Shortstop is also a concern but if Kevin Stocker is healthy he'll be OK, plus he's played on a pennant winner. Unless they can trade for A-Rod, or someone else to be the SS of the future, they ought to stand pat.
Michael DiFiore
Long Beach, Calif.

Trading Jim Edmonds was the first mistake the Angels made; getting Kent Bottenfield was the second. He won 18 games last year, the most in his career, and they called him a "proven pitcher". Not so, as his record and era this year shows. But Adam Kennedy has been a pleasant surprise, the lone bright spot of the trade.
Anthony Cutkosky
Carson City, Nev.

I don't eat crow, so Bill Stoneman might have to settle for me munching my hat. But I'm not ready to concede yet. While the hat is on the plate, I haven't yet broken out the catsup. Let's just say that I could have been wrong in my preseason comments -- time will tell. At present, I'm pleasantly surprised with a gritty bunch of players, and a surprising crop of rookies. But I fear that grittiness and promise won't overcome the scarcity quality starting pitching (with occasional, happy exceptions). This will not be the Angels' year -- or I will eat my hat -- but next year might be!
Dennis Gaines
La Mirada, Calif.