He’s no prime-time Angel

I’m shocked -- shocked! -- to find that Shea Hillenbrand was upset about something. Even though he was on a first-place team and had nothing to whine about, he was still a distraction.

He may think he is, in his own words, a “quality player in my prime,” but he’s not hitting for average, he doesn’t draw walks, and he’s got a lower slugging percentage than anyone else in the starting lineup.

The less Hillenbrand played, the more success the Angels had. He didn’t put up, so he should have shut up.

DAVID PENG

Cerritos

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My wife and I are resurrecting an exchange from 2002:

Her: “What’s the score?”

Me: “Angels are down by four runs.”

Her: “Good. We’ve got them right where we want them.”

JIM DONART

Temecula

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With all the free time Bill Stoneman has during the trading season, how about locking up a deal for that Frankie kid?

JAYSON ROMERO

Redlands

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Remember when people wrote in to say Bill Stoneman was a fool for letting go of David Eckstein and Jeff Weaver? Remember during the off-season when people wrote in to criticize Arte Moreno for spending money on Gary Matthews Jr. and not Adam Kennedy? Remember at the beginning of the season when people wrote in to demand that Mickey Hatcher be fired?

One final question: Where are those people now?

PAUL SCHOWALTER

Cypress

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The way Nomar Garciaparra is swinging and missing this week, the local utility company should install a wind turbine behind him and generate some real power.

JONNY ENRIQUEZ

Buena Park