Bill Stoneman

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 My wife and I are resurrecting an exchange from 2002: Her: "What's the score?"

So let me get this straight: Juan Rivera's absence needed to be addressed, so Shea Hillenbrand is a solution? $6.5 million for a first baseman who's never slugged .500 or hit 20 homers, doesn't draw walks, is eight years older than Casey Kotchman and Kendry Morales, and has a problem with authority? If Vladimir Guerrero hadn't fallen in Bill Stoneman's lap before 2004, he'd be fired by now. DAVID PENGLos Angeles As an avid Angels fan, I've found countless ways to rationalize and even justify many of Bill Stoneman's moves -- or lack thereof -- but this one is impossible even for me. The Angels already have a better, younger version of Hillenbrand in Robb Quinlan.

The Angels' general manager has been on the job for seven seasons, indisputably the most successful period in club history, a renaissance on the field and at the gate. Yet, while occasionally spotted at the batting cage or recognized in restaurants, Bill Stoneman has largely remained in the shadows -- never upstaging his manager or team, never revealing his intentions to the media, methodically and analytically true to himself and his conviction that no one pays to see the general manager.

When the Angels gave up Bengie Molina, they gave up the foundation of the pitching staff. I sure wish someone in the organization would wake up to that fact. No matter how good a prospect a young catcher may be, the years of experience and the ability to handle a pitcher in the midst of a game are simply too precious to be thrown away, as Bill Stoneman did with Bengie. Other than that, a few hits from time to time and a whole new way of playing defensively and the Angels might get to .500 by the time the season is over.

Sunday's non-waiver trade deadline came and went without any moves from the Angels, which should come as no surprise. Bill Stoneman has not made a significant deal at the July 31 deadline in six years as Angel general manager, and a major trade Sunday would have been considered an upset. "I didn't sense an attitude in here that we were going to do anything," pitcher Jarrod Washburn said.

Considering that new owner Arte Moreno has already extended the contract of Bill Stoneman through 2007, is it a stretch to suggest the Angel general manager is under the gun this winter? Isn't Dan Evans, his colleague up the freeway, supposed to be the general manager in jeopardy as the Dodgers remain in ownership limbo? Well, it would be a stretch indeed to suggest Stoneman's job is at similar risk, but he does have some proving to do.

He sits in the front row, right behind home plate, for every Cactus League game at the Angels' spring home in Arizona. He wears a wide-brim hat to shield himself from the relentless sun. A few fans might recognize him. Most scurry past, rushing to flag down the guy selling the cold drinks. He is the most anonymous general manager in baseball, which is just the way he likes it. "I don't get bugged in restaurants," Bill Stoneman says.

In five months as general manager of the Montreal Expos, Omar Minaya has made seven trades. In those five months, Bill Stoneman has made no trades. In his three years as general manager of the Angels, Stoneman has made nine. The Angels' need for help is more urgent after three relievers and the starting catcher were put on the disabled list within the past three weeks, but Stoneman has yet to make a deal, even for a middle reliever.

As bargaining positions go, Bill Stoneman could hardly be in a worse one. The Angel general manager already was trying to trade for bullpen help, half the team's relievers went on the disabled list within the last 18 days and the Angels blew a 7-1 lead Monday. So, with the trading deadline 15 days away, you can't blame opposing general managers for asking Stoneman to give up two or three of his best prospects and pick up a veteran with a fat contract too.