Some Say an Angel Trade for McGwire Would Be Off Mark

It is amusing that The Times is openly debating the merits of the Angels acquiring Mark McGwire. It must be a mental exercise for bored guys staring at a blank computer screen. If one truly thinks about the situation, the answer is clear. The acquisition of McGwire will not get the Angels to the playoffs. Consider:

1. As this is written, the Angels have 70 games left. Assuming McGwire remains healthy (no certainty) and has a good second half, he will hit 25 homers and drive in 55 runs in those 70 games.

2. The price for McGwire probably would be Garret Anderson and a prospect. Assuming Anderson remains healthy (which is likely) and has a good second half, he will hit seven homers and drive in 35 runs and hit for a higher average than McGwire.

Given that, the Angels must determine whether 18 more homers and 20 more RBIs will get them to the promised land. The answer, of course, is that it will not.

The Angels should be seeking Curt Schilling or another pitcher with an earned-run average of less than 5.00. But these are the Angels. They will make the trade, finish in third place, re-sign McGwire to a long-term contract and have an occasionally productive, overpaid and oft-injured slugger on their hands in the twilight of his career.

It’s comforting to know that Disney exhibits as much baseball knowledge as the Autrys.

JEFF STEWART

Lakewood

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Do the writers at The Times actually read what they write? All year long we’ve been bombarded with story after story about the lack of chemistry on the Dodgers. Now I read story after story about how if the Angels don’t trade for Mark McGwire, the front office will blow its chances to win a pennant.

It looks to me like the last thing this team needs is another bat. They have young talent, veteran leadership, power, hitting for average, speed, bench strength and, obviously, incredible chemistry.

Angel management should be applauded for showing patience, discretion and the intelligence to understand that they can make a big trade only once, and if they can’t get exactly what this team needs, that a trade (even for a box-office draw, such as McGwire), has more potential to hurt the team than help them.

MITCH ENGEL

Los Angeles

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The Angels need to put an end to trade speculation and make a move before the rumors begin to affect the team’s performance. Keeping Edmonds and Anderson and trading Tavares and Bavasi should guarantee that Angel fans won’t have to endure another goofy move by the Disney sports team.

BARRY P. RESNICK

Orange

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I’m tired of reading stories about the poor attendance at Angel games. I recently went to an Angel game, but there weren’t any seats available except nose-bleed seats. I would have gladly paid a few dollars more to get better tickets, but to my surprise the stadium was under construction and missing the entire middle section of seats.

Maybe attendance is down because fans had the same experience as I did and will wait until next season when the stadium is finished being renovated and more good seats will be available.

STEVE MOCH

Redondo Beach

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Isn’t there anyone in the Angel organization who can make Sparky Anderson shut up?

JAMES SINGLETON

Claremont