Is this heaven? No, it’s the Angels

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.

How on earth does Stoneman spin Hillenbrand as short-term compensation for Rivera’s injury or as an improvement to an offense that already lacks power and plate patience -- neither of which Hillenbrand brings to the table?

JOCK THOMPSON

Foothill Ranch