Around the diamond

Questions to the Angels’ management:

Mike Scioscia is quoted as saying: “There are different solutions for each hitter. It’s a culmination of each guy getting into his game.”

Do you really think Mickey Hatcher can do that?

Unless the Angels do something about their pathetic offense right now, it will be another first-round playoff embarrassment.

When is Mickey Hatcher getting fired?

Gary Fusco

Petaluma, Calif.

My neighbor told me, no, Angels hitters do not regularly swing at pitches that are half a foot above the ground and a foot and a half outside. It is, he told me, a distortion I fall prey to by the angle of the television camera showing the game.

Then I said that if the Angels had one of those coaches who coached the hitters, the coach could tell the hitters to swing at pitches that are in the official strike zone.

Then he asked me if I liked watching the Angels. I told him sure I do, but I thought it would be helpful to everybody if someone would tell Mark Gubicza and Rex Hudler that there are plenty of times during the games when it is OK not to talk.

John Thom

Los Angeles

My friend and I have a bet: I said the Dodgers would finish under .500 this season. He bet they’d win the division. Halfway through, it looks like it could very well be a push.

Joel Rapp

Los Angeles

About his time on the disabled list, Andruw Jones says, “It was a good thing to be off.”

Ballplayers, even the ones suffering on less than Jones’ $18 million per year, are supposed to say things like “I wish I was out there with my teammates” or “It feels awful not being able to contribute” or “I can’t wait to get back out there” and corny old things like that.

Ned Colletti not only doesn’t know damaged goods when he sees it, he doesn’t know how to keep a bad move like Jones from opening his big mouth and saying stupid things that embarrass the team even more than his on-field performance.

Marc Gerber

Encino

Given the horrific state of the National League West, could the recent Freeway Series possibly be a World Series preview; the Anemic Angels of Anaheim vs. the No-Hit Dodger Wonders? Let’s hope not.

Ron Reeve

Glendora