The Angels were a trendy pick to win the AL West this year, but instead they've been the worst team in the league outside of the AL's two perennial doormats, the Royals and Devil Rays (who are on pace for their ninth straight 90-loss season). Yet media reports have focused on what GM Bill Stoneman can do to improve the club in 2006. Here's the answer: nothing. And that's exactly what Stoneman should do.
The reality is that the playoffs are already hopelessly out of reach for the Angels this year. They're five games out of the division lead in the loss column, with three teams to pass, and they're 16 out in the wild card. And their run differential (they've been outscored by 32 runs this season) indicates that their record is no fluke. They really do stink.