It’s Business as Usual for Angels

Well, you don’t have to go to Rancho Cucamonga to check out a minor league baseball operation anymore. Just hop over to the Big A, where Moe, Larry and Curly are trying to run a front office.

Following Buck Rodgers with Bobby Knoop and Marcel Lachemann is like following Pavarotti with Tiny Tim, or Ronald Reagan with George Bush. It’s like Smiley Burnette getting the girl, or Frosty the Snowman melting.

We haven’t felt this bad about a managerial firing since the Angels canned Bill Rigney.

William Shakespeare wrote, “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” We didn’t know he knew Richard Brown.

ED HONECK and

STEVE ORTH

Orange

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Mike Downey almost had it right when he justly lambasted Bill Bavasi et al for the firing of Buck Rodgers. I am just a bit surprised, however, at his apparent astonishment regarding the Angel front office’s lack of reasons.

When dealing with incredibly inflated egos, Mr. Downey should know better than to question the motives of self-styled gods. Did we question why Gene Autry saw it proper to congratulate himself (or was it Jackie?) by retiring a number in his name? I mean, his is only the last of the original expansion teams of its era never to have won or even appear in a World Series.

My advice to the team is to stop spending so much time and money trying to buy immortality and injured goods and appreciate the true quality, however rare, of some of the players and coaches like Rodgers, even if he does open his mouth too much.

DANIEL ZIMMERMAN

Los Angeles

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Regarding the firing of the Angels’ manager:

Diogenes, throw your lamp away. They found one and fired him. Thanks and good luck, Buck.

ED LUCKOW

North Hills

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I don’t understand the shock and surprise surrounding the recent firing of Buck Rodgers. Anyone familiar with the history of this organization knows there has always been a lack of respect and loyalty shown the fans, managers and select veteran players by the Angel hierarchy.

I would be interested in the computation of how much money could have been saved over the last 34 years had a couple of managers been given votes of confidence, rather than this embarrassing parade of hirings, contract extensions and firings.

I concur with Ross Newhan--a winning management team will only be assembled when the cowboy and his cowgirl gallop--not ride--into the sunset.

PATRICIA A. LUTGEN

Riverside