ANGELS SHOULD STAND PAT.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK Staff Wrtier

And now for something completely different, and admittedly very uncolumnist-like, advice is hereby given to the Los Angeles Angels of Arte Moreno to do ... nothing.

Yep, the world is officially upside down. No screams to add that big bat. No uproar over lack of movement by general manager Bill Stoneman. No indignation over the status quo.

It's complete surrender. Flying the white flag. Capitulation to the moment, the season and, yes, Stoneman.

Start the second half tonight and go with it. Dance with who brought you.

Do nothing. Well, at least nothing so significant it will cost you a prized prospect to nail down a star player for three months.

Alfonso Soriano, Bobby Abreu, Carlos Lee, Miguel Tejada and the like are all very tempting. Would surely make an impact on this season.

But if the cost is an Ervin Santana or Jered Weaver or Mike Napoli, forget it. If renting a star means relinquishing a significant chunk of the future, take a pass.

Listen, like to learn from history as much as the next guy. And history tells us the Angels were in serious need of another bat last year in the playoffs, and that need went unaddressed by Stoneman in the offseason.

Disaster then loomed when the Angels fell seven games back in a, er, mediocre division. As a team they became unrecognizable. Underachieving became their first name.

Their prized defense went Keystone Kops. Their situational hitting went MIA. Their offensive power went Kansas City Royals.

The Angels looked in the mirror and no one was there. Or at least no one they knew.

How does a team that went from tying for the best defense in baseball in 2005, suddenly lead the American League in errors?

How does a team that specialized in little ball, suddenly forget how to advance runners?

How does a team that had at least decent power suddenly act like a four-bagger is something you get with a large bill at Albertsons?

And most importantly, how does a team struggling with all that reach the break only two games back?

Two measly games, the same distance the Dodgers trailed at the All-Star break.

The answer to how is twofold: The Angels showed life recently, winning eight of their past nine; and they play in baseball's worst division.

There is an unquestioned element of luck to the Angels' current situation. The division is highly competitive, which is a polite way of saying it's parity to the extreme.

But with no one stepping forward, the Angels appear to have survived their identity crisis and early sloppy play to be in a terrific position to win the division -- exactly as is.

This is not to say they should not attempt to find a usable bat to rent for the next two or three months.

But better to bring in a second-tier player for the short term, a veteran nearing the end but still serviceable.

The Angels need help on the corners. Maybe they pursue a Jeff Conine or a Joe Randa, or if the cost is not too high, aim higher for a Sean Casey or a Shea Hillenbrand. Even a Craig Wilson would help.

Then when the season is over, and their contract expired, you can let them go knowing you did not mortgage your future. Maybe even re-sign them on the cheap.

The division is not only winnable the way the Angels are currently constructed, they're probably favored to take it now.

Their worst baseball likely is behind them. You can't be blinded by superb play anymore than poor, but the way they finished the first half was only encouraging.

Vladimir Guerrero looked more like a superstar and less like a guy going through the worst slump of his career. Juan Rivera resembled the player the Angels had been counting on. Chone Figgins again became the biggest pest in baseball.

The defense, with Maicer Izturis calming the situation at third, stabilized.

John Lackey looked like an ace, Weaver very much the real deal, Santana a star on the rise, Bartolo Colon at least ready to imitate his CyYoung form.

Starting pitching is not just a strength, it could be a difference-maker should the Angels advance to the postseason. Despite a few wobbles, Scot Shields and Francisco Rodriguez again look like the best one-two closing punch in baseball.

A perfect team?

Not close. Garret Anderson, signed through 2008, is battling foot and back problems and seems to be fading by the day. Adam Kennedy and injury-riddled Darin Erstad are not building a case for being re-signed.

Dallas McPherson and Casey Kotchman, fighting injury and illness, remain promise undelivered. McPherson could return shortly, but anything out of those two at this point would almost be considered a bonus.

Moreno has shelled out $103 million for this collection of players -- the third-highest payroll in baseball -- and has right to expect more than an embarrassing 43-45 team.

The second half should provide it. And Stoneman really doesn't need to do a thing.

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