LOS ANGELES (AP) - With this 2001 season of Weaver baseball half over, the Los Angeles Riots are searching for imporvement. Beginning this season, along with the rest of the division, in a state of confusion, things are beginning to look up. Playing solid ball as of late, the Riots have moved into second place, two and a half games behind the hated New York Nukes.

Helping the Riots towards the top this season is new leadoff man, second baseman, Qual Vero. Vero, now hitting .258, was brought over from the Atlanta Rebels for a package of prospects. With his average hovering just over .220 in Atlanta, Qual says that his career was at rock bottom. "I just felt overwhelmed, I guess. I felt that everyone around me in the organization was expecting too much out of me. Some of the pressure was somewhat put on myself, I suppose, though, after hitting the 39 homers [last season]. You know they just wanted me to get on base and let someone drive me in, but I looked down our lineup and I didn't see those bats to do it, so I was taking upon myself to drive myself in. It was just a bad situation down there, is all. I'm now very happy here in L.A. I'm surrounded by great hitters, and we're in the playoff hunt." Second baseman Ralph Milliard, starting pitcher Dan Serafini, and the 12th overall pick in this years draft were given up for Vero and a second round pick.

Also gaining bragging rights around baseball this season, are Ken Griffey, Jr. and Jimmie Foxx. Though both were already established stars, this season may still be considered as breakthrough years for the both of them. Griffey, who missed an entire month of last season, is now second in the league in batting average behind Ty Cobb of the Nukes, hitting at a .361 clip (only 11 points less than Cobb). He also, though, is third in slugging percentage at .643, third in hits with 159, sixth in doubles with 28, tied for second in home runs with 32, second in runs scored at 92, fourth in RBI's with 81, second in runs created with 115, and seventh in walks with 34. Far and away the most productive hitter in L.A.'s lineup, and one of the best in the league, is Griffey. He, though, gives all of the credit to his teamates, "Hey man, none of this could happen if the rest of the guys here weren't doing what they're doing." First baseman Jimmie Foxx, who is second in the league in RBI's with 96, has the same outlook, "I have to give credit to all to the runs I've driven in to everyone who has gotten on base in front of me. Without them getting on base, I don't drive any runs in. I Mean we have a solid group of guys here, and we all want to win. Lets see what happens."

With the offense puting up runs on the board like they are, Riot fans are just hoping for some quality innings from the pitching staff. So far this season the staff has been inconsistent, at best. With a solid 1, 2, 3 in Zanjan Hamadan, Nolan Ryan, and Bill Pulsipher, manager Rodney King has been looking for the pieces to finish the puzzle. With eight different pitchers starting games this season, an end to the pitching charades seems no where in sight. "Well right now, see, we jus' goin' to throw whoever looks bes'. I mean not single one dese boys seems ta be able get one over da plate at times. So's dats how it's goin' be 'till we can get another quality guy in dis rotation. An' dats up to da boys up stairs ta get one in here. OJ and all dem' other folk, I jus' pencil in a lineup, see," says Riots manager Rodney King.

With some fuzzy spots in the starting rotation the Riots front office says that they are, in fact, in the running to aquire another solid starter.