After Dodgers Face the Music, Fans Start Singing the Blues

Perhaps the Dodgers didn’t choke,

I know the word is hateful.

Their season just went up in smoke

and we should all be grateful.

If they had faced, for higher stakes,

the Astros, Braves or Marlins,

they never would have made it home

as anybody’s darlin’s.

So maybe choking wasn’t why

they fell upon their swords.

But if not, they must sure deserve

Academy Awards.

MERL EDELMAN

West Hollywood

*

Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants. It was really no contest. The Giants won the division without five rookies of the year on the field, without four guys in their lineup hitting 30 or more home runs, without an international cast of starting pitchers, but with an experienced manager, a knowledgeable general manager willing to take risks and, perhaps more important, something this Dodger team always seemed to be lacking--heart.

DAVID ARYE

Los Angeles

*

I’d like to cast my vote for National League MVP. Like Time magazine, which gives its man-of-the-year award to the person who had the most influence, good or bad, on world affairs, I give my vote to the person who had the most influence on the NL standings. And it’s a tie--between White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Todd Worrell.

D. PHINNEY

Thousand Oaks

*

If Bill Russell’s inept leadership the last two seasons doesn’t make Dodger owners consider a managerial change for the 1998 season, I don’t know what will.

LEON SMITH

Bonsall

*

All of the correspondence regarding the alleged fall of the Dodgers has focused on Bill Russell, Fred Claire and various players. In my opinion, the fault lies with the sportswriters and sportscasters. In spring training, they essentially conceded the World Series to the Dodgers. That put too much pressure on everyone.

HARRY SHRAGG

Los Angeles

*

From Raul Mondesi after becoming the only Dodger in team history to achieve the 30-30 club: “This is my happiest time as a Dodger.” The next day his team is eliminated from playoff contention. Now which is it: One for all or all for one?

TOM KINGSLEY

Sherman Oaks

*

How astute is Fred Claire? He traded Pedro Martinez because, according to the Baseball Gospel of St. Claire, [Martinez] was too small and lacked the stamina to be a starter. Pedro had more complete games this season than the entire Dodger staff.

Fred Claire made one great move: Kirk Gibson. Since then, nine years have passed without one postseason victory.

Branch Rickey he ain’t.

FRED KURTH

Huntington Beach

*

So the Giants finally made it to postseason play--but only with the help of two terrific Dodgers--Dusty Baker and Ron Perranoski. We win.

JOLYNN KANIA

Redlands

*

The Dodgers lose the pennant. The Giants win the pennant. I really don’t know which sounds worse.

LORI MOORE

Garden Grove

*

I am completely mystified by the tone of most of the letters bitterly complaining about the performance of the Dodgers in 1997. As a lifelong Dodger fan, I found this to be one of the most exciting seasons in years. Did we not have four players with more than 30 homers? One with 30 homers and 30 stolen bases? Were we not in the race until the second-to-last day of the season?

Other cities can only imagine what it would be like to have a baseball franchise the caliber of our Dodgers.

KEN ROBBINS

Los Angeles

*

Every big league franchise would love to have a first baseman who will play every day, hit for power, drive in runs, make the plays on defense, show leadership in the clubhouse, accommodate the media, and be active in the community. The Dodgers already have one in Eric Karros.

ANDY SCHWICH

Santa Monica

*

Brett Butler said goodbye to baseball, but maybe not. Next strike, we’ll probably see him back as a replacement player.

BILL STEIN

Cambria