They know how to make an exit

It was a scenario Dodgers fans dreamed about: Paul Lo Duca delivers a clutch hit during the game-winning rally and Shawn Green squeezes the final out to clinch the National League Division Series. Too bad the champagne flowed in the visitors’ clubhouse. Allow me to be the first to say congratulations to the Los Angeles Mets of New York.

STEVE ROSS

Sherman Oaks

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Grady Little has now disabused the baseball world of any notion that his reputation for making terrible pitching decisions is undeserved. Let’s hope the McCourts are bright enough to figure out what this means for the Dodgers.

TERENCE W. LYONS

Rancho Palos Verdes

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I am amused at Ned Colletti’s pronouncement that the Dodgers are merely a power hitter and No. 1 starter away from winning a playoff series after nearly 20 years of futility. Excuse me, Ned, but is there a single team in baseball that would not win a playoff series if it added Albert Pujols and Johan Santana?

The bottom line is for all the Dodgers’ huffing and puffing they actually won more playoff games (one) in 2004 under Jim Tracy without a bunch of over-the-hill castoffs (Nomar, Furcal, etc.)

MARK S. ROTH

Los Angeles

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I hate to admit it, but Bill Plaschke was right in Wednesday’s column: The Dodgers shouldn’t re-sign Nomar Garciaparra. He’s a great teammate, a stand-up guy in the community and hands-down the best clutch hitter we’ve had in years. Without him, the season wouldn’t have been nearly as successful or dramatic as it was.

But this is the business of baseball we’re talking about, and business-wise this is an easy decision. You can’t give a player who is injured as much as Nomar -- no matter how great a guy he is -- a multiyear, multimillion-dollar contract. Not with the prospect of him getting older and increasingly fragile, and certainly not with James Loney waiting in the wings.

Nomar gave the Dodgers everything he had, and we fans will always appreciate it.

RON EPSTEIN

Woodland Hills

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A headline The Times might consider: “Bring Back Plaschke? No Way.”

TERRY FOLEY

Norco

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If Mr. Colletti is serious about giving the bullpen a boost, he should think twice before dealing Joe Beimel. The man has perfected the split-finger apology.

MIKE WERB

West Hollywood

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Being a Dodgers fan in the postseason is rough, but things could be a whole lot worse: I could be a Giants fan.

JEFF CALZADA

Monterey Park

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NLDS: ‘Nother Lousy Dodgers Showing.

RICHARD TURNAGE

Burbank