Letters: Yasiel Puig’s play has people perplexed

Kudos to Dave Roberts for yanking Yasiel Puig from Tuesday’s game after his 370-foot single against Cincinnati. It’s always inexcusable not to run hard out of the box, and Roberts really should have used a pinch-runner for Puig immediately. It makes me wonder, however, whether Roberts would be willing to abruptly go to the bullpen if Clayton Kershaw were to show up an opposing hitter after strike two.

Bob Cunningham

Riverside

After Yasiel Puig admiringly watched from home plate a ball that fell short of a home run, necessitating skipper Roberts to pull him, it should now more than ever reveal a trip to the doctor is imperative.

His vision needs immediate evaluation, especially at the plate, where he continues to swing at bad balls. And he could also use a sports psychologist’s review. At this stage of his career Dodgers management should be very, very concerned about his future if his full potential is to be realized.

Lou Soto

Trabuco Canyon

As a former Little League coach, I am familiar with dealing with players who are on the field, but not in the game, looking around, picking their nose or scratching their backside, and I wonder if Dave Roberts expected to inherit such a player when he took over as the manager of the Dodgers?

A man whose physical talent is beyond comprehension, but whose head resembles the X-ray taken of Yogi Berra’s head, when he proclaimed it showed nothing. The writers have glossed over the Puigisms, choosing to write more about the poor fans who can’t watch the games on TV. Be careful what you ask for.

Ed Freeman

Moorpark

OK, enough is enough, please trade Puig while the Dodgers can still get something for him. I’m tired of the strikeouts, the clowning and the knucklehead plays such as on Sunday not taking third base on a sacrifice then almost getting thrown out while he stood there as if posing. Please end the frustration of Dodgers fans.

Bob Martinez

Glendale

On the ropes

In a critical Western Conference playoff game Tuesday night, the Warriors were pushed to the brink of elimination by Oklahoma City in a devastating 118-94 loss in which the Warriors were plagued by poor shot selection, porous perimeter defense, atrocious rebounding, nonexistent transition defense, excessive turnovers, and chronically subpar shooting.

In other words, if this game is any indication, Coach Luke Walton looks like the perfect fit for the current Lakers team.

Tom Lallas

Los Angeles

Could the Warriors become the Nyquist of the NBA playoffs?

Jo Ellen Johnson

Los Angeles

A deliberate kick in the groin is not only bad sportsmanship, but Draymond Green could have seriously hurt Steven Adams. Fair play and respect for your opponent is trashed. By letting him off with a warning the league sends the wrong message. Probably many people out there thought that what Green did was funny. The correct move is to send a clear message that this kind of behavior is not tolerated and will be dealt with immediately and harshly.

Paul Hovsepian

Sierra Madre

Wear and tear

On the heels of Bill Plaschke’s article about the dismal performances of L.A. sports teams recently, UCLA claims “bragging rights” and “big time” status for securing a historic clothing and advertising deal. I don’t know about that, but what it certainly did secure, to the chagrin of many boosters, was the job of the often-seen-as-clueless athletic director, Dan Guerrero.

The chant of “We’re No. 1” just doesn’t mean the same as it used to, but heck, even if the athletic teams aren’t better, the T-shirts they send flying into the stands every game should be much improved..

Allan Kandel

Los Angeles

Mr. Plaschke joins a long list of passionate advocates seeking to help our poor downtrodden college athletes share in the riches of the sports programs. However, like the others, he provides no details of how this is to be accomplished. Do quarterbacks and running backs get more than punters, linemen, second stringers? Will football and basketball revenue allow for trickle-down cash to fund all players in tennis, volleyball etc?

Seeing as how scholarship athletes are getting a free education, I don’t support any compensation, but, maybe they can arrive at some semblance of a system, with two major caveats: (1) An athlete must stay all four years and graduate on time (players leaving early forfeit this benefit, since they have placed a higher priority on their professional dreams vs. their school’s success ). And (2) 25% of funds earned goes back to the school in the form of scholarships to assist truly needy student athletes.

Gary Engstrom

Mission Viejo

Location, location, location! There is no other logical explanation as to why Under Armour would shell out $280 million for an inferior product. All you need to do is look at results based on the top two revenue-generating sports on campus this past year for confirmation. The UCLA football team failed to crack the final top 25, while the basketball team couldn’t get an NCAA or NIT bid, making them no better than 99th best in the nation. It looks as if they knocked on the wrong door in town.

Larry Herrera

Redondo Beach

Bill Plaschke and others who who were concerned that UCLA’s new contract with Under Armour failed to provide income for players who wear these uniforms failed to see the message that Dan Guerrero sent out after signing the new contract. The funds received from Under Armour will support all 20 UCLA teams and intramural sports as well as other school activities. Yes, there are problems with the way that the NCAA treats athletes , but this contract is not part of the problem.

Sol Bialeck

Van Nuys

It is officially the end days. First we are living through the current political scene and today I agree with most everything Bill Plaschke says. UCLA sells the space on all the athletes so they can get further benefit off the backs of the unpaid labor. The Pharaohs would be proud.

Jeff Heister

Chatsworth

$280 million covers my ticket price increases for the next 15 years, right?

Mike Kichaven

Sherman Oaks

Enough

Tom Brady and his lawyers need to stop their appeals. What’s next after their appeal is denied, the Supreme Court? Stop wasting time and money. Please, just stop.

Tom Dunlap

Orange

A kid’s game

No blocking the plate, no sliding into second, no throwing four wide ones for an intentional walk. What’s next, coach pitch and juice boxes and cookies in the dugout after the game?

Robert Ostrove

Ventura

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