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Letters: Dodgers’ chain of command might fence them in

Dodgers General Manager Farhan Zaidi strolls through the dugout at Dodger Stadium last season.

Dodgers General Manager Farhan Zaidi strolls through the dugout at Dodger Stadium last season.

(Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
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Farhan Zaidi sees a great trade for the Dodgers.

“Hey Josh Byrnes, what do you think of this?” he asks.

“I like it, let me ask Andrew Friedman,” Josh says.

Friedman replies, “I have to run this by Stan Kasten.”

Stan says, “Hold on while I get the OK from Magic”.

Magic responds, “Let’s make this deal, I just need Mark Walter to OK it.”

Mark gives the OK to make the deal, but, alas, Brian Sabean of the Giants had already made his own decision and makes the deal.

Is our Dodgers tribe getting too many chiefs and not enough shortstops or relief pitchers?

Allen Schanhaar

Redondo Beach

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Why on Earth would the Dodgers sign sabermetrics maven Farhan Zaidi from the A’s? Isn’t Billy Beane’s “Moneyball” genius Paul DePodesta still on our payroll? No, sorry, that was Andruw Jones ... or was it Jason Schmidt? No, I believe it was Darren Dreifort. Or was it ...?

Brian Smoove

Los Angeles

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Wonder if anyone has asked Tommy Lasorda his opinion of Andrew Friedman’s sabermetrics analytical program?

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Joe Cohen

Mar Vista

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Why, oh why, didn’t the Dodgers pursue Joe Maddon? Because they were committed to Don Mattingly?

In order to get Maddon, Theo Epstein and the Cubs showed no hesitation to throw over Rick Renteria, a much better manager than Donnie Softball.

As a lifelong Dodger fan, I am putting my faith in Andrew Friedman’s reported brilliance. But so far, the loss of Logan White and the retention of Don Mattingly have me singing the Dodger Blues.

Johnny Thompson

San Diego

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Let’s take a look at the Giants vs. the Dodgers since 2010:

Half the payroll.

Twice the team,

Three World Series championships to none.

Scott Bridges

La Cañada

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I would like to give Angels GM Jerry Dipoto some credit for making some solid moves given the fact he has such little budgetary wiggle room to work with. However, it was also Dipoto who largely created the Angels’ bloated payroll. Credit withdrawn. Keep wiggling.

Ron Reeve

Glendora

Fixing baseball

I agree with Bill Plaschke [Nov. 2] about the unfairness of holding only a best-of-five series for the baseball division championships. However, he overlooks the most unreasonable aspect of the postseason structure, namely the single-game playoff between the two wild-card teams.

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Previously, when only one wild-card team was chosen in each league, that team was accorded the same status as each of the three division leaders. That was most reasonable, since it was quite possible for the wild-card team to have a better record than all other teams in the league except for its division leader. When a second wild-card team was added, both of the wild cards faced sudden-death elimination, an absurdity.

I realize that inclusion of a second wild-card team maintains fan interest to a greater degree than would otherwise be the case. However, it does so by creating a travesty of the original intent of including a wild-card team.

Michael Horstein

Los Angeles

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The problem with World Series games routinely lasting more than four hours isn’t long pitcher delivery time or coaches visiting the mound. Rather, the number of World Series TV commercials between innings is much longer than during the regular season, when the break is 90 to 120 seconds. The number of spots should be reduced, with only the best technology and stuff making the cut.

Joe Edward

Beverly Hills

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Regarding Plaschke’s “suggestions” for improving World Series viewership. At first, they sounded so reasonable, but we knew where he was headed. Quicken the pace of the games. No problem. Resolve the DH situation. No problem. Then he dropped what everyone knew was coming. Somehow, resolve the qualifying unfairness. At last he got there. Tighten up the rules so more “qualified” teams (read Dodgers) can reach the Series.

The grape juice finally poured forth. It just eats this guy alive that the Giants have won it three times in five years. My suggestion, Bill: Play better when it counts, as the Giants do.

Phil Esser

Laguna Niguel

Winless Lakers

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Maybe Dwight Howard didn’t leave L.A. because of Kobe. And maybe neither did Shaq, Trevor Ariza, Andrew Bynum, Ramon Sessions, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol or any of the others to whom he didn’t pass the ball. But anyone who watches the Lakers now can see him as the spoiled, arrogant, self-aggrandizing ball hog that he has always been. If you have any doubt, ask Smush Parker. Or watch him when he whines for fouls while his remaining “teammates” run down on defense, or watch impotently as he hoists another 30-foot brick.

Tom Bunzel

Los Angeles

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It is obvious that Kobe Bryant is no longer the unstoppable player that he was in the past. But he can still help the Lakers win today. In order to do that, he needs to groom another closer. Someone who wants the ball when the game is on the line, is not afraid to take the last shot, and will not lose confidence if he misses the shot. It is up to Kobe to figure out who that person is.

Kenneth Spencer

Pacific Palisades

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Am I now supposed to give kudos to Kobe Bryant for publicly pledging his loyalty to the Lakers? I imagine that any employee would do the same once the employer agrees to pay twice the fair market value in salary.

Maury Benemie

Corona

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There’s a reason why Jeremy Lin has been with three teams in just over four years. Here are a few of them:

•He doesn’t handle the ball well when you pressure him, to either side.

He couldn’t defend me (I’m 58 years old with rheumatoid arthritis) even if I had on high heels and 12-pound weights on each leg

He can’t shoot — at least not when it matters; but since he’ll always defer to Kobe (even when he shouldn’t) it’s a moot point.

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Clifford Burton

Santa Monica

Unrelenting

So the Clippers’ new advertising campaign is “Be relentless.” New owner Steve Ballmer says this slogan captures the essence of being a Clipper. One of the first lines in the advertisement is “Do you think you know who we are?” Well, being a lifelong Lakers fan, I know who you are. You’re the team that has never won an NBA championship.

John C. Borrego

Temecula

A Cup of jam

It was clear to the millions who watched the Breeders’ Cup Classic that the winner, Bayern, made a left turn coming out of the gate, wiping out the six horses inside him. This was a no-brainer. Bayern had to be disqualified. However, after a lengthy inquiry, the Santa Anita stewards ruled there would be no disqualification, stating that the start of a race isn’t that important.

Thoroughbred horses are routinely tested for drugs. I suggest the stewards be given the same treatment.

Gary H. Miller

Encino

Wrong color

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Since when did UCLA’s baby blue and yellow school colors become primer gray with hard-to-decipher numerals and names? They belong in the trash incinerator along with “wipeout (50-0) white.”

Howard Cohen

North Hills

Patience

As a Kings fan since 1967, I suffered through many, many lows and precious few highs for 45 years until two Stanley Cup wins in the last three years made it all seem worthwhile. So forgive me for stifling a chuckle or two at the current hysteria gripping Laker Nation over the possibility of two consecutive down seasons.

Go whine somewhere else; I’ve got a hockey team to enjoy. Finally.

Bella Nastri

Montecito

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The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.

Mail: Sports Viewpoint

Los Angeles Times

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Los Angeles, CA 90012

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