Letters: Thrilled, exhausted Dodgers fans get no time to relax

They say that everything you need to know about making a film can be learned by watching “Citizen Kane.” Well, everything you need to know about managing in the National League can be learned by watching Dave Roberts’ masterful performance in Game 5 against the Nationals.

Greg Hanson

Long Beach

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The Dodgers’ dramatic Game 5 win over the Nationals showed the skill and guts of Manager Dave Roberts to go against traditional baseball strategy in making the moves necessary to win now. I’ve seen many big games blown over the years because a manager was too concerned about tomorrow’s game or not willing to insert a pitcher into a spot outside of his comfort zone. The crown jewel of the unconventional maneuvering was waiting to bring Clayton Kershaw in to pitch to Daniel Murphy, who hit two homers against Kershaw in last year’s playoffs. Take that, analytics!

Christopher Grisanti

Monrovia

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A look at the 1988 and 2016 Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw closing out Game 5 of the opening playoff series against the Washington Nationals brought back great memories of the Dodgers’ improbable run to the1988 World Series championship, with Orel Hershiser starting and closing out games. The Mets and A’s were the teams to beat that year, and the Cubs are the team to beat this year. Now if we can just have a couple of other current Dodgers replicate the performances of Kirk Gibson and Mickey Hatcher, this year’s version of the Dodgers might be on to something.

Chris Sorce

Fountain Valley

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In a game and a series full of rightly heralded stars — Kershaw, Jansen, Turner, Urias, Roberts — the MVP for the Dodgers may have been unheralded, under-the-radar, lights-out Joe Blanton.

Extra points for being the only Dodgers pitcher to not give all of us heartburn.

Jeff Kandel

Los Angeles

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OK, I admit that I’ve been spoiled all my life listening to Vin Scully call Dodgers games but, really, can’t Major League Baseball do better than the Fox Sports broadcast crew currently assaulting our ears and our love of the game? From Harold Reynolds’ whiny voice and incessant chatter that reminds one of nails on a chalkboard to showcasing Alex Rodriguez (cheater and liar) and Pete Rose (gambler and liar) on the commentary group, they drop the fan experience to a new low. Can’t we at least have TBS next year and let the American League “enjoy” Fox?

Ken Blake

Brea

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In poker, a player can win with only one ace. In baseball you can’t, you need a full house and the Dodgers do not have one. Maybe they can bluff the Cubs and make them fold, thus not having to show their (pitching) hand, which has one ace and a bunch of deuces and treys.

Russell Morgan

Carson

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Dave Roberts says, “If anyone gives up on this team, they haven’t seen us play a whole lot this year”.

Yup. The TV deal made sure of that.

David James

Long Beach

Bruins’ fans make lists

Three takeaways from UCLA’s loss to Arizona State:

1.) I lack the requisite fortitude to remain emotionally invested in UCLA football and basketball.

2.) UCLA is the school where great athletes go to get “coached down” to the point that they consistently lay an egg against inferior opposition.

3.) Maybe I was wrong when I asserted that Coach Jim Mora would do just well enough to keep his job.

Bill Duggins

Aliso Viejo

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Josh Rosen should sue Jim Mora for malpractice. He entices him to Westwood with promises of national championships and sticks him instead with:

a) No running game

b) Receivers who can’t catch a cold

c) A rookie offensive coordinator with no imagination

d) An offensive line that trained at the Madrid school for matadors

Contrast this pathetic situation with what Chris Peterson is doing at Washington and it is enough to get Rosen an immediate hardship exemption into the next NFL draft.

William David Stone

Beverly Hills

Stand up

Dear Megan Rapinoe;

The dominance of the U.S. women’s national soccer team over the years is due to a single event in 1972 when the United States government, with wisdom and foresight, passed Title lX. Without Title lX, there are no “99ers” and no long history of success. The emergence of women’s sports, and particularly the success of the WNT, is due largely to the beneficence of the federal government. Your protest is far different than Mr. Kaepernick’s in that you play for, and are paid handsomely by, the United States of America.

Many of the bad cops whom you protest have been shown to have had previous disciplinary issues yet are protected by their union and their peers. I believe these circumstances are the root problem for these horrible shootings. There is an “us versus them” team mentality. For years U.S. Soccer and the women’s have supported Hope Solo. She was abusive and out of control. While her acts were clearly not as egregious, the circumstances and pack mentality are identical. Change begins at home.

In a time of growing divisiveness and anger, you have created more. With your celebrity, eloquence and passion, you can unite rather than divide. Is there a “Megan Rapinoe Foundation” that supports inner-city single mothers and police education? Why not set a goal to raise $50 million and effect real change?

Or is it simpler to kneel for 90 seconds?

Tim Mayeda

Yorba Linda

RIP, Sports Arena

The article about the Sports Arena’s demolition deserved a better “eulogy” than was written by your paper. In fact, it should have been reported on your sports pages, and written by someone who experienced the days when the Sports Arena was the “now” entertainment/sports complex.

Yes, it outgrew its welcome after almost 60 years, but this old landmark deserved a more positive and appreciated goodbye.

Richard Whorton

Studio City

Really?

And the new, highly anticipated Luke Walton era, full of optimism and potential and excitement, starts with ... Swaggy P.?

What’s wrong with this picture?

Jim B. Parsons

Canyon Lake

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