Readers Decry Padres’ Reaction to Comments by Dodgers’ Lasorda

I found it interesting that the Padres were outraged by Tommy Lasorda’s criticism of the Padres’ third base coach when he kept Darrin Jackson from scoring against Atlanta in the ninth inning when the Padres lost 4-2.

In my mind Lasorda’s comments didn’t go far enough. Wasn’t it those same Padres who after winning nine straight games went into Atlanta for a three-game series and were dutifully swept by the Braves? And then when Atlanta came to San Diego the Padres laid down like dogs and were swept again.

The Padres criticize the so-called Dodger “mystique” and claim they want to beat the Dodgers and thereby give Atlanta the opportunity to win the division. Perhaps the Padres should look north to Roger Craig of the San Francisco Giants who, as a true professional, claimed last week that the Giants would do everything in their power to determine who won the division by playing both the Dodgers and Atlanta as hard as they could.

The only “mystique” surrounding the Padres is how could they ever call themselves professionals.

KATE HARPER, Encinitas