Seeking Nice Stories on Striking Players? This Isn’t the Place

The reluctance of baseball players to negotiate a settlement is explained by briefly looking at three professional athletes.

First, Ryne Sandberg, possibly the best all-around second baseman ever: Sandberg had taken pride in his achievements, was aware of his diminishing skills, decided that he was overpaid for what he could deliver--and retired. There are no Ryne Sandbergs on strike now.

Second, Goose Gossage, the only veteran of every baseball strike in the history of the game: Gossage pitched about 20 innings last year for a salary arbitrated in the neighborhood of $3 million. Skills gone, intensity gone, pride gone--only an enormous salary remains. There are a large number of Goose Gossages on strike.

Third, Phil Simms, an aging quarterback, a Gossage of the football world: Simms was released by the New York Giants under the provisions of the NFL contract, because his enormous salary was far out of proportion to his deteriorating skills.

In summary, the striking players have no interest in becoming a Sandberg, are fearful of becoming a Simms, and are insistent on becoming a Gossage.

BENJAMIN K. SILVERMAN

Seal Beach

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Reading today’s (March 7) paper, in which Eric Karros complains about the replacement players, makes me sick. Quoting Karros: “I don’t want to say guys can be bought, but that’s what’s happening.” What does he believe happens with most players?

LARRY BICKMAN

Thousand Oaks

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Now let me get this straight: The guy playing baseball for $100,000 a year is doing it for the money, but the guy standing in the picket line, worried that a new agreement might impact his ability to make $2.35 million a year, is doing it for the love of the game?

GARY A. COHEN

Agoura Hills

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We haven’t had baseball since August. The World Series was canceled for the first time in 90 years. The players don’t want a salary cap because lifetime .260 hitters want millions of dollars a year. Eric Karros ($2.35 million in ‘95) is mad at the replacement players because “they’re only in it for the money.” Thanks, Eric, I finally got it. Now if you can only tell us what you’re in it for.

BERJ BASMADJIAN

Newhall

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I’ve got a message for Mark Langston, self-appointed savior of America’s pastime. Buy the first ticket out to St. Louis and join that other team of losers. And don’t let the turnstile hit you in the butt on the way out.

I’m sick to death of all these pampered, spoiled, coddled, whining little chumps telling me how replacement players are “embarrassing the game.”

Get a clue, Mark. These guys are keeping it alive. It’s $5-million brats like you that have already ruined the game.

SCOTT MONTGOMERY

Irvine

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What’s all the fuss about baseball and replacement players? We Angel season-ticket holders have been watching the equivalent for years. A few years ago, when Jackie Autry took over, we even got a replacement owner.

ED HONECK

Orange

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My deepest desire is that the owners simply discontinue all discussions with the current major leaguers and make them part of history. As talented as they are, Ken Griffey Jr., Cecil Fielder, Barry Bonds and Mike Piazza will be forgotten when they are no longer active.

There are minor leaguers and college players who are stars of the future. Let’s make the future now. Let’s develop new stars, because the current crop of striking millionaires seem to think they are indispensable to the game. Wrong!

Do us a favor, owners, strike the ballplayers out and let’s get on with baseball.

DEAN KARELLA

Westminster