Season Winds Down, Fans Get Wound Up

If, as Brett Butler says, everything happens for a reason, could this mean that (gulp) God is a Padre fan?

SKIP USEN

Santa Monica

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Who is Brett Butler trying to kid when he claims he has a “love affair” with Los Angeles? This is a guy who made it clear during the strike that his fat contract is all that matters and that he couldn’t care less about Dodger fans. I’m as happy as anyone that he has beaten cancer, but a love affair. . . . Get real.

ROB OSBORNE

Redondo Beach

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The photo of Brett Butler by Robert Gauthier on page 1 of Sports in the Sept. 7 edition is a classic.

ROBERT B. SCHOENBURG

West Hills

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Let me get this straight. Eddie Murray, a man best known for his malevolent glare, achieves what essentially is a numerical milestone after years of unexceptional seasons, and the Baltimore crowd gives him an 8 1/2-minute standing ovation. Brett Butler, an all-around good guy, battles back from throat cancer, providing an inspiration to all those stricken with the deadly disease, and Dodger fans can only manage a paltry 45 seconds of cheers?

To those at the ballpark Sept. 6--you blew it. You confirmed the stereotype that Los Angeles sports fans are a bunch of lukewarm, uninspired wimps who would rather do the wave than root their ballclub and its players home.

MICHAEL ANTHONY GATTO

Los Angeles

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In my opinion, even putting Eddie Murray’s name in the same sentence as Hank Aaron and Willie Mays is a vivid lesson in how to lie with statistics.

To put Eddie Murray’s career performance into a meaningful context, it translates to about 160 hits and 25 home runs per year--better than average, certainly, but dismally short of superstar status. His career success is a wonderful testimony to longevity.

CRAIG LESLY

Santa Ana

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The only way in which Todd Hollandsworth can be denied the rookie-of-the-year award is if the selection panel is composed of Olympic boxing judges.

CHUCK MERMAN

Glendale

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Be advised of the following facts. As of Sept. 10:

Hideo Nomo: 14-10, 3.38 ERA.

Pedro Astacio: 9-7, 3.54 ERA.

Ramon Martinez: 12-6, 3.68 ERA.

Tom Candiotti: 8-9, 4.16 ERA.

Fernando Valenzuela: 13-7, 3.49 ERA.

Draw your own conclusions.

GIL LACKEY

Wilmington