This Picture Isn’t Perfectly Claire

Any evaluation of Fred Claire’s tenure [March 21] should include this: Claire has presided over the Dodgers during their longest drought without a National League pennant since the 1930s. He has made extremely bad trades and personnel moves (dealing ’96 World Series MVP John Wetteland, ’90 AL Cy Young winner Bob Welch, Pedro Martinez, Juan Guzman, Eric Young and Henry Rodriguez) and compensated for these poor moves by signing free agents and filling gaps through late-season trades that never seem to pan out (Darryl Strawberry, Mike Blowers, Chad Curtis, Dave Clark, etc.).

Yes, Claire does have class. But as Leo Durocher said: “Nice guys finish last.”

BRIAN GREENE

Long Beach