You Make the Call: the ’97 Dodgers or the ’27 Yankees?

Eric Karros, on Raul Mondesi: “He’s probably the best player in baseball.” (Times, April 1).

Better than Ken Griffey Jr., Ken Caminiti, Frank Thomas, Albert Belle, Bernie Williams, Chipper Jones, Mike Piazza?

Is this your April Fool prank?

JERRY COWLE

Pacific Palisades

*

Bob Nightengale’s National League preview read more like the Dodger media guide than an objective look at the upcoming season. The Dodgers may be the strongest team in the National League West, but they are hardly perfect. To suggest they will run away with the division is absurd when one considers that they can’t hit, field or steal bases with any consistency. Even more absurd is the suggestion that the rival Braves have “greatly weakened” themselves by acquiring all-star, Gold Glove center fielder Kenny Lofton, a better player than anyone on the Dodgers.

In the future, we recommend that Nightengale base his predictions on reality, not locality.

MARK MURPHY

and CHRIS ORTMAN

Los Angeles

*

It was great to read about “Dodgers at a Glance” in Monday’s paper and get all that information about how and where to buy tickets, the 1997 Dodger promotion dates and even a full schedule of games. The only thing missing was that disclaimer I usually see for this type of advertising. Oops! This wasn’t an ad at all. It was The Times providing free advertising for the Dodgers. Wow, I’d love to get that kind of free ad space for my business.

FRED SCHOR

Los Angeles