Hey, Dodgers: Season Quickly Slipping Away

After their opening-day loss in St. Louis, the Dodgers were saying that it wasn’t a big deal and there were 161 more games to play.

After a mediocre April, where the Dodgers finished barely above .500, the Dodgers said there were more than 100 games left and it’s not a worry.

After a 10-6 loss (a score much closer than it should have been) to the National League West-leading San Diego Padres on Tuesday, Manager Bill Russell was quoted as saying, “We have three months to go, don’t we?”

When is Russell going to realize that the time for winning is now?

At this rate, Russell is going to be sitting in the clubhouse at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 27 after a 2-1 loss to Milwaukee and saying “We’ve got 162 games next year, don’t we?”

Well, the Dodgers will have 162 games in 1999, but hopefully Russell won’t be around to underachieve the team to a sub-.500 season.

GREG PAULL, San Diego

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I was thinking that if sports was part of the real world, something like the following might occur sometime after the 1998 baseball season is over.

“Hello, Mr. Claire, I am the new owner of the Florida Marlins and I want to personally thank you for the Piazza trade last year. I see you are interested in becoming my new general manager. Let me take a quick look at the highlights of your tenure as general manager of the Dodgers over the last 11 years:

“Acquired Kirk Gibson, won World Series in 1988 with over-achieving team.

“Acquired Darryl Strawberry.

“Acquired Eric Davis.

“Acquired Kal Daniel.

“Acquired Delino DeShields.

“Acquired Brett Butler.

“Let go of Brett Butler.

“Reacquired Brett Butler.

“Let go of John Wetteland.

“Let go of Pedro Martinez.

“Let go of Orel Hershiser.

“Let go of Dave Wallace.

“Let go of Tommy Lasorda.

“Let go of Mike Piazza.

“Let go of Hideo Nomo.

“Since 1988 have won no World Series or playoff games.

“Hmmm . . . except for that Gibson move in 1988, you have a sterling record, the kind I am looking for. Since we too believe in dealing away winning players over being competitive, I think you will fit nicely here in Florida. Welcome to the Marlins, Fred.”

GARTH STERN, Costa Mesa

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Let’s see now, was it Mike Piazza who once more distracted the Dodgers by getting arrested for drunk driving? Oh, no, it couldn’t have been. He’s in New York, isn’t he?

JIM TURNER, Granada Hills

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The Padres and the Giants have ex-Dodgers as their pitching coaches. The Dodgers haven’t had a pitching coach since Ron Perranoski.

DENNIS VAUGHAN, West Covina

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Bill Plaschke’s article on Jim Eisenreich [June 14] reminded me of what’s wonderful about sports. I too have a condition that I am struggling to deal with (manic depression) in my life.

Jim’s story brought some inspiration in a much-needed time. Thanks Bill, and thanks Jim.

PAT LONER, Hermosa Beach