Hoffman in the Wrong Place at Wrong Time for Dodgers

Glenn Hoffman: Winning percentage .534. Fate: Fired.

Bill Russell: Winning percentage .537. Fate: Fired.

Tommy Lasorda: Winning percentage .526. Fate: Hall of Fame.

Even considering Walter Alston’s winning percentage (.550), the Dodgers’ winning percentage during the Alston-Lasorda years was .538, and during the Russell-Hoffman years was .536.

Considering that Hoffman-Russell managed during turmoil, and Alston-Lasorda managed during a time when the Dodgers had more talent (I don’t recall Hoffman or Russell having Robinson, Hodges, Snider, Koufax, Drysdale, Valenzuela, a set infield for nine years of Garvey, Lopes, Russell and Cey, etc.), could someone please tell me how the Dodgers determine the difference between a “hall” guy and a “fall” guy?

EDWARD RUTTENBERG

Rancho Palos Verdes

*

At least the Dodgers won their last game, thus ending the year 15 games behind, as opposed to last year, when they ended two games out. This shows what big business and lots of money can do vs. family ownership and field managers like Bill Russell.

T. McCALLUM

Palos Verdes Estates

*

I do not believe in a wrathful God. However, having suffered through this year’s Dodger season, I have to think that Fox is being punished for its sins. For the corporation that would be tsar, mediocrity is the ultimate punishment. This Dodger team was neither good enough to be a contender, nor was it bad enough to be lovable or have the season dismissed as “rebuilding.” Instead, it was just pathetic, and this was a season of wasted hopes. That’s what comes of selling your soul.

DAN MILLER

Los Angeles

*

Dodger great Duke Snider once blasted the Brooklyn fans and claimed they didn’t deserve a winning team. Now would be the right time for another Dodger to claim the same. With such a chaotic season finally (and mercifully) coming to a close, fingers have been pointed everywhere, except at the stands. The Dodger fans showed up in numbers, but not in spirit. This was a year when they:

* Booed a franchise player and ran him out of town.

* Continued the tradition of arriving in the third and leaving in the seventh.

* Failed to show up in large numbers even for the ceremony in which the club’s all-time winningest pitcher and newest Hall of Famer had his number retired.

* Cheered louder for the new “Guess the Attendance” quiz than for a play on the field.

* Showed indifference when Orel Hershiser returned to Dodger Stadium for the first time since he last wore Dodger Blue.

* Needed electronic cheerleaders in order to give the appearance of excitement in the stands.

As much as I love this city, Angelenos simply didn’t deserve a winning team in 1998. And if you want change for 1999, start by making sure you’ll be a true fan next year. Only then will we deserve a winner.

JORGE E. AVELAR

Los Angeles

*

To all those who thought the Mike Piazza trade hurt the Dodgers:

Sure, Piazza finished the year with great stats, once again. And sure, he was on fire the first two weeks of September, helping keep the Mets in the wild-card race. But, once again, he disappeared the last two weeks of the season, when his team still needed him. If he ever figures out how to come through in the clutch all the way to game 162 and the playoffs, then maybe he’ll be worth $75 million or $85 million or $100 million, but not before then.

MATTHEW KLIPPER

Hollywood

*

First priority for the Dodgers’ marketing head--zap that annoying Dodgervision puppet. Losing 79 games is bad. Losing one’s dignity is worse.

JOANNE STUCKEY

Van Nuys