Dodgers Can’t Beat a Bunch of 12-Year-Olds

With regard to the story about the Dodgers feeling that they are out of the wild-card race [Aug. 30], I think this was a foregone conclusion weeks ago and should have been on Page C12, where you put the USA winning the Little league World Series. This great story should have been on the front page. I think you have your priorities in reverse.

GEORGE A. BIRD

Eagle Rock

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When will J.A. Adande and the Dodgers wake up? That was no “giant wave of forgiveness” from fans at the Aug. 28 Dodger-Met series opener--it will take much longer than that for Dodger fans to forgive.

The thousands of us cheering were for Piazza--the hard-working, talented and loyal ballplayer who was betrayed by those he thought shared his commitment to Los Angeles, and with whom he thought he was negotiating. And we were cheering against the Dodgers, because they aren’t our team anymore.

Sure, some people believe everything they read. They boo Piazza for his greed and cheer Sheffield, who earns millions but wouldn’t even play in the All-Star Game until the Dodgers footed the bill for his family. They crucify Piazza for his betrayal and worship Sheffield, who purposely let down his team and Milwaukee fans by playing badly so he’d be traded. These may be the people you hear on radio talk shows. But there are many thousands more who know the Dodgers made a huge mistake when they traded Piazza. You heard from us Friday night. It wasn’t the sound of forgiveness.

MEL GRIFFIN

Altadena

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For all you brain-deads out there who were (thankfully) in the minority of those booing Mike Piazza Friday night, I will try to explain this one last time. When two parties enter into discussions to finalize a contract and one party turns down the offer of the other, its called negotiating! It doesn’t mean that a contract can’t be worked out, or that the party refuses to ever sign a contract.

When Piazza turned down Fox’s offer, he was expecting them to counteroffer, which might or might not have involved any more money, but would include other things such as adding a no-trade clause. Don’t all of you realize that Fox was listening to all the boos in April, and that might have been a big incentive for them to trade Piazza without continuing the negotiations?

Just remember, L.A. left Piazza, Piazza didn’t leave L.A.

HAL MURRAY

Agoura Hills