Dodgers Counting Them Down

With the ’98 baseball season coming to a close, it’s time to reminisce about another disappointing year for the L.A. Dodgers. As a tribute to the “new blueprint for success,” I offer the 10 worst things about the season for the boys in blue:

10: Orel Hershiser signs with archrival Giants. What’s next, Scioscia managing the A’s?

9: Tommy . . . you guaranteed what? Oh, that the Dodgers would end up over .500. I’m sorry, I must have misunderstood you.

8: Number of playoff victories in the ‘90s, still a big fat 0.

7: Pedro Martinez . . . John Wetteland . . . Mike Piazza . . . yada, yada, yada. Good thing the Dodgers have such an impressive minor league system.

6: Injuries, injuries and more injuries. But you don’t hear the Angels using that as an excuse not to contend.

5: Bottom of the ninth, nobody on, Dodgers lead by three in a must-win game to stay in the wild-card race . . . let’s bring in Shaw to shut ‘em down.

4: When the Cardinals came into Chavez Ravine for only three games this season, Big Mac sat out for each one, resting a sore back. Too bad we fans missed the circus.

3: I’ll trade you the best-hitting catcher in the history of the game and a solid third baseman for your overpaid outfielder, underachieving third baseman, offensively incompetent catcher, and designated pinch-hitter. Oh, and a $10-million salary increase.

2: Naw, we couldn’t have used Randy Johnson anyway.

1: Rupert Murdoch. Good luck, Manchester United, and enjoy the ride.

MATT ROSENFELD, San Marino

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Fox has found the ideal general manager for the Dodgers’ new regime. The valuable experience he had in Montreal, divesting the team of all decent players, should help him immensely in following the new Dodger tradition.

PHYLLIS MARTIN, Los Angeles