And Dodgers Aren’t Dazzling Anyone Either

The Dodgers have become the perfect team for the city that is home of the movie business. Like Hollywood’s warmed-over remakes and bloated sequels, the Dodgers have continued to repeat their act of the last few years--overrated players who can’t hit with men on base and who pitch inconsistently.

At least in the television listings we get an “R” to indicate a rerun.

KEN MARCUS

Los Angeles

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I would like to apply for what must be the easiest job in journalism, writing the Dodgers’ Daily Report. Jason Reid must have plenty of free time because he can simply recycle the same platitudes the Dodgers have been spouting for the last 10 years: “At this point, you can’t get too worked up about everything” . . . “In June or July if we’re still hovering around .500, then there are real issues” . . . “It’s just way too early” . . . “We’ve got a good ballclub. We know what we have to do.”

These quotes could have been from any of the last 10 seasons, but they all appeared Monday. These Dodgers have learned nothing from their past failings.

PATRICK MALLON

San Luis Obispo

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This is in response to James Olmstead’s view regarding the possible move of the Dodgers from Dodger Stadium to the Coliseum area [Viewpoint, April 17]:

Apparently, Mr. Olmstead should stay at home in his safe confines of Valencia in order to not have to watch sports in “an area where you can’t go at night unless you’re armed.”

I was assuming that we as human beings were attempting to get past this sort of typecasting and racism. If Mr. Olmstead has children, let’s hope that they can come to understand one day that ignorance and apathy regarding people is an even more devastating problem than where our city’s next sports team is moving.

PRESTON MITCHELL

Los Angeles

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In a letter last week, Hale Antico whines about the changes Fox has made to the Dodgers and suggests that they have reneged on their promise to “maintain and respect the Dodgers’ long history of tradition.” He and all those other bellyaching “traditionalists” ought to get some facts straight.

For starters, the change in road uniforms is actually a return to tradition, as they are virtual replicas of the uniforms the team wore when it came to Los Angeles in 1958.

He complains about Fox “ending the retired numbers on the outfield wall idea.” Did he ever stop to think that perhaps the Dodgers intended to change the art on the outfield wall all along, just as they have changed the banners on the outside of the stadium? In doing so, they have honored twice as many Dodger greats as last year’s wall.

Finally, he bemoans the fact that the Dodgers have added advertising on the field, the dugout, and behind home plate. Wake up, baseball fans. This is 1999.

The team Fox bought had not won a playoff game in 10 years. The most important tradition for Fox to maintain is the winning tradition. Unless Dodger fans don’t mind a battle for the bottom with Florida and Montreal, they had better get used to the likes of Dodge and New Era helping out, so the fans don’t have to foot the entire bill.

MARTY BUCKRUM

Los Angeles

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In his April 21 column, Bill Plaschke so vividly captured the magical aura that makes Dodger Stadium such a special place. Does Fox really believe that the reason three million people annually come out to Dodger Stadium is just to see a team which hasn’t won a playoff game since 1988? When will they realize Chavez Ravine is the main draw? Does the phrase “location, location, location” ring a bell?

Fox must do everything in its power to keep the Dodgers in Chavez Ravine (isn’t the current Club level perfectly suited for luxury suites?) Moving them to the Coliseum would certainly send them down the same path as the Rams and Raiders.

NICK ROSE

Newport Beach