At Least Dodger Fans Aren’t at a Loss Yet

I know the Dodgers’ “Think Blue Week” has come and gone, but I’d like to play general manager for a day. I would send Chan Ho Park, Carlos Perez and Eric Karros to Seattle for Alex Rodriguez. The Dodgers have always favored pitching over hitting and it’s time to balance things out. And bringing a Hall of Fame-bound player like Rodriguez to Los Angeles might soften the blow of losing a particular power-hitting catcher.

BRIAN GREENE

Los Angeles

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Dear Mr. Plaschke:

Do you have any principles to which you adhere? First you praise Eric Karros as “the last Dodger”; now, a month later, you blame him for the Dodgers’ woes and order him exiled.

Would the absence of the reliable Karros improve the hitting of the inconsistent Mondesi, White, Vizcaino and Hundley? Would the absence of the steady Karros at first base improve the control and velocity of Perez, Dreifort and Park? Would the absence of Karros, the veteran, provide stability to a team caught up in a whirlwind of chaos? Would the absence of Karros make the bumbling Kevin Malone a better general manager, and the grotesque Fox Group better owners? Would the absence of Karros, always a gentleman, improve the dispositions of the whiny Sheffield and the petulant Mondesi?

And finally, would the absence of Karros, who is indeed the last true Dodger, restore the luster of a sadly tarnished and debased franchise?

JOHN PAUL LOCASCIO

Alhambra

Editor’s note: Reader Locascio is mistaken on the time span between Plaschke’s columns on Karros. The “last Dodger” column appeared in editions of Feb. 9, before spring training had begun. The other, in which Plaschke advocated trading Karros, appeared June 28, nearly five months later.

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I think I have an even better idea for rejuvenating the Dodgers.

First, bump Davey “I’d hate to squeeze in the tying run” Johnson, and promote Rick Dempsey to manager.

Next, keep Karros, and trade Plaschke to the San Francisco Chronicle for two bags of peanuts and a left-handed sportswriter.

KENT RAPELJE

Los Angeles

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In response to Gary Sheffield’s statements in The Times last week about Kevin Malone’s declaration of the Dodgers’ inevitable World Series victory:

Why is it that other teams seem to have adequate motivation against the Dodgers, but the Dodgers lack it against other teams?

CRAIG SCHLICHT

Glendora

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Is there anything more pathetic than seeing Carlos Perez dancing around after one of his infrequent strikeouts? It was nauseating enough watching him when he could get batters out.

The last straw was watching him get burned by the hidden-ball trick on national television. Hey, Carlos, that rumbling you hear is players in clubhouses across America falling out of their chairs as they watch you get tagged out on a Little League play.

CHRIS DEMOS

Los Angeles

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What has 18 legs and lives in the cellar?

WALLY LAUB

Indian Wells