They Must Love Old-Timers’ Day

Not content with addressing needs in center field and the starting rotation, I hear Kevin Malone is trying to shore up the Dodger infield. He’s in talks with the Angels and Brewers to bring back Mike Scioscia and Davey Lopes.

BRIAN GREENE

Los Angeles

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What a peculiar habit the Dodgers have of trading away players, only to reacquire them later! Eric Young, Brett Butler and Jose Vizcaino have now been joined by Ismael Valdes and Tom Goodwin on the list of returning Dodgers.

Noticeably missing from this list are Pedro Martinez and Mike Piazza.

ADAM PLATTS

Northridge

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The Kevin Malone report card:

Signs free agent Devon White to a three-year, $12-million contract. Grade: F.

Signs Carlos Perez to a three-year, $15-million contract. Grade: F.

Trades Gold Glove catcher Charles Johnson and Roger Cedeno for sore-armed Todd Hundley, who will be a free agent after this year. Grade: D.

Signs Kevin Brown to a seven-year, $105-million contract. Grade: B-plus.

Trades Raul Mondesi and Pedro Borbon for Shawn Green. (At least Green is good in the clubhouse). Grade: C-plus.

Trades leadoff man Eric Young and Ismael Valdes for Terry Adams, who was going to be dealt to Arizona for a double-A pitcher until Sheriff Malone rode to the rescue. Grade: F.

Trades two minor leaguers for Valdes, who must have had a heart transplant in Chicago. Grade: C-minus.

Trades Todd Hollandsworth and two minor leaguers for leadoff man Tom Goodwin, who is hitting .208 outside Coors Field. Grade: D.

Fails to sign free-agent-to-be Darren Dreifort earlier this year when he would have been fairly inexpensive. Grade: F.

Malone has flunked too many tests to graduate to next year.

JEFF GREEN

Long Beach

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If Bob Daly is happy with Kevin Malone’s recent trade, he must have loved the Lasorda/Claire years. Malone just traded away the top left-hander in the farm system for a veteran on the downside of his career. Tommy and Fred must have tears of joy in their eyes.

I’m afraid Goodwin is the latest edition of faded stars to join the likes of Darryl Strawberry, Eric Davis, Tim Wallach, etc., who were expected to bring instant success to a Dodger organization once known for nurturing the best talent a farm system could produce.

When will these guys ever learn that an elite team can only be created by having the patience, foresight and courage to stand fast and not cave in to pressure? True Dodger fans know that when young talent matures, championships will come.

Pity us poor, tormented Dodger fans who leaf through the sports pages each day to read about the exploits of former Dodgers Pedro Martinez, Mike Piazza, John Wetteland, Paul Konerko, etc. Daly may be a nice guy and a fan. But since he seems willing to deplete an already decimated farm system, he apparently is no better than his predecessors.

SKIP USEN

Santa Monica

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One of the prime reasons that the Dodgers are not taken seriously as a legitimate pennant contender is their constant use of nicknames that would embarrass a Teletubby.

Whatever happened to names like Killer and Mad Dog? Instead, we get Shef (picture a guy with a spatula and a three-foot hat), E.K. (Pig Latin for “I’ve just seen a mouse?”), Greenie and Brownie (undersized elves?) and Dreif (some sort of fabric softener?). And let’s not forget the recently departed Holly. All that’s left is for the manager to legally change his name to Snow White.

BEN OSTROW

Van Nuys

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Hey, Mr. Daly and Mr. Malone:

Knock! Knock!

Who’s there?

Schilling and Neagle.

Schilling and Neagle who?

Two pitchers you could use.

BOBBY HERBECK

Long Beach

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Please, can someone tell me what Ismael Valdes did to deserve the scorn of the Dodger players and some sportswriters at the L.A. Times?

They say he doesn’t have heart. Did he refuse to go into a burning building to rescue a child? Did he throw his mother out into the street during a cold winter? As far as pitching, I remember seeing him throwing the ball in the close proximity of where the catcher put his glove.

JOSE C. NORIEGA

Pico Rivera