Is This a Case of Grandstanding?

Once again the arrogance of the Dodgers rears its ugly head. I do not condone the attack on Chad Kreuter; more than likely the idiot trying to grab Kreuter’s hat mistimed his attempt, which is why Kreuter got whacked on the head. But you can’t mistake Kreuter’s hands around another man’s throat.

You also cannot mistake Davey Johnson and Kevin Malone bellowing and moaning that the league is out to get the Dodgers because they are so successful [May 26]. Yes, the league got you for signing underage players. Oh, you mean we can’t do that? We’re the Dodgers! And just what success exactly are you talking about? No World Series appearances or playoff victories in more than a decade, the economically brilliant contracts paid to Shawn Green and Kevin Brown . . . the league trembles before the mighty Dodgers! All hail, the sacred Dodger Blue!

Just because the Slim-Fast pitchman in the front office bleeds this color doesn’t mean the rest of the baseball world or even this city does too.

PETE MURCOTT

Sherman Oaks

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Scott Boras has taken the Leonard Tose offramp! Just because Chad Kreuter goes into the stands and chokes the wrong guy, not the perpetrator who stole his cap, God forbid, Boras say there’s more to the story.

When a fan goes on the field, it’s open season. When a player goes into the stands, there’s more to the story. Wake me when this is over.

TERRY BRANNON

Los Angeles

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The fan who grabbed Chad Kreuter’s cap was a jerk. By climbing into the stands to grab the fan, Kreuter was an even bigger jerk. Baseball players are supposed to be adults. Since baseball is a children’s game, they apparently think that gives them the right to act like children.

Bill Plaschke wrote that whenever it looks like a player might get involved in a fracas, his teammates are expected to pour out onto the field “simply because it would look bad if they didn’t.” Now there’s a rule that sounds like it was made by a child.

JENNIFER L. WOOD

Bakersfield

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The suspended Dodger players, coaches and those who represent them have no cause to complain that the penalties for brawling with fans are harsh. Not only were the suspended players and coaches violating the law, but the fact of the matter is that fighting on the job is a firing offense in most workplaces.

So, they should all just stop whining, accept the punishment with the shame it deserves, and consider themselves lucky to be working where they can get into a fight with their customers and not lose their jobs.

ADAM GILLIGAN

Los Angeles

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Some bonehead punches Chad Kreuter, he and his teammates defend themselves . . . and major league baseball sees fit to suspend two-thirds of Los Angeles County. What’s the penalty for being hit by a thrown souvenir baseball? A prison term?

And why isn’t the Cub organization getting fined for the poor security near the opponent’s bullpen and for the weakest emergency response since General Custer called for backup?

No Dodger should have gone into the stands. But no Dodger should have had to.

MEL POWELL

Los Angeles

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There are two types of people who attend baseball games--those who pay to get in the gate and those who are paid to be there, and both sides should have the sense to stay separated.

MICHAEL J. BILLINGS

Redlands

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Frank Robinson’s muscle-flexing suspensions of 19 Dodgers was reminiscent of Alexander Haig’s infamous “I’m in charge” admonition to Nixon staffers during the final days of that administration. This was simply a man trying to justify his new position in a dramatic manner.

The real issue is inebriation and fan behavior. Fans believe that a ticket to a sporting event is a license to assault (mostly verbally) the participants, particularly after a few beers. Owners and baseball administrators cannot look at this objectively because it’s the money that drives the industry.

ALAN AMITIN

Montrose

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Families stick together, yes, but if you hurt someone who hurt a member of your family, you must still be held accountable for your crime under the law. Can we relate to why you did it? Yes. Can we let you take the law into your own hands? No. Part of what is wrong with society in general today is that people in all walks of life want to forget that they must be responsible for their actions.

Had Chad Kreuter behaved differently, perhaps the only thing that would have come out of this incident would be proper security measures at ballparks to protect players from the type of fans who give society a bad name.

JANELLE EVANS

San Pedro

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Perhaps the Dodgers could cut a deal with the commissioner’s office regarding their suspensions for the incident at Wrigley Field. The Dodgers could ask Bud Selig to throw out the suspensions as handed down in return for their promise not to let Eric Karros bat with runners in scoring position for the rest of the season.

JOHN FRASER

Camarillo

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Hey, Frank Robinson,

We watched the fight between the Dodger players and the chaotic Cub fans. How much are you fining us? How many games are you going to suspend us for? Plus, can we appeal before the next road trip?

ADAM TITCHER

AARON SCHULMAN

Encino

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Now is there anything Frank Robinson can do about Bobby Knight?

EDWARD C. LOMAX

Los Angeles