The Sheriff Has Dodged a Bullet

Let’s see: The Dodgers fire Davey Johnson and keep Kevin Malone. Davey Johnson will be able to pick and choose from the line of clubs at his door that would love to have a manager that leads all other active managers in wins.

How many clubs would be lining up at Kevin Malone’s door to hire him? He led the Dodgers to a $98-million payroll, Carlos Perez, Devon White, and atrocious fourth and fifth starters.

Sure looks like the right call to me! After all, can 29 other teams be wrong?

RICHARD BROOKS

Northridge

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As we bid Davey Johnson adieu, leave it to a rotisserie geek to point out the root of the Dodgers’ problem.

Did anyone notice that the Dodgers’ team ERA was second in all of baseball to Atlanta? Or that the Dodger bullpen posted the best ERA in the majors? Or that Kevin Brown won the NL ERA crown with a ludicrous 13 wins? How could a team with this pitching staff and a record 211 homers not win 90 games?

Simply because their trio of leadoff men combined for the worst on-base percentage in the National League: Devon White (.310), Todd Hollandsworth (.314) and Tom Goodwin (.310). And Mark Grudzielanek had the second worst on-base percentage among NL No. 2 hitters (.335).

On his way out the door, Johnson should have told Kevin Malone that it’s awfully tough to manage with the bases empty.

BRIAN GREENE

Los Angeles

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Davey Johnson is the lucky scapegoat for another underachieving Dodger team. He is lucky in the sense that he will not be around for next year’s Dodger debacle. Let’s put the blame where it belongs. Kevin Malone is completely inept. His eye for talent and chemistry is in need of much more than laser surgery. This guy has done nothing but make matters worse.

It’s time to start over. The Dodgers have two options in returning to respectability. First, scrap the entire team with a new general manager rebuilding. Second, spend $120 million on payroll next season with a new general manager making the deals and picking the talent. Otherwise, the Dodgers will continue to underachieve.

JAMES MAGO

Hermosa Beach

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The manager who couldn’t communicate is fired while the general manager who won’t shut up is retained. Kevin Malone isn’t the only buffoon at Dodger Stadium if he is allowed to keep his post.

JOSEPH P. SCHIMPS

Santa Monica

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I am a lifelong San Francisco Giant fan who is just thrilled with the Dodgers’ decision to retain Kevin Malone. This decision assures that the Dodgers’ upper-management team remains intact and, frankly, that is great news to competing teams in the National League.

STEVEN CANNATA

San Marino