Dodgers Baffled by Fernando’s Stuff

In describing Fernando Valenzuela’s refusal to have anything to do with the Dodgers [“No Mas,” July 8], Bill Plaschke wrote that:

* The Dodgers invited Valenzuela to throw out the first pitch. He declined.

* They invited him to appear at his bobble-head doll night. He declined.

* They invited him to be honored any way he wanted. He declined.

* Finally, they reached his representatives and asked that [Valenzuela] come to the phone. He declined.

Yet, Dodger President Bob Graziano still says he can’t find out what Valenzuela “wants to do.”

Duh! What he wants to do is be left alone! Is there anybody in the organization who understands the word “no”?

F.G. Wood

Bakersfield

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The Dodger organization has always seemed particularly cold-hearted. When they dealt off the great Jackie Robinson so unceremoniously to the Giants after his groundbreaking career, he was so bitter that he didn’t even show up with the new team but left baseball forever.

I’d been an avid Dodger fan because of Jackie but swore at that time never to root for them again. I recanted when Fernando stormed onto the scene. I just couldn’t get enough of this wonderful rags-to-riches phenomenon. Then the organization pulls the same hard pragmatism as with Jackie. Fernando gets cut loose, with no forewarning, to chisel him out of well-deserved money. Fernando had really made the Dodgers’ turnstiles click, but that didn’t matter. They just tossed him out at the last moment and let him fend for himself after he’d pitched his arm out for the organization.

I wonder if I’ll be gullible enough to fall for the Dodgers again, only to see them throw another colossal, loyal star onto the scrapheap.

Ken Kvammen

Newport Beach

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What’s the matter, Fernando, did you really think you’d pitch forever? The capitalists have settled with the communists, the surfers have accepted the ho-dads, even Cliff Floyd has forgiven Bobby Valentine. The only bad blood that remains is between you and the Dodgers, and T.J. Simers and his readership. Can’t we all just get along?

David Macaray

Rowland Heights