Cheer for Dodgers--or the Schedule?

I am amused at the L.A. media’s attempt to try to convince the L.A. population that the Dodgers really are a good team. Even Ross Porter on one broadcast exclaimed, “I don’t know how the Dodgers, batting only .252, are having such a good July.” Well, I’m here to tell you.

My research into this inexplicable phenomena is twofold: During the last couple of weeks, the Dodgers have been playing sub-.500 teams, the doormats of baseball--Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Colorado, then back to Milwaukee. The Dodgers are getting fat right now because of a scheduling fluke. Secondly, they’re in a weak division that nobody seems to want to win.

I’m sure that when we see Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, etc., we won’t see as many wild pitches to score the winning run, or bases on balls to score the winning run, etc. I can’t wait to see real baseball, not the minor leagues.

Bill Michael

Dana Point

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I find the fact that the Dodgers have shut up every one of the letter writers who predicted their demise to be extremely gratifying. Given the fact that they have done this without the majority of their seasoned pitching staff makes it doubly so. This team has shown incredible heart, desire and drive. Whatever the outcome of the season might be, this team should be saluted now for its play.

To all of the Dodger bashers out there, scurry back under the rock from which you came.

Mike Kilgore

Los Angeles

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I believe that pitching victories should be far less expensive than some are suggesting. As an example, at the rate of pay that Kevin Brown steals, er, earns, the Dodgers should receive at least 20 Ws per year. Talk about fantasy baseball! Back on Earth, those who are equating the success of modern pitchers to a million bucks per victory are out of touch and should spend less time wishing Chan Ho Park well and spend some time questioning the less than 45 wins that the overrated, over-paid, over-the-hill, injury-prone, sacred-cow Brown will have produced after he collects his third installment of $15 million per year.

Anybody still upright knows that Brown’s signing three years ago, at age 34, to a seven-year $105-million contract, was completely outrageous. There isn’t an iceberg’s chance in hell that we’ll see close to 45 wins for the first $45 million he rips us off for. As for the last four years of his contract, what a joke!

Wake-up call to the Dodgers! Please learn something from the Carlos Perez fiasco. Get rid of Brown and get some decent prospects as soon as he can throw again, even if it means eating part of that $15 million. Any savings can be a down payment on keeping Chan Ho, who is just coming into his prime.

Tony Crale

Whittier

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I am sick and tired of hearing about what a great year Gary Sheffield is having.

I’m sorry, but for $10 million--and $10 million is still an almost unfathomable amount of money for us mortals--hitting .285 (so what?), with 22 home runs (big deal!) and 52 RBIs (please!) in this era of a very lively ball, just ain’t anywhere close to great.

Perhaps those who consider Sheffield’s season great might possibly think that the Angels and Padres are having great seasons too.

Steve Smith

San Gabriel

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So, the Yankees are 19 games over .500, and Steinbrenner is pulling his hair out. The Dodgers are 14 games over .500 and everyone is ecstatic. It’s amazing how the Dodger P.R. machine has reduced our expectations.

I, for one, have trouble calling a team with a $110-million payroll “scrappy and overachieving.”

Robert J. Rossi

San Dimas

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To honor the Dodgers’ new pitcher, but also show respect for the Korean staff veteran, let’s name a city after them. How does Baldwin Park sound?

Charles L. Zetterberg

Claremont