Dodger Fans Experience Bad Case of June Gloom

If the Dodgers are done for the year, why don’t they roll themselves up and give the triple-A and double-A guys a chance to play at Dodger Stadium? I know they can play with some heart.

Stephen Basso

Frazier Park

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At least last year’s Dodgers waited until August to throw in the towel; this year’s model couldn’t even wait until the All-Star break to begin its season-ending sleepwalk.

If the players aren’t going to even try, the least Bob Daly could do is to give the fans some other incentive to show up at Chavez Ravine. You know, perhaps a coupon for free Krispy Kremes every time Tom Goodwin goes hitless, Alex Cora bunts incompetently, Darren Dreifort fails to go six, or Eric Karros grounds into an inning-ending double play.

Dan Epstein

Los Angeles

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Is there any way to send the Dodgers back to Brooklyn and have their new minor league team sent here?

Mark Kummrow

Santa Monica

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Pre-Fox, Dodger Stadium would be alive with the sound of cheering fans accompanied by the sounds of the Dodger Stadium organ and Vin Scully calling the game from thousands of radios in the stands. Now the fans are bored, the music is mostly canned, and fans don’t even bring their radios. Vinny is on only for a couple of innings each game now. The rest of his air time is dedicated to Fox’s obviously more important franchise, cable television. Dodger fans used to bleed Dodger Blue, now they’re singing the Dodger Blues.

How appropriate then that the Dodgers culminated “Think Blue Week” on Sunday--a promotion that is supposed to bring fan spirit to new heights--with their third humiliating loss to the Padres in as many days. On a beautiful summer weekend that should have seen packed stands, Dodger Stadium appeared to be only about half full. And June 22, Dodger fans demonstrated their feelings of frustration and boredom by starting to file out in the fifth inning, with the score tied at 4.

When are these guys going to learn? Dodger fans used to come out for their team even when they were losing, because they truly believed the Dodgers were their team. You could tolerate a so-so or losing game because Vin Scully was there in the stands with you entertaining and informing through the worst of it. Now through trades, price increases, broadcasting changes, poor management decisions and obviously low player morale, Fox has systematically disenfranchised some of the most loyal fans in the history of professional sports.

Baseball needs to be run by baseball people who understand what makes teams and the fans in the stands tick, not just the Nielsen numbers that companies like Fox live and breathe by. If you do what is right to create the energy in the stadium--on and off the field--it will translate to wins and strong ratings, which will make everyone happy. But as long as Fox ignores the 10th Man, things can only get worse. And Think Blue Week will feel bluer and bluer and bluer.

David Nemer

Glendale

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It appears that the Dodgers have come up with a brilliant new strategy to sign draftees and free agents; send Tommy Lasorda to their home to complete the deal. Brian Pilkington, L.A.’s top draft pick, received a visit from Lasorda and finally signed a contract, after listening to hours of Tommy’s stories.

It seems the only way to get him out of his house was to sign up. I wonder if the Dodgers have considered sending Lasorda to Pedro Martinez’s home?

Ralph S. Brax

Lancaster

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It happens every year around the first day of summer; the Dodgers begin their slide toward oblivion and listening to callers lambaste the team on postgame Dodger Talk becomes more entertaining than the games themselves.

Doug Christiansen

Sierra Madre

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After another Dodger loss this week, several things are clear to this Dodger fan. First, Jason Reid must have a significant relationship with Scott Boras. Reid assures his readers that Chan Ho Park’s seven-inning, 10-strikeout performance was another strong outing. Park is a Boras client and is a free agent at the end of this season. The facts are that Park’s earned-run average for the game was 3.86 (not strong even in this era) and he gave back runs in the bottom half of innings each time the Dodgers scored in the top half of the same inning.

Second, Reid has not pointed out the Dodger record since Sheffield’s return from the disabled list (4-12 as of Tuesday). Lastly, he’s treating Dreifort with kid gloves. Dreifort is mentally weak. He can’t maintain focus an entire game and needs to move to a closer role or get a shrink to work with him between innings. But Sheffield and Dreifort are Boras clients too.

So I get it. Jason Reid, like Kevin Malone before him, really works for Scott Boras.

Alan Amitin

Montrose

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Dear Darren Dreifort,

I guess life has been tough for you lately around here. You’ve had a few difficult games. The Saturday letter-writers have been brutal, and now Bill Plaschke has chimed in with a biting column. Everyone mentions your big contract and your poor numbers. Well, take heart.

A few years ago the Dodgers had another pitcher they were forced to keep on the roster because of a huge bonus they gave him. He was a mess for six years. He walked 405 batters in 691 2/3 innings. He was 36-40 for teams that won two World Series in that span. But he turned out to be worth the wait.

Or haven’t you heard of Sandy Koufax?

Eric Monson

Temecula

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After the last-place Padres’ sweep of the dismal Dodgers, Phil Nevin was quoted saying, “They’re the Dodgers. I mean, regardless of where their record is, or what they’ve done, it’s just like playing the Yankees--games that you just get up for.” Can you imagine anyone saying that? The Yankees? Phil, please, spare me. The Dodgers have been a mediocre team in one of the weakest divisions in baseball for 13 years now. They have struggled for well over a decade and haven’t won anything.

Phil, one of these two teams will play well above the .500 mark this year. One of them will participate, once again, in the playoffs. One of them will bring pride to their borough, I mean city.

Sorry, Phil, there is only one similarity between these two teams . . . payroll.

William Michael

Dana Point

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I couldn’t agree more with John Lorelli’s letter last week about Rick Monday. Never mind the “tortured syntax,” it’s the sleep-inducing monotone that I can’t stand.

What’s it going to take for Monday to get excited during a broadcast--Darren Dreifort spontaneously combusting in the dugout? Hey, wait a minute . . .

Dave Stuart

Westlake Village