Bonds-Park Puts Spark in Dodger-Giant Lore

The Dodgers have a lot to be proud of this year. First, they gave Barry Bonds his 500th home run. Then they made Rickey Henderson the all-time run scoring leader. And finally, Chan Ho Park, who jokingly wants $20 million a year, served up home runs No. 71 and 72 to Barry Bonds.

Go, Dodgers! And take the Mighty Ducks with you.

Walter M. Salas

Santa Fe Springs

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Oct. 5 gave us another chapter in the fabled Dodger-Giant series:

1. The Dodgers knocked the Giants out of the playoffs, despite Chan Ho Park’s inability to hold five-run leads.

2. Barry Bonds can’t accuse the Dodger pitchers of ducking him (as the Astros did). Gee, too bad Al Dark couldn’t see an example of good sportsmanship--maybe it would rub off on the Giants.

3. Barry could also drop the “I’m more interested in the team winning than personal records” line with the Giants out of the playoffs. It has always been “me first” with Barry so now he can again be honest with the press.

4. He doesn’t have to worry about underperforming in October again, since he will watching the playoffs on TV, so he won’t have to answer embarrassing questions from the press.

5. Oops, I forgot, Barry doesn’t usually talk to the press.

6. Did I mention the Dodgers knocked the Giants out of the playoffs?

Ken Blake

Irvine

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After months of hearing Barry Bonds playing down the record, claiming that such matters weren’t important unless San Francisco made the playoffs, it was reassuring to see the real article in action, jubilantly pointing his finger skyward on the night the Giants were knocked out of contention.

And for serving up those gopher balls, Park should be traded to the Pirates.

Burt Prelutsky

North Hills

*

It is a shame that a jerk like Barry Bonds, who has no consideration for the fans at all and won’t sign an autograph unless you open your checkbook, now is the home run record holder. Major league baseball set that up with watered-down pitching staffs, small parks and juiced baseballs. Bonds’ attempt to get people on his side with his “donation” ploy for every home run hit was pathetic. He has the money--donate it. Period.

Hopefully, someone with style and integrity will knock him out of the top spot. I, for one, will never buy another ticket to a major league game to see it happen.

Bob Dobes

Canyon Country

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Two items from Sunday’s paper juxtaposed.

Gary Sheffield: “People talk about our injuries, but I don’t even look at it like that. ... It’s just a matter of knowing how to get it done, and having the will to get it done.”

Bill Shaikin: “From Sept. 7, when the Dodgers led the wild-card standings, until Tuesday, when the team was mathematically eliminated from the playoff races, Sheffield did not hit a home run. In those 16 games, he hit .203 and drove in two runs.”

Mark Evans

Bakersfield

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Once again, Bill Plaschke shows us that not only are the Dodgers a classless organization, but their fans are some of the worst losers I have ever seen.

Talk to some of the Giant fans in Pac Bell Park when Barry hit his 71st homer and ask them if they had goose bumps.

All season, the Dodgers have shown us that they lose without grace, and have no idea what sportsmanship is.

Why did the Cubs, especially Sammy Sosa, congratulate Mark McGwire? Because they know what sportsmanship is. It is rising above petty rivalries and recognizing an amazing achievement. The Dodgers, on the other hand, stood around sulking even though they were up by four.

Park was noble in allowing the home run? Right, as if he did it as a favor to Bonds. Ask Park how noble he felt after giving up the second dinger.

I think it’s sad that Bill Plaschke can find nothing better to do than try to bash Barry’s achievement and somehow hope to elevate the Dodgers in the process. All the talking in the world won’t help the Dodgers, not until they get over themselves and realize there’s more to baseball than winning and losing. Next time, try going over to shake Barry’s hand.

Eric Giovanola

Los Angeles

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The Dodgers and ever-so-delicate Chan Ho Park--what a pathetic bunch of losers. The team should do what the Padres have done--limit their annual payroll to about $18 million and play with the players they can find. Might bring back some intelligence and spirit to how the club is run (any idiot can read the papers and find the most expensive free agents and buy them). The Padres finished three games under .500, and the Dodgers 10 games over. That’s not much of a difference for an $80-million payroll difference.

Joy Chuck

Los Angeles

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The saddest part of the Dodger September wasn’t the team falling out of contention--it was a surprise to find them there at all. No, it was the call-ups. You know, the kids, the future. Nothing. I heard the farm system was barren, but I had no idea how barren.

Dan Evans and Dave Wallace really have their hands full. Or should that be empty ?

Ned Shapiro

Los Angeles

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I am very disappointed with the Dodgers not congratulating Barry Bonds. I think it showed very poor sportsmanship.

I am also disappointed with the press coverage of Bonds. Almost every article mentions his bad attitude. Why would a fan need to be constantly reminded? I went to a Chicago Cub spring training game in Arizona and Mr. Bonds did wind sprints with his son. He appeared to have a great attitude! Where’s the class?

Sheldon Musick

Harbor City

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Hopefully, the gopher balls to Bonds will be Chan Ho Park’s last moment of glory with the Dodgers. From the overreaction to a spring training prank, to on-field karate kicks, to a personal catcher, we should all say “don’t let the door hit you in the Boras on the way out.”

Dread Scott will surely demand (and no doubt get) an outrageous contract for Park, complete with all the amenities today’s superstars demand. The problem for Dodger fans is Park is no superstar but rather a meltdown artist who should ply his trade elsewhere. He certainly isn’t a blue-bleeding Dodger. Big “D” would have drilled Bonds just for past pirouettes, Bulldog would have fed him a steady diet of unhittable junk, and Sandy would have lit up the K board.

If Dan Evans wants to set a tone, do it now and let Chan Ho go. Take the money and get a leadoff hitter who can play center, a shortstop who can hit, lock up Adams, and let Gagne and Prokopec do that for which they have been groomed. Evans can rest assured that there is no risk that this will ever be viewed as a Duquette-esque, Clemens move, but rather a restoration of faith in the faithful.

Toby Bowler

Yucaipa