Finally, the Dodgers Get Plenty of Knocks

Enough is enough! Jim Tracy has shown far more patience with Shawn Green than any ballplayer deserves, kept him batting cleanup where Rodney Dangerfield could lead the team in RBIs if he was in there day after day.

This rotten strategy has cost the team numerous ballgames. The once and future mighty slugger has become the King of K, and the Duke of Double Play.

Steve Smith

Long Beach

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Somebody please tell Tommy Lasorda to explain the merits of the sacrifice bunt and the hit and run to Jim Tracy. With a team that struggles offensively, it is disconcerting that Tracy continues to play with a station-to-station approach.

But his real failing deals with what managers are supposed to do best, and that is motivate his players. I have watched the Dodgers on TV and I have watched them in person, and this team barely goes through the motions.

Robert Walley

Lake Forest

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So Dodger General Manager Dan Evans isn’t ready to panic. He doesn’t want to make any decisions on an emotional basis because “these decisions come back to haunt you.”

Dan, haven’t you noticed the air around Dodger Stadium is very cold, and what are those creaking sounds? Why, I think you are being haunted by Brian Jordan’s bad knee and Fred McGriff’s bad groin. And what about Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek? Their combined batting averages are more than 100 points higher than their Dodger replacements, McGriff and Alex Cora.

Now that’s scary!

Hal Murray

Agoura Hills

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After sweeping the Dodgers, the Angels seem to believe they are on their way back to the World Series. I have some bad news. Anaheim will now have to start playing real major league teams again.

Ralph S. Brax

Lancaster

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On the bright side for the Dodgers: No one’s using cork. Actually, we’re not even sure if anyone’s using wood.

John Thompson

Chino

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Tell us again, Dan Evans, why we should spend our precious time and money to attend a Dodger game.

For the heady buzz of seeing our team struggle helplessly to overcome a two-run deficit?

For the excitement of watching Shawn Green mope around like a sullen teenager?

For the thrills of witnessing Adrian Beltre, Ron Coomer, Alex Cora and Daryle Ward battle it out for the team’s worst batting average?

Go ahead, keep squandering the league’s best pitching staff on a nonexistent offense; just don’t be surprised when you find you’ve squandered the good will of Dodger fans as well.

Dan Epstein

Los Angeles

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Thanks to Dan Evans, on any given evening the Dodgers can’t even field a batting order that contains a legitimate, top-echelon major league hitter.

And Jim Tracy, unlike the rest of the major league managers who send in their best closer to protect a lead, sends in baseball’s finest closer to protect a tie or a one- or two-run deficit. Now that’s leadership.

Art Ficke

Long Beach

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I have the solution to the problems the Dodgers are having with their offense. Since the Cubs never make the playoffs, it stands to reason that anyone on their roster except Kerry Wood and Sammy Sosa would be available. So why not trade for Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek, each of whom is hovering around .300?

Of course, it’s hard to believe anyone with any baseball savvy would let them go, but, hey, who knows? It’s worth a try.

David Sherr

Santa Monica