Dodgers Take Hits, but Can’t Get Them

Hey, Dodgers, if you get a moment, remember what Pat Riley stressed when he was coach of the Lakers. He said, “No rebounds, no rings,” which loosely translates to “No hits, no wins” in baseball.

Mull that over while you’re all relaxing comfortably in yet another early off-season.

Brian M. Green

Long Beach

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I’m so sorry to read that the normally astute Bill Plaschke has suffered a severe stroke. How else to interpret his nonsensical column attempting to smear Odalis Perez and get him run out of town?

First, his assertion that Hideo Nomo surely would have pitched with an injury when he just missed a recent start with a partially torn rotator cuff. Hello, was last week that long ago?

Then, his foolishness about going back to 2002 when Perez missed a couple of games because of a tired arm. Don’t know if Plaschke noticed that Perez threw 222 innings that year -- among the most in baseball -- and a career high for Perez by far.

The Dodgers may indeed trade Perez this off-season. It wouldn’t be the first time they’ve made a bad deal. They’ve become quite good at buying high and selling low.

Michael Forrest

Northridge

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It’s wonderful that Shawn Green has been able to prioritize his faith and his professional responsibilities. But that’s old news. A better use of column space would be to find out why Green didn’t take a cortisone shot in his damaged shoulder six months ago, instead of six months into the season.

Yes, the great Sandy Koufax observed a religious holiday as well, but he also observed his commitment to his team, with cortisone shots as needed, to do his job. Perhaps Odalis Perez should also review the Koufax legacy. “Koufax scratched from start due to hangnail” was never a headline, because Koufax was tough as nails.

Enjoy your October, gentlemen.

Warren Williams

Glendale

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For Vin Scully [Sept. 17] to say this year’s Dodger pitching staff is on a par with -- let alone better than -- the great staffs of the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and even ‘80s is akin to saying Shawn Green is the greatest hitter in the history of baseball.

It just ain’t so.

This year’s staff of Brown, Nomo, Ishii and even that guy who’s saved 51 straight couldn’t carry the jocks of Koufax, Drysdale, Podres or Osteen with the Vulture waiting in the wings, or Mike Marshall (not the outfielder). Even the Bulldog is 10 times the pitcher that anybody on this year’s staff is.

No, I’m afraid that in the immortal words of that great former NFL Players’ Assn. chief negotiator: “Vin Scully has lost it.”

Bill Bell

Los Angeles