They’re Ready to Call Dodgers the Real Deal

The Dodgers have opened a rather commanding lead in the National League West, and have been playing as well as anyone in the league outside of St. Louis. And yet Plaschke and Simers continue to write as though their season ended months ago. I know Bill and T.J. don’t want to be seen as “flip-floppers,” but I think it may be time they admit they underestimated the talents of the men in blue.

Ralph S. Brax

Lancaster

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Steve Finley hits a two-run home run (and a double) to help the Dodgers stay 6 1/2 games up in the West on the same night that Guillermo Mota “helps” the Marlins drop back under .500 by giving up the game-winning home run in the 10th.

One word: Scoreboard.

So much for trading away the playoffs, so much for “giving the Marlins” the National League East, and so much for the leagues of ignorant Dodger fans satisfied with 86-win mediocrity.

Because none of you, including Plaschke or Simers, will have the guts to stand up and admit you were wrong (and you were all very, very wrong), I only reiterate the point that General Manager Paul DePodesta has improved this team, and after all of the vitriolic nonsense The Times has printed over the last two weeks about this trade, it can’t hurt to repeat that message.

Steven A. Haskins

Los Angeles

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To all the people who hailed DePodesta as a genius after the Dodgers gained on the Padres this week: Please note that we weren’t exactly beating the St. Louis Cardinals out there, we swept the Pirates.

And the more troubling trend is this: No double-digit scoring since the trade, which it seemed the Dodgers did every third game this year before the trade.

To Paul Lo Duca and Dave Roberts: Thanks and best of luck.

Robert Banto

North Las Vegas

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Can we stick a fork in Darren Dreifort? The Dodgers should take a loss in the money department on this one, because he will cost them an important game in the postseason, if he does not cost them the postseason. We can’t afford either, but losing the pennant would be harder for the franchise than losing the dollars that Dreifort is owed.

Jesse R. Rodriguez

Los Angeles

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Does anyone else hold their breath when Darren Dreifort walks out of the bullpen? This guy is the biggest bust since Todd Hundley. Maybe the Dodgers feel they have to get their money’s worth since they owe Dreifort at least $11 million a year for another two seasons.

Four dismal years of subpar play is enough. The Dodgers need to cut their losses and look elsewhere for an effective setup reliever if they are to make a playoff run.

Mike Kitahara

Ferndale, Calif.

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Say it: DePodesta made a major league mistake. The only beneficiary of the trade perhaps is Mota. If Gagne is hurt in any way, DePodesta should get an old-fashioned whipping. After all, he is not dry behind the ears.

Jack Parrish

Los Angeles

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Lost in all the hype about “whiz kid” GM Paul DePodesta are the contributions by Dan Evans pickups Jeff Weaver, Wilson Alvarez and Jose Lima. And the only “real” Dodger we had to give up for these team MVPs was overpriced, often-injured Kevin Brown. Perhaps DePodesta could learn a little from studying how patience and shrewd pickups were able to rebuild a franchise decimated by previous out-of-control administrations. Sometimes, Paul, it’s better to use a scalpel than a sledgehammer.

David Robinett

Sacramento

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By the way, who do we have now to donate $500 to Los Angeles schools every time a base is stolen now that Dave Roberts is gone? Does it matter, McCourts?

Carla Johnson

Anaheim

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I realize that baseball can be a bit tradition bound, but haven’t the Dodgers gone a bit overboard in limiting the organ music to the anthem or “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”? The McCourts have done a nice job of recognizing other aspects of the Dodger tradition during the year, how about a little more balance for those of us who would like a bit less rock music? We’ve already seen the “two-bagger” peanuts and the Cool-a-Coo go the way of the dodo, it would be a shame to lose the organ as well.

Ken Marcus

Los Angeles