Wait a Minute, It’s Still Baseball Season?

With the Dodgers and Angels bounced from the playoffs, California is still not a swing state.

Clint Dahlke

Inglewood

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For what it’s worth: The other night, my daughter met Frank McCourt in a local restaurant and told him that I (her father) was a longtime Dodger season-ticket holder and would like nothing better than to congratulate him on the team’s miraculous season.

“Dial him up!” was McCourt’s retort, and the next thing I knew I was having a warm and friendly conversation with the Dodger owner.

Just before we hung up, in the spirit of the presidential debates, I asked him, “Mr. McCourt, would you look right into the phone and promise you will sign Adrian Beltre?” His response: “Don’t worry, my friend, you will have your third baseman.” Make of that answer what you will.

Joel Rapp

Los Angeles

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Let’s not be quick to jump all over poor Mike Scioscia for his decision to insert Jarrod Washburn in the 10th inning to pitch to David Ortiz. Just remember that Mike was trained by Tommy Lasorda, a man responsible for some of the most horrendous relief pitching decisions in the history of baseball.

Michael J. Tensfeldt

Vista

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There will be many discussions of what defined the Dodgers’ 2004 season: the effects of the midseason blockbuster trades, the many comeback wins, the unknown new owner, Lima Time, Bradley’s outbursts, Lo Duca’s tearful departure, Gagne’s streak, and punching the archrival Giants out of the playoffs.

But in my opinion, what truly defined the Dodgers this year was seen Sunday after their playoff-eliminating loss, as they came out of their dugout to congratulate the Cardinals. It was total class.

Marshall Yagan

Calabasas

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As embarrassing as it is to admit that my wife and I left the division-clinching Dodger-Giant game early, our top-of-the-ninth exit from Sunday’s Dodger-Cardinal game, in retrospect, was well timed. Even as far back as the ’59 Cubs in Duarte Little League, I never felt the urge to shake the winning team’s hand.

Thank heavens I didn’t have to witness the Dodger-Cardinal postgame lovefest first-hand. Otherwise, I might have lost my last two Dodger Dogs of the season.

John R. Grush

Mission Viejo

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Yes, the Dodgers showed much class in hugging the Cardinals. But should they ever face the Giants in a championship series, don’t even think about it.

Paul Zimmelman

Marina del Rey

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If the Dodgers get rid of Ross Porter and keep Rick Monday, I will be joining Milton Bradley in anger-management class.

Anthony Moretti

Lomita

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Maybe Pedro Martinez could whip his “daddy” if he got a special lollipop from BALCO.

Loren Coleman

West Hills