Dodgers, Beltre Can’t Get Stories Straight

He’s a wonderful writer, but Bill Plaschke missed the biggest lesson from his own column about Adrian Beltre [“Misplaced Priority,” Feb. 28].

Losing Beltre wasn’t a failure by the Dodgers, it was a decision by the Dodgers. Just read “Moneyball.” Los Angeles is the new Oakland: same DePodesta, different tightwad owner. The Dodgers decided Beltre was too pricey, so they dumped him.

The real lesson is that the Dodgers now have an oily ownership-management team that will say anything, anything, to buy time while they hope that cheap (“Moneyball”) baseball will work in L.A. I wish the Dodger players well on the field, but it’s sure hard to like an organization that lies to its fans.

By the way, didn’t someone just tell us that Dodger Stadium was suddenly, miraculously safe from earthquakes, and that a half-completed safety reconstruction project could now be canceled? Oh, right, the Dodgers told us that.

I just wish Vin Scully would go to work for the Angels.

E. P. Macus

South Pasadena

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Well, it was bad enough to have “Emperor” McCourt show us not only that he has no clothes, but that he has no class or integrity either!

Now sports fans can make a choice. Believe the hyperbole and smoke and mirrors the Dodger brass has blown all winter regarding why Adrian Beltre was given a back-handed contract. Or believe someone who already had purchased a house in the area in anticipation of being signed.

And I thought Arte Moreno had cornered the market on the forked-tongue school of business. Frank McCourt makes him look like a piker!

Next thing you know, the Dodgers will be bragging about the value they’re getting out of recycling the beer they use to boil Dodger Dogs or charging fans for every baseball they catch in the stands!

On second thought, I’d better not give the Angels any ideas.

Julie T. Byers

Arcadia

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Bill Plaschke wrote an entire column giving Adrian Beltre the chance to whine and cry over being forced to leave the Dodgers. It wasn’t about the money, he says, after signing with Seattle for $64 million, a few million more than the Dodgers had offered.

I don’t know what is worse, trying to feel sorry for Beltre or reading Plaschke.

Ralph S. Brax

Lancaster

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Beltre says of McCourt and DePodesta: “They never let me feel I was part of things.”

Welcome to the stands, Adrian. Best wishes in Seattle.

Monte Whaley

Redondo Beach

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Reading that J.D. Drew, who just signed a five-year, $55-million contract with the Dodgers, has received hearty thanks, copious praise and the undying admiration of his new team for “agreeing” to play whatever position he was assigned caused me to quickly scan today’s date. Was it Feb. 28 ... or April 1?

David Macaray

Rowland Heights

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Three predictions for the season:

* Paul DePodesta will make more tough but necessary personnel decisions.

* Bill Plaschke will grow ever more hysterical about “team chemistry” and “the Dodger Way.”

* The Dodgers will again win the NL West.

John Armstrong

Greenville, S.C.