In for a Penny, He’s Also in for a Pounding

How unfortunate that Brad Penny would choose Memorial Day, a time of remembering those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, to display what is truly wrong with professional sports today.

JOHN R. GRUSH

Mission Viejo

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Hey, Bad Penny, how lucky are you? What other job can you yell and scream at your boss in front of a stadium full of people and a television audience and not get fired or demoted? And sure, you want to finish the inning to be in line for a win, but it’s the manager’s job to decide if you should stay to perhaps get that win, or replace you and hopefully keep you -- and the team -- from getting a loss. The key word there is “team” -- as in, the team comes first, then you.

ALEEZA SHAYA

Los Angeles

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Brad Penny’s tirade was an embarrassment to Grady Little, Rick Honeycutt, the Dodgers organization, all Dodgers fans and, most of all, himself. This management nightmare is a key crossroads for Little because he can’t allow this level of insubordination to go unpunished or he’ll lose control of the team.

It’s fitting Penny didn’t get the win because he showed he’s really a loser.

T.P. RICHARDSON

Los Angeles

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Memo to Brad Penny: Your verbal tirade and dugout tantrum, while I’m sure was due partly because of the competitive fire in you, was way out of line. I hope by the time this letter is published you have apologized to Grady and Rick, and maybe the rest of your teammates ... and from this point on, just keep pitching like you have all year, keep your trap shut, and your fans will forgive you.

RONALD J. PETERS

Thousand Oaks

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Poor Grady Little. As manager of the Red Sox he allows Pedro Martinez to talk him out of removing him from the game, only to have Pedro blow the lead. Then, as Dodgers manager, he yanks a shaky Brad Penny, and the temperamental pitcher throws a tantrum on national television.

Penny’s behavior was indefensible. His team won. Grousing about being pulled makes him look like a prima donna.

DAVID MACARAY

Rowland Heights