Letters: Dodgers fans see a ‘significant’ disconnect

Dylan Hernandez reports that James Loney is expected to receive a “significant” raise from his current salary of $4.875 million. I fell over laughing when I read this, but then I realized that he was serious. That in itself is what is wrong with sports today. How in the world can a guy who has stunk for a year expect to receive a raise? No wonder these guys blow their money after retirement. They have absolutely no sense of reality.

Furthermore … Don Mattingly says he doesn’t know what happened to the player [Loney] was during the first half of last season. Since Mattingly was the so-called hitting coach and current manager, you would think he would have some idea. For that statement alone, Mattingly needs to sit on a beach next year and wonder what happened to his job.

Geno Apicella

Placentia

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The controversy rages: Assuming he continues to post his amazing statistics for the rest of the season, should Matt Kemp win the National League MVP award?

True, Kemp can hit for average and power, he can run like the wind, and he is an incredible outfielder, but in my opinion he doesn’t deserve the MVP. If there were an award for the best athlete in baseball, he would probably win it; if there were an award for best player in the league he would definitely be a top contender; and of course there’s no question he’s the most valuable Dodger by a mile. But also without question, the MVP award should go to the player who stands out on a winning team.

Joel Rapp

Los Angeles

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This many games into the season and Don Mattingly still does not know his pitchers. If Chad Billingsley is ahead after five innings, you have to go to the bullpen.

Jimmy Corona

Diamond Bar

Stern should be old news

NBA Commissioner David Stern’s latest embarrassing comments regarding NBA players and their union, along with having the audacity to sue the same, are more than enough reason for the NBA owners’ committee to recommend relieving Stern of his duties.

For the past couple of years, David Stern has referred to the NBA as “my league.” The players as “my players.” He has taken personal shots at a few owners and coaches. David Stern believes he is the league.

No doubt, Stern was a very good commissioner in his day. But as with aging basketball players, he no longer is a factor. David, you’ve stayed at the dance way too long. It’s time to go home. If you won’t do it on your own, the owners should show you the way out.

Ron Trimble

Lakewood

Writing’s on the wallfor baseball rules

I enjoyed Kevin Baxter’s story on “Baseball’s Unwritten Rules,” but after watching Sunday’s Angels-Tigers debacle it is apparent that one more rule needs to be added: It is OK to attempt to break up a no-hitter with a bunt after an unwritten rule has been broken by the opposing team. We can call this the Verlander corollary.

Mike Gamboa

Buena Park

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Whether or not Jered Weaver’s perceptions and actions were correct in his game against Detroit on Sunday, I sure did love his passion and I can only hope it rubs off on a few other Angels including Torii Hunter, who commented that both sides were at fault. Way to back up your teammate, Torii.

Ron Reeve

Glendora

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If you hit one of our guys, we’ll hit one of yours? You can’t steal a base with a big lead? You never talk about a no-hitter while it’s in progress? Who gets in the shower first? Who gets on the team bus last?

I’ve seen more maturity in 12-year-olds at a Little League game.

What about just going out and playing hard?

Kevin Baxter’s story on the cult of superstitions shows another reason why baseball has slipped from the national pastime to the number three sport. The players are forced by silly traditions to leave their common sense at home.

Al Sheahen

Sherman Oaks

Tennis doesn’t deserve double fault

Los Angeles just hosted one of the most storied tournaments in the history of tennis and The Times covered it like a Frisbee rally. As L.A.’s longest-running sporting event of 85 years, laden with tradition — showcasing SoCal talent, the United States’ only top 10 player and highlighting a new phenom in Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis — the Farmers Classic deserved more respect.

Troy Donald

Pacific Palisades

It’s a gutty, littlevacation spot

T.J. Simers goes on vacation and comes back a Rick Neuheisel fan. The only thing left is for UCLA bloggers to visit the same place.

Wes Wellman

Santa Monica

First, think before you throw

Macho pitchers throwing at batters is one of the three dumbest plays in baseball. The others are intentional walks, where we have to watch the pitcher and catcher throw to each other four times, and the worst, where a baserunner is allowed to smash the catcher at home in the hope of knocking the ball, or the catcher, out. Exciting stuff if your IQ is 37.

Kevin H. Park

Encino

Angels’ math doesn’t compute

First I read that the Angels continue to struggle to score. Then I note that former Angels catcher Mike Napoli is hitting .280 with 14 home runs and 36 RBIs and then I wonder just how bad a defensive catcher Napoli must be.

Jim B. Parsons

Canyon Lake

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With the Angels once again in discussions about adding a new bat or some relief pitching at the trade deadline, I can’t help but think back to all the potential deals they didn’t make because the other team insisted on getting Brandon Wood. Think Bill Stoneman and Tony Reagins would like to have a do-over on those deals?

David Ayers

Huntington Beach

Mr. Smith was a treasure

For 20 years or so, Bubba Smith and I shared a gym on the West Side. He was a great guy, friendly and voluble, and loved to tell stories about both pro and college ball. If anything still irked him about his playing days, it was the terrible way the NFL turned its back on the medical needs of retired players, and Notre Dame playing for a tie back in 1966 in the game that decided the national championship, awarded to Notre Dame. I can still see him, watching from my dorm TV room, busting through the line for a tackle in the waning seconds and calling for time out.

It was sad the last couple of years to see him in the locker room, getting around on crutches, so badly hobbled by injury, illness and operations. He never complained, never showed a moment of bitterness. So long, Bubba. Sorry to see you go too soon.

Mitch Paradise

Los Angeles

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