Letters to Sports: Hold off on the Dodgers predictions and cheers

Before Game 5 of the NLCS, Bill Shaikin of the Times quoted Dave Roberts as saying, “There’s a sense of urgency.” It doesn’t look like the Roberts Rules were followed, as the Dodgers’ brain trust chose Jack Flaherty allowed to give up eight runs in just three innings.

Yes, the Dodgers pitching staff was decimated, but the relievers were outstanding and should have been called on much sooner. This was reminiscent of the Dodgers having Chan Ho Park face Fernando Tatis a second time (in the third inning) in April 2004 and Tatis hit two grand slams. Hopefully the Dodgers will win one of the next possible two games against the Mets and advance to the World Series, but anything can happen.

Ken Feldman
Tarzana

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Since Jack Flaherty was pitching, I was expecting the Dodgers to win Game 5, so I wanted to email you to let you know that good pitching wins championships, but the Dodgers lost 12-6, so I have to deal with this one now withhold statement.

Vaughn Hardenberg
Westwood

Bulletin board material

Times columnist Bill Plaschke is the worst thing that could ever happen to sports journalism. He may be a prize winner, but when it comes to predicting winners, he is the “kiss of death.” His statement that “the Dodgers are a key to taking down the Mets” is considered his worst call of all time. He’s been wrong with every team in Los Angeles and here’s hoping the Dodgers don’t make him look like the idiot he is.

Jay Slater
Los Angeles

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Bill, please stop making predictions about the Dodgers. Last week you wrote about the bullpen’s scoreless innings streak, and it’s ending. They write in Friday’s edition that the Dodgers are a contender for the World Series and then drop Game 5. Maybe you should fast forward to the Lakers season and write your semi-annual article about how LeBron James needs to be traded.

Rob Demonteverde
Brea

Playing through the pain

Freddie Freeman, you are a warrior! In a league where guys take time off because of things like “fatigue,” coming in six hours before game time to have ankle surgery will, at best, allow you to play the game in pain and very limited flexibility and agility to play what most would be in a hiking boot.

No matter who hits the most home runs, hits the most, throws the most scoreless innings, or scores the most runs, should the Dodgers win the World Series (assuming they make it there), you will undoubtedly be the team’s MVP. Move forward with courage, effort, determination, selflessness and commitment, which must surely lift every teammate to a higher level.

Steve Kaye
Oro Valley, Arizona.

April fools jokes

Hey, I have an idea. Next April, when the Dodgers’ regular season begins, someone says to Kiké Hernández, “These ARE the playoffs.”

Axel W. Kyster
Bradbury

Time for a change

In 2025, Clayton Kershaw is likely to be relegated to the bullpen, where he can stay healthy by limiting his pitch count and bolstering a critical need.

David Marshall
Santa Monica

I enjoyed the lecture

I can’t express how much I enjoyed watching the Dodgers Debate panel with Bill Plaschke, Dylan Hernández and Jack Harris. During the postseason, after every game, I look forward to hearing what the Times writers have to say immediately after the game. Please continue your wonderful work during this great Dodger playoff run!

Ron Ota
Sunny land

The Life of Riley

Lincoln Riley finished his five-year head coaching career at Oklahoma with a 55-10 record. At USC, hired for a salary of about $10 million per year, Riley’s record is 11-10 in his last 21 games, 5-8 in his last 13, 4-6 in his last 10 Riley contend that the college game has changed since the days of Pete Carroll at USC. Really? Hopefully it’s not the Peter Principle.

Wayne Muramatsu
Cerritos

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As I lamented USC’s loss to Penn State, I realized what Coach Riley has been working towards. It’s the same goal my UCLA friends cried for: parity between the Trojans and Bruins football programs.

Paul Gonzales
Claremont

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.