Letters to Sports: Clayton Kershaw is back, and so is baseball

Sure! Kershaw signed on for an additional 12 months. He needs to be, to paraphrase Plaschke, a lifer like Koufax and Drysdale. Amen. He’s earned it, the precise to receives a commission by the Dodgers for no matter any staff is prepared to pay. One uniform. One staff. The one and solely Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jeff Wooden
Newhall

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The re-signing of Kershaw, man on and off the mound, nearly balances out the ridiculous and wasted signing of Trevor Bauer final season.

Fred Wallin
Westlake Village

Labor strife

Precise baseball gamers ought to have the power to catch, throw and hit a baseball. That’s why a pitcher who can hit properly is extra helpful than one with lesser expertise. When a pitcher is coming to the plate can be a think about strategic selections.

The Nationwide League, in my view, was actual baseball.

In the event that they actually undertake designated hitters they’re simply as bogus because the American League.

Dave Thoma
Ventura

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I’ve been following the Dodgers and baseball since 1958 once I was 10. Koufax and Drysdale are nonetheless my heroes, nevertheless it has turn out to be a lot about cash. Pure greed. I could also be just one baseball fan, however attributable to latest occasions I’m a baseball fan not. I’ll spend the remaining years discovering a greater solution to spend time.

Brad Heald
Henderson, Nev.

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I’ve been studying and having fun with the sports activities letters for years. Over time I’ve observed a recurring theme: At any time when there’s a participant/administration battle extreme sufficient to trigger cancellation of a number of the season, letter writers will assert that “sufficient is sufficient” and that followers ought to boycott attendance when the video games are resumed.

Though my crystal ball is previous and a bit of cracked, I can let you know that the one place a fan boycott will happen is in your desires.

Ralph Martinez
Arcadia

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I confess to being a strong Joe Kelly fan, however his surprisingly poignant and heartfelt channeling of his inside Jim Murray was simply what I, one other annoyed MLB fan, wanted proper now. Exasperated by lengthy struggling blackouts and scornful lockouts, Joe’s heat insights into the center and spirit of baseball from an MLB star is a refreshing reminder that the MLB gamers themselves (principally) love the sport as a lot or greater than we followers. As for the house owners … possibly not a lot.

Someplace, Joe’s essay has Tommy Lasorda and Jim Murray nodding and smiling and saying, “Effectively mentioned, Joe!”

Patrick Leonard
La Quinta

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Pricey Joe Kelly, I might always remember baseball. Thanks to your plea for persistence to all of us followers and to your homage to the sport we love. I agree with you that baseball is the “considering man’s sport.” Nonetheless, as a feminine who’s a lifelong Dodger fan, I counsel calling it a “considering FAN’S sport.” No laborious emotions, Joe. Can’t wait to see you again on the mound! Deliver your mariachi jacket.

Laura Owen
Pacific Palisades

Bauer debate

What a travesty Trevor Bauer has been put via for the previous 9 months. How laborious is it to “examine” a “he says, she says” sexual allegation? The D.A. gained’t prosecute as a result of there wasn’t sufficient proof, which must be adequate for MLB. Give the man his life again and bring to an end this stretched out farce of an “investigation” as he has already misplaced half a season, punishment sufficient for unhealthy judgment.

Ken Blake
Brea

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I regularly see reporters from The Occasions strongly stating that Trevor Bauer have to be launched due to his horrible interplay with a feminine. Though I under no circumstances assist his actions it have to be remembered that his feminine associate was a prepared participant within the interplay and really returned to his dwelling for an additional sexual assembly. However what about Kobe Bryant? Was Kobe suspended by the NBA whereas sexual assault allegations have been investigated?? NO. Did the Lakers droop him? NO. Did The Occasions demand he be launched? NO NO NO. Did the followers activate him? NO. Kobe is an L.A. icon. That is an instance of a double normal at its most extreme state.

Bruce Olson
Upland

Lakers legacies

On Saturday, March 5, I made a decision to see how former Lakers gamers have been performing. What did I see? The kids are doing all proper. Listed below are their factors: Ingram 29, Caldwell-Pope 28, Randle 25 and Kuzma 22. Lakers followers can examine these numbers to our present staff gamers on their subsequent outing. It hurts this fan to observe this staff and its lack of effort and taking pictures expertise (except for LeBron James).

Richard Leeds
Irvine

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All of the noise (together with from The Occasions) about eliminating LeBron James is barely half proper. Watching him play each day on the degree he performs makes him a keeper. Alternatively, LeBron the Normal Supervisor ought to have been fired way back. In the long run the Lakers report reveals the value of the participant was far outweighed by the underperformance of his growing older buddies.

Robert Goldstone
Corona del Mar

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Effectively, now we all know the one time LeBron James will play to win is when a Rams participant is within the stands. I feel the entrance workplace ought to offer your entire Rams staff season tickets and make it possible for at the very least one in all them attends all remaining video games.

It’s apparent that he doesn’t care if the followers are completely happy, however is basically into exhibiting what he can do in entrance of a soccer celebrity.

Gail Winkles
Whittier

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Invoice Plaschke by no means ceases to amaze. His newest overreaction to the Russell Westbrook scenario is simply one other instance of his foolish bandwagoning. In truth, Westbrook doesn’t deserve criticism and abuse of his household identify, neither by followers nor ill-informed journalists. The Lakers knew who they have been getting on this commerce. Criticism as an alternative must be levied on the GM tandem of LeBron James and Rob Pelinka.

Axel Hubert
Santa Monica

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Russell Westbrook, are you kidding me? You make hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands a 12 months, and also you’re complaining about heckling followers hurting your emotions?

Jack Wolf
Westwood

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The forged of “Successful Time” was offended by how the Lakers have been depicted of their sport towards the Rockets.

George Sands
Torrance

Coach Ok comparability

Congratulations to Coach Ok for a sterling teaching profession each on and off the court docket. However I’m sorry, ESPN and different East Coast mouthpieces are rewriting historical past by referring to him because the GOAT. That honor will all the time go to John Picket, along with his 10 nationwide championships in an period when the event contained no stiffs, however solely convention champions. Coach Ok merely had too many event disappointments to compete with the true GOAT.

Alan Abajian
Alta Loma

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Evaluating Coach Ok to Coach W is like evaluating Michael Jordan to Kobe. It might probably’t be executed. The one commonality is in the secret. The sport modified a lot, guidelines, techniques, and so on., that they have been one of the best at what they did in utterly totally different universes.

Tony Schaffer
Los Angeles

Not so regal protection

Whereas the millionaire baseball gamers are haggling with the billionaire house owners, the poor L.A. Occasions can’t afford a beat author to cowl the Related Press Kings.

Reggie Reginato
Santa Barbara

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The Los Angeles Occasions welcomes expressions of all views. Letters must be transient and turn out to be the property of The Occasions. They might be edited and republished in any format. Every should embrace a legitimate mailing deal with and phone quantity. Pseudonyms won’t be used.

E mail: sports activities@latimes.com