Dodger Choke Only Serves to Fuel the Fire of Fan Ire

Dodger fans, don’t worry: There are only a few short months until spring training. Once again, we will be able to hear that the Dodgers have the best talent and best organization in baseball.

If the Dodgers could play on paper instead of grass, they would be world champions. Maybe it’s time to trade some talent for some heart.

P.J. GENDELL, Beverly Hills

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You know it’s that time of season again when the Dodgers begin to choke and start turning blue.

DANNY SANCHEZ, Westminster

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The Dodgers certainly did not need Dr. Kevorkian this past week. They were perfectly able to choke themselves to death.

HERBERT M. SCHOENBERG, Tarzana

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Eric Karros, now you know why it’s better to hit for a .270 average with five home runs and 15 RBIs every month of the season, rather than .230 with nothing in some months and .300 with some pop in others. Yeah, you got your 30 and 100, but those April-May-September games are looming pretty large right about now, aren’t they?

JIM MALLON, Morro Bay

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Again, there will be no Gold Glove for Bill Russell. He has muffed catching a championship twice in a row.

When a player makes an error, it shows up in the box score. Too bad that when a manager goofs and doesn’t put in a pinch-runner for a lumbering catcher in extra innings, or uses an over-the-hill pinch-hitter with no legs, or calls for a bunt with runners on first and third and no outs, the manager isn’t also charged with errors.

JACK ALLEN, Pacific Palisades

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Let’s hope that Bill Russell has enough energy to clean out his desk. He didn’t have enough to get his team up off their laid-back attitudes and overpaid egos.

Bring on Rupert and let’s get the Dodgers into fighting shape.

SHEL WILLENS, Los Angeles

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Bill Plaschke takes his usual cheap shot in laying the blame for the Dodgers’ collapse at the feet of Bill Russell. The Dodgers’ plight is a manifestation of the same weaknesses they had in April, May and June--a terrible bench and inconsistent offensive production from left field, center field and shortstop. This team has substantial deficiencies in its foundation, which, despite Plaschke’s fantasies, even Dusty Baker couldn’t make up for.

KEN MARCUS, Los Angeles

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Bill Russell is taking a lot of heat for the Dodger slide in September. I checked the statistics and noticed something interesting. He has no blown saves, no errors and no strikeouts in crucial situations. It can’t be all his fault.

ALAN MATIS, Sherman Oaks

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Who were the Dodgers that were winning 77% of their games during July? Aside from Piazza, Karros, Mondesi and Zeile, the July players were Wilton Guerrero, Todd Hollandsworth, Roger Cedeno and Tripp Cromer. When injuries came, Fred Claire went where he always goes--to the bone yard.

The thing to remember is that the Dodger players and manager are not choking. They are doing the best they are capable of doing. Unfortunately, so is the general manager.

BILL McKIM, Sun City

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Dear Bill Russell,

I beg you for what’s left of the season to refrain from selecting Mark Guthrie as a relief pitcher. He dishes out more meat than a Las Vegas $1.99 prime rib buffet.

STEVEN URRUTIA, North Hollywood

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These last two Dodger seasons have shown that Bill Russell and Dave Wallace aren’t quite ready for managing and coaching at the major league level. It’s time to give Davy Lopes and Claude Osteen a chance.

DENNIS VAUGHAN, West Covina

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Yet another disappointing season for the Dodger organization and fans. This uninspired team didn’t have to win for me--I’ll probably be around next year. Too bad Mr. O’Malley won’t.

GARY FRAZEUR, Los Angeles