Crazy about Manny Ramirez
LETTERS
Fans disagree with the notion that the Dodgers shouldn't sign the outfielder.
What compromising photos does Bill Plaschke have on the top brass at The Times? He continues to rail against Manny Ramirez [Nov. 16] because he had the audacity to actually perform brilliantly once acquired by the Dodgers, single-handedly destroying the Dodgers' rich tradition of abject failure after donning Blue. His take that Andruw Jones is still viable borders on institutionalization. I'm surprised he hasn't advocated the return of Delino DeShields.
Manny stays -- Plaschke goes.
Bruce Kahn, Claremont
First of all, whatever Bill Plaschke smokes in his pipe should be taken away from him by The Times editors. That man is orbiting Mars and eventually going to put NASA out of a job.
The money spent for re-signing Manny Ramirez is a wash. Think about it, increased ticket sales, parking fees, the concessions, the souvenirs, and whatever else the Dodgers market. The Dodgers can re-sign Manny and still sign a great pitcher. There are always ways. The Dodgers are not going to go broke by having their cake and eating it too.
Brian Korbelik
Fair Oaks, Calif.
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Manny is arguably the singular most impactive player the Dodgers have ever had. He will get his due from some other team that is truly committed to winning, and as for the Dodgers, I'll never even watch them on TV again unless they are playing the team that gets Manny.
Jeff Breslow
Valinda
Prospecting
I had to laugh when I heard Brandon Wood was released by his Dominican winter team this week after hitting .167 through 48 at-bats.
Throw Wood on the pile of overvalued "can't miss" prospects Bill Stoneman and Arte Moreno favored over the future Hall of Fame bats they were offered for them.
A list that now includes Jeff "the next Johnny Bench" Mathis, Kendry "don't call me Clemente" Morales, Dallas "anything but a curveball" MacPherson, Nick "Wild Thing" Adenhart, Jered "I've seen more movement on batting cage fastballs" Weaver and Erick "Cool-hand" Aybar.
Meanwhile, the one guy they should have kept, Bobby Jenks, gets released outright for an alleged drinking problem that has yet to emerge at the major league level.
Wait a minute. Didn't Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle have drinking problems?
Good thing they never played for the Angels' organization.
Steve Keegan
Minden, Nev.
Thorn of plenty
