Charley Steiner

For all of his brilliance, Vin Scully cannot stay away from the one phrase that sends me directly to my radio's off button: "And as we go to the fourth, here's Charley Steiner." Michael Hawkins Newbury Park

The Times has sent a team here to document the Dodgers' collapse, a few minutes to eat before interrogating Casey Blake -- only to have Charley Steiner and Rick Monday sit down. Nobody else in the room makes the mistake of sitting at a table with two empty chairs. Right away Steiner starts chattering, and this probably doesn't come as a surprise to most of you. He's trying to explain to this lady, he says, like any of us know what lady he's talking about, that he's not going to be driving the train.

Last Saturday, Dave Datz of Altadena wrote that he was in favor of the Dodgers not using an announcer on their telecasts once Vin Scully retires. After trying to listen to Charley Steiner and Rick Monday during the past few seasons, I would like to make the same suggestion for Dodgers radio broadcasts. Andrew M. Weiss Playa del Rey

Last Saturday, Dave Datz of Altadena wrote that he was in favor of the Dodgers not using an announcer on their telecasts once Vin Scully retires. After trying to listen to Charley Steiner and Rick Monday during the past few seasons, I would like to make the same suggestion for Dodgers radio broadcasts. Andrew M. Weiss Playa del Rey

The Dodgers are close to naming a new play-by-play announcer and two new radio and television commentators. Charley Steiner, formerly of ESPN and a New York Yankee radio announcer for the last three years, is a possible replacement for Ross Porter, whose contract was not renewed. Former Dodger second baseman Steve Sax has emerged as a candidate for one of the commentating jobs. "Charley Steiner is one of the people we have looked at," Dodger executive vice president Lon Rosen said late Thursday.

Amid the proselytizing platitudes of "Bandwagon" Bill Plaschke and the bullying bombast of T.J. Simers, how refreshing it is to learn that The Times employs an unabashed pagan in Kurt Streeter. Now that we know his fealty to the God of Baseball, maybe he could tell us what the Basketball God really thinks of Kobe, and why the Golf God rewards Tiger while forsaking Phil. Rhys Thomas Van Nuys Kurt Streeter's column ("Pleading to the Big Dodger in the Sky," June 15), wonders why the Baseball Gods have forsaken the Dodgers.

Charley Steiner, introduced as the Dodgers' new play-by-play announcer Monday, said the decision to come west was an easy one. "This may sound like a cliche, but it's true," he said. "If you're a mathematician, you want to work with Einstein. If you're a musician, you want to work with Dylan. "If you're a play-by-play announcer, you want to work with Vin Scully."

Charley Steiner understands perception. So when the Dodgers told him Thursday he would do no Dodgers television broadcast work, only radio from now on, he expected to be asked how unhappy that made him. "God's honest truth," Steiner, 59, said Friday. "I love baseball. I love radio. I love baseball on the radio. My ego is not that big that I have to be on television." Steiner also understands why the next question would be asked.

The Dodgers called a news conference Monday afternoon, and hopes soared that, finally, their most troubling bit of winter procrastination had ended. The Dodgers set up chairs in the stadium club and brought in three Hall of Famers, rolled out the blue carpet and everyone cheered for Charley Steiner? Rich voice, good storyteller, a nice selection as a new Dodger broadcaster. But as announcements go, he's no Jim Tracy. Where was Jim Tracy? When are the Dodgers going to rehire Jim Tracy?

The Times has sent a team here to document the Dodgers' collapse, a few minutes to eat before interrogating Casey Blake -- only to have Charley Steiner and Rick Monday sit down. Nobody else in the room makes the mistake of sitting at a table with two empty chairs. Right away Steiner starts chattering, and this probably doesn't come as a surprise to most of you. He's trying to explain to this lady, he says, like any of us know what lady he's talking about, that he's not going to be driving the train.

Charley Steiner understands perception. So when the Dodgers told him Thursday he would do no Dodgers television broadcast work, only radio from now on, he expected to be asked how unhappy that made him. "God's honest truth," Steiner, 59, said Friday. "I love baseball. I love radio. I love baseball on the radio. My ego is not that big that I have to be on television." Steiner also understands why the next question would be asked.

For all of his brilliance, Vin Scully cannot stay away from the one phrase that sends me directly to my radio's off button: "And as we go to the fourth, here's Charley Steiner." Michael Hawkins Newbury Park

Amid the proselytizing platitudes of "Bandwagon" Bill Plaschke and the bullying bombast of T.J. Simers, how refreshing it is to learn that The Times employs an unabashed pagan in Kurt Streeter. Now that we know his fealty to the God of Baseball, maybe he could tell us what the Basketball God really thinks of Kobe, and why the Golf God rewards Tiger while forsaking Phil. Rhys Thomas Van Nuys Kurt Streeter's column ("Pleading to the Big Dodger in the Sky," June 15), wonders why the Baseball Gods have forsaken the Dodgers.

Channel 9 boasted last baseball season that ratings for its Angel telecasts were increasing at a higher rate than Dodger telecasts on Channel 13. The final tally showed that the Angels on Channel 9 averaged a 3.1 rating and a 6 share, up 29% from the 2003 season, and the Dodgers on Channel 13 averaged a 3.3 rating and a 7 share, up only 14% from 2003.

The Dodgers called a news conference Monday afternoon, and hopes soared that, finally, their most troubling bit of winter procrastination had ended. The Dodgers set up chairs in the stadium club and brought in three Hall of Famers, rolled out the blue carpet and everyone cheered for Charley Steiner? Rich voice, good storyteller, a nice selection as a new Dodger broadcaster. But as announcements go, he's no Jim Tracy. Where was Jim Tracy? When are the Dodgers going to rehire Jim Tracy?

Charley Steiner, introduced as the Dodgers' new play-by-play announcer Monday, said the decision to come west was an easy one. "This may sound like a cliche, but it's true," he said. "If you're a mathematician, you want to work with Einstein. If you're a musician, you want to work with Dylan. "If you're a play-by-play announcer, you want to work with Vin Scully."

The Dodgers will announce Monday that play-by-play announcer Charley Steiner has been hired as Ross Porter's successor, a source told The Times. Also, Eric Karros has declined an offer to become one of the team's two new commentators, another source said. Steiner's name surfaced Thursday as a possible successor for Porter, whose contract was not renewed after 28 seasons with the Dodgers.

Channel 9 boasted last baseball season that ratings for its Angel telecasts were increasing at a higher rate than Dodger telecasts on Channel 13. The final tally showed that the Angels on Channel 9 averaged a 3.1 rating and a 6 share, up 29% from the 2003 season, and the Dodgers on Channel 13 averaged a 3.3 rating and a 7 share, up only 14% from 2003.

The Dodgers will announce Monday that play-by-play announcer Charley Steiner has been hired as Ross Porter's successor, a source told The Times. Also, Eric Karros has declined an offer to become one of the team's two new commentators, another source said. Steiner's name surfaced Thursday as a possible successor for Porter, whose contract was not renewed after 28 seasons with the Dodgers.

The Dodgers are close to naming a new play-by-play announcer and two new radio and television commentators. Charley Steiner, formerly of ESPN and a New York Yankee radio announcer for the last three years, is a possible replacement for Ross Porter, whose contract was not renewed. Former Dodger second baseman Steve Sax has emerged as a candidate for one of the commentating jobs. "Charley Steiner is one of the people we have looked at," Dodger executive vice president Lon Rosen said late Thursday.