Letters to Sports: All hail the pitch clock for saving MLB

1

Bill Plaschke hit a grand slam on his embrace of MLB’s adoption of the pitch clock. What a joy to see time of game — 2 hours and 14 minutes — like I witnessed in the Dodgers game a week ago. More action, and just imagine: In lieu of pitchers and hitters contemplating their navels, or in their case, batting gloves or jock straps, they are quickly re-assuming positions on the mound and batter’s box … and playing ball! What a concept!

Bob Teigan
Santa Susana

::

The pitch clock inserts athleticism and instinct back into the game. Sometimes the game speeds up, in all sports. That’s when the best rise and the rest of us fail. The drama is why we watch. Superb athletes adjust.

Jeff Messineo
Mission Viejo

2

Rendon reaction

I must object to Dylan Hernández’s characterization of Anthony Rendon in his April 1 column.

While Rendon certainly deserves to be criticized — and disciplined — for grabbing and taking a swipe at a fan in Oakland who taunted him, Hernández goes beyond criticizing his actions, launching an apparent hatchet job and approaching the realm of character assassination, much as he did with Freddie Freeman last year.

He even goes so far as to imply that Rendon going hitless and leaving four men on base is the result of some deep-seated character flaw, instead of simply a rough night at the plate.

Hernández is entitled to report a story and give his opinions as he sees fit, but I think psychological evaluations are a little beyond his expertise. The L.A. Times should be above this sort of thing.

Tim Hastings
Orange

::

As a die-hard Angels fan, here is my reaction to Anthony Rendon attacking a fan: Yet another swing and miss!

Charles Lucero
Thousand Oaks

::

Anthony Rendon is following in the steps of Arte Moreno’s previous must-have overpaid busts. To think the money he’s paying Rendon could’ve easily gone to Ohtani, but he’ll most likely leave and we’ll be stuck with an oft-injured, thin-skinned Rendon. As far as getting heckled, I guess he’s never heard the name Jackie Robinson, who took far worse from those in the stands but responded to them with his play on the field.

Bill Consolo
Lawndale

::

“The culture of an organization is defined by its owner.” Times columnist Dylan Hernández was dead on in his description of Angels owner Arte Moreno (and any pro sports owner, for that matter). In that light, Moreno’s decision to not send the team’s radio announcers on the road, citing “economics,” is just another embarrassment to the team, and an affront to baseball. Until Moreno begins to treat all of his employees as generously as he does a few superstars, I’m convinced the baseball gods will continue to bedevil this franchise.

Bob Kargenian
Yorba Linda

3

What the Halo

Love Ohtani and Trout and some of the new guys for the Angels, but after seeing Trout in that celebration hat after his leadoff homer, here’s a modest proposal for the Angels. How about saving your celebrations until after you have won the game.

David Waldowski
Laguna Woods

::

Is it too early to talk about the possibility of bringing back Joe Maddon to replace Phil Nevin at manager? At this rate, Nevin will make the 14-game losing streak a distant memory.

Dean Connor
Fontana

4

Lakers > Clippers?

Bill Plaschke points out that the Clippers are 36-7 in their last 43 meetings with the Lakers. Does that mean they are championship material? Because the results say otherwise. After all, there is a reason the Clippers cover up the Lakers banners.

Eddie Khanbeigi
Villa Park

::

The Clippers deserve enormous credit for the way they’ve outplayed the Lakers over the last decade. Not only have they defeated the Lakers 11 times in a row, but this year will be probably the eighth time in the last decade they have finished ahead of the Lakers.

Please, let’s not hear excuses like back-to-back games. This season the Clippers have played 14 back-to-back sets of games and the Lakers only eight. And finally, let’s remember that the only injured superstar unable to play in Wednesday’s game was the Clippers’ Paul George.

Harley Frankel
Santa Monica

::

Since Bill Plaschke has proclaimed the Lakers title hopes essentially dead after the results of one game, I think the team should start fitting themselves for rings.

Pete Skacan
Manhattan Beach

5

Aztecs promotion

San Diego State has proven they can compete with any Pac-12 athletic program in the major sports. They defeated UCLA in football and surpassed any Pac-12 team in the NCAA basketball tournament. They would be lacking in the Olympic sports, but who’s to say that with national attention, they would not compete there, too. So, with USC and UCLA leaving, it makes perfect sense to add the Aztecs. Plus, it would be great to see them beat the deserters.

Mario Valvo
Ventura

::

Congratulations Times sports editor. You used an article written by your sister newspaper, the San Diego Union-Tribune. This article was well written, not slandering, a little chipper, but told the story of a basketball team that played together, grew together but lost in the biggest game of the year. As an alumnus of SDSU, and a lifelong reader of The Times, I thank you for showing some compassion for a team and school that gave all it could, but fell short.

Glenn Richards
Banning

6

Wrestle with this

If The Times sports section is going to report on the results of WrestleMania, they might as well include the box score and briefing for the Harlem Globetrotters and Washington Generals. You know that it is scripted and staged, right?

Bryan Wiedeman
San Clemente

7

Restoration request

Can we please get our Sports section back on an everyday basis? It is not the same reading our sports news as part of the local news. It also is awkward to have to read the paper going “right to left” when we were taught and raised to read by turning our pages from left to right. It is messing with my mind. Please bring back our Sports section!

Kelvin D. Filer
Compton

::

The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.

Email: [email protected]