Bruins can’t run ... from their critics
To the surprise of no one except maybe the UCLA coaching staff, UCLA’s novel strategy of no running game and a porous defense apparently isn’t the recipe for success after all. Mark Mead San Diego
Jim Mora is a defensive specialist. But enough about his news conferences.
Wes Wellman Santa Monica
The “Chosen One” is getting a reputation for making bad choices. A couple of those back-foot throws worked out for Josh Rosen against Texas A&M, but his luck ran out against Memphis. The next few weeks will determine if he is everything he and his coaches say he is. Only time will tell.
Dave Farkas Thousand Oaks
All of this conjecture why the UCLA football program has been cratering the past two years misses the real reason: While the Bruins were winning nine and 10 games during Jim Mora’s first three seasons, he had Brett Hundley, who carried the team on his shoulders. No Hundley, no contender and a return to Bruin mediocrity. Case closed!
Jack Wolf Westwood
What a kick
I never imagined a freshman walk-on kicker would decide USC’s win over Texas with two late field goals. Fortunately for the Trojans, he didn’t hook ’em.
Steve Ross Beverly Hills
Good seats available
Several years ago, the NFL flirted with the idea of bringing not just one but possibly two pro football teams to the second-largest market in the country. I have only one question. When do they plan to deliver on this promise?
Homer Alba Glendale
Football fans in Los Angeles told anyone who would listen that the Chargers were not particularly welcome in our city. Don’t now blame us for staying away.
Dave Moore Santa Ana
Chargers kicker Younghoe Koo is known to be proficient with his backflip trick-shot field goals during practices. Perhaps if he replicated that same craftiness in the last two games, the Chargers could be undefeated instead of winless.
Mark J. Featherstone Windsor Hills
If a tree falls at the 50yard-line at StubHub Center during a Chargers game, did it make a sound?
Erik Schuman Fountain Valley
Classic fall guys
So Hillary Clinton has a new book out called “What Happened.” My first thought: Why is Hillary Clinton writing about the Dodgers?
Joe Kevany Mount Washington
Clayton Kershaw was most likely one batter away from wrapping up a fourth Cy Young award and ending another Dodgers skid when he gave up a grand slam to the Phillies’ Aaron Altherr (who?), thus exposing another chink in the Dodgers’ armor and his own invincibility. If Clayton can’t maneuver his way around a triple-A lineup put out by the woeful Phillies, the playoffs seem daunting and worrisome as we head into October.
Allan Kandel Los Angeles
Correct me if I am wrong, but it does not take advanced sabermetrics to figure out that going two for 40 or seven for 90 would not normally qualify a player for a starting job in major league baseball. So why do Yasmani Grandal and Curtis Granderson keep starting game in and game out with few exceptions? Losing games does not generally build confidence. So what is the “grand design” here?
Larry Weiner Culver City
Dave Roberts, in case you are uncertain, Dodgers fans want World Series home-field advantage. Tuesday was not the time to let Pedro Baez correct his delivery, surrendering four runs to the Phillies. Nor the time to give Alex Verdugo a major league at-bat, only to see him hit into an inningending double play. Now is the time to manage to win.
David Adelstein South Pasadena
Was the decision to use Pedro Baez from the manager of the other year or rather, another brilliant command declaration emanating from the Friedman World Wide Cyber Web Country Club?
John R. Grush Mission Viejo
I know that I have only been listening or watching baseball for close to 70 years so I’m still learning. Please, Orel Hershiser, explain to me with a baseball being perfectly round how is a pitcher struggling because he’s throwing the back of the baseball? If you’re running out of things to say, pull a Scully and be silent.
Luis Cruz La Mirada
Farewell to arms
It has become clear that Mike Scioscia’s pitching philosophy is to pull his starting pitcher after five innings no matter how well he is pitching to keep the pitch count within a computer statistic to save arms. Looking at how well that’s worked with Heaney, Skaggs, Richards, etc. Once he’s got the starter out, in come a slew of relievers until Scioscia can find the one who will lose the game. If the Angels hope to become a playoff team before Mike Trout’s contract expires and he leaves, they need a new manager.
Playa del Rey
Wally’s world
While the Dodgers, Angels, Rams, Chargers, Trojans and Bruins may win or lose any game, it’s a sure thing that photos by Wally Skalij are always a winner. He never fails to capture the big play with impact and resolution. Wally, your wordless stories are a treasure. Thank you!
Ralph Martinez Arcadia
Find the winners
On Sunday, the Dodgers lost, the Chargers lost, the Rams lost, the Angels lost. And all this was on the front page of the sports section.
But the Sparks won, reaching the WNBA finals, where they won the title last year. That remarkable information was on Page 12.
Doesn’t someone get it? We have a great team and they’re on the last page? Oh, I get it: Women’s sports doesn’t count.
Unconscionable.
Wendy Averill Culver City
Good luck
So the Dodgers sign a multiyear uniform sponsorship deal with wish.com. Log onto wish.com and one will find dozens of items for $1. I wish I could watch the Lakers on TV and buy anything at Staples Center for $1.
Jeff Nuzzi Pasadena
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