Fall-back position

Over a third of the way into the season, the Dodgers are below .500, and yet no one’s calling for a new manager. Must be because of all those World Series titles that Joe Torre got managing teams that I could have managed at least to the playoffs.

It would appear that whatever problems the Dodgers have, they are certainly not “Little” ones.

Ron Reeve

Glendora

So this is what it has come to for the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers: They are below .500 in baseball’s worst division. Their leading “slugger” has eight home runs. Not one of their starting pitchers has a winning record. And yet GM Ned Colletti, having already attempted a laughably disingenuous spin on Andruw Jones’ pathetic performance (“His presence has made Ethier and Kemp better players”), now pronounces himself “encouraged” by the fact that the team at least hasn’t been “embarrassed” in its many recent losses. Wonderful.

Of course, the Dodgers aren’t the only team to endure what will soon be their 20th consecutive season without a playoff series win. Among the others are Milwaukee, Montreal-Washington, Pittsburgh and Kansas City -- all small-market teams with low payrolls and virtually no chance. But L.A. is in a class by itself when it comes to perpetuating the myth that it is one of pro sports’ elite franchises. When it comes to making money, that may be true. But on the field, it is baseball’s longest-running disgrace.

Sam Graham

Los Angeles

Here’s a suggestion for Ned Colletti: When Billy Beane, Oakland’s intelligent GM, places a player such as Loaiza on waivers, do not fail yet another IQ test by picking up that player. There’s no need to collect someone else’s garbage.

Darren Pollock

Los Angeles

As loyal Dodgers fans, we all must be ever on the lookout for ways to contribute to the financial well-being of the organization. This is why I’d like to suggest that pay toilets be installed at Dodger Stadium (except in the luxury levels, of course).

Not only would the health and safety of the most loyal fans in baseball be ensured, but a new source of much-needed revenue would be generated, thus enabling the storied franchise to continue signing such top-notch, stellar talent as Andruw Jones.

Timothy B. Doe

San Diego

Hillary Clinton spent more than $200 million in a futile attempt to win the nomination. Who’s her campaign manager, Ned Colletti?

Ben Browdy

Los Angeles