Meanwhile, in the Other Eight Positions . . .

I know that as I write this the Dodgers still have 160 games to play. I hope they eventually prove me wrong. That said, has anyone else noticed a familiar pattern developing?

Stop me if you’ve heard any of this before: The Dodgers make no changes over the winter, retaining an entire lineup already proven to play with no spirit and no heart when the season is on the line. (Shortstop doesn’t count. If [Greg] Gagne had not retired, he’d still be here too.) The Dodgers still have no left-handed power hitter and still don’t seem concerned about it. The Dodgers have no proven closer, even though Rod Beck, Randy Myers and Robb Nenn were available. The Dodgers, with a highly touted rookie-of-the-year candidate, sailed through spring training talking about how this is “their year.”

Now, two games into the season, the right-handed power bats are already mostly silent, the “closer” has already failed to protect a late-inning lead, and the Dodgers already find themselves with a 2 1/2-game hole to climb out of.

My gut feeling is that, come September, the Dodgers will again prove that the more things stay the same, the more things stay the same!

ROBERT HERR

Burbank

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Why are the Dodgers agonizing over their outfield situation when a divine solution is right at hand? They already have half the gospels covered in Matthew Luke. Now all they have to do is find a guy named Mark John who can play left field and the blessings will start to flow.

ALLEN E. KAHN

Playa del Rey

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After reading Josh Segal’s comments [Viewpoint, March 28] about what to look forward to at Dodger Stadium this year, I felt compelled to write.

Say what you will about Bill Russell’s managing skills (or lack thereof) or Hideo Nomo’s selective memory when it comes to the English language.

But, sir, do not ever take out your frustrations and disappointments with the Dodgers on the harmless but ever-so-sweet Cool-A-Coo. Anyone who has a problem with vanilla ice cream nestling between two graham cracker cookies covered in chocolate has deeper issues to deal with than the upcoming baseball season. I suggest professional help . . . quickly.

SCOTT BEDNO

Los Angeles