The Ominous Growl

Paul Zimmerman, sports editor of the L.A. Times, last week unleashed the first local blast against the Dodgers since the move from Brooklyn: "It is high time someone in authority does something about the doddering Dodgers besides alibi.... It has been some weeks now since the Dodgers were able to blame their weird antics on the diamond on the Chavez Ravine problem and they're still kicking away victories in class-D fashion.

"The loyal Los Angeles fans, who are well on their way toward setting a new National League attendance record are entitled to something better.

"Dodger management is still giving the fans doubletalk....

"There's no real excuse for a team dropping from world's championships to the depths of the National League in two years.... The time for outside transactions is past...from now on any correcting of existing conditions must come from within."