Fanfare: Artest's complaint raises reader ire

Giving almost a full front page to another of Ron Artest's emotional dramas is not news and doesn't deserve more than a mention on page 6. Nothing new or interesting was written in today's article about Artest, and it reminds me of an indulgent parent responding to a spoiled child; it will only encourage more of the same. Alongside the Artest article was a column about young, local athletes who are bound for Beijing. This article should have been front and center and in bold print. These kids deserve it! I don't like or dislike Artest. This is merely another example of poor choices made by The Bee these past several months as to what is given the premium print space.

– Mary Ann Williams, Fair Oaks

Maloofs in charge, not Artest

Mr. Ego Ron Artest is playing the Kings like a cheap fiddle. The Bee is treating this off-again, on-again comedy like the end of the franchise should he leave Sacramento for other pastures. It matters not what Reggie Theus or Geoff Petrie think about the situation. It is the brothers Maloof who turned the team over to Artest, and they call the shots as to whether he is traded or not. If the fans believe the contrary, then they also believe that the sun rises in the West and sets in the East.

– Carl Ladeck, Auburn

Vizquel's best days are over

Watching Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel struggle to hit .200, I realize that it is time for him to hang up the glove, but, more importantly, to hang up the bat. I love what he has done for baseball, but he should see the writing on the wall, or at least the newsprint. The Giants need to play Emmanuel Burriss at short and give him a chance to perform. Life goes on, and the future Hall of Famer should step aside before the Giants make him.

– Don Cheshire, Roseville

Trading A's stars isn't working

It was cool for a while when Billy Beane traded the A's top players for minor leaguers who eventually became solid players or stars. But enough already, Mr. Moneyball. Billy, your A's have won only one playoff series in your 10-plus years. Maybe if you would hang on to a few of your stars – Dan Haren, Nick Swisher and now Rich Harden – and build around them, you might win something. I don't like minor-league ball because whenever a player becomes really good, they leave. And that's exactly how you run the A's, just like the minor leagues.

– Barry Pitluk

A's July 1 loss is Geren's fault

There should be a new statistic in baseball. Loss By Manager (LBM).

In the July 1 game, A's vs. Angels, manager Bob Geren removed Rich Harden after five innings because his pitch count was 91. Geren brought in Brad Ziegler (0.00 ERA), who did the job – retired the six batters he faced in the sixth. In the top of the eighth, Mark Ellis hit a home run that gave the A's a one-run lead, so in the bottom of the eighth, Geren replaced Ziegler with Alan Embree (4.59 ERA), in spite of the fact Ziegler had only thrown 24 pitches, 19 for strikes, had struck out three, allowed three ground-ball outs and given up no hits. Embree promptly gave up a double to the first batter, a two-run homer to Garret Anderson and a total of three runs in the inning for a blown save and a loss. LBM? Why remove a pitcher who's pitching well? Must be the numbers. Maybe they should just have a computer in the dugout and a 10-year-old to operate it?

– Vic Jewhurst, Elk Grove

LETTERS WELCOME: Fanfare letters should be typed and must include the writer's name, address and phone number (e-mail submissions, also) for verification. Letters of fewer than 100 words are given preference, and all letters may be edited and republished in any format. All letters submitted become the property of The Bee. Send letters to Fanfare, The Bee Sports Department, P.O. Box 15779, Sacramento, 95852, or e-mail to fanfare@sacbee.com or fax to (916) 326-5503.