I was disappointed when the Red Sox didn’t make it to the end-of-season climax of a summer of exciting baseball. But then the “post-season” began, and it goes on and on and on, beginning with teams that didn’t make it to the top after 162 games.

What happened to the days when the winner of the National League played the winner of the American League in the World Series? And what happened to the excitement (not to mention fairness) of that event?

Additional Photos

Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield (shown in an exhibition game last April) and all his teammates couldn’t get Boston into the playoffs this year, laments a reader. 2011 Press Herald file

It was killed for me by the current playoff process, and I bet I’m far from alone. Now the winners of endless playoffs will play in 30- or 40-degree temperatures when all of us have had enough of baseball and couldn’t care less who wins.

And why has it come to this? Money. No other reason. TV networks and baseball owners and who knows who else profit by this extension of the baseball season. Not the fans, for whom the whole thing has become just boring for the vast majority.

John Widdows

Portland

Voters should reject extremes and elect only moderates

There has been a glut of editorials, letters, verbal comments, political positions and many nasty comments by and about political parties — all to no useful end!

I was honored to be the North Country aide for U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass, R-N.H., between 2000 and 2007. Bass is a moderate Republican, or as some would say a RINO, and truly represented his constituency.

He was almost a carbon copy of Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, and he supported many of Rep. Mike Michaud’s positions.

This country of ours has no time for ultra-liberals nor for ultra-conservatives. Both extremes have rock-solid positions with no time for the others, which is the very definition of stalemate!

President Obama talks cooperation and capitulation, yet he is and always will be a liberal, which by definition defeats the process. Gov. Rick Perry is no better from the conservative wing.

I served two terms in the New Hampshire General Court (“House”) and believed in and fought for a broad-based tax based upon the ability to pay. I too was called a RINO. Therefore, I did not run for a third term and registered as an independent.

The voting public in Maine must insist that the political party of any individual’s choice must do away with the far left or the far right so that the moderates of all parties may meet within the bounds of intelligent compromise.

Until then, we will go nowhere — except further down.

Bill Williams

Wells

Paper or plastic bags? Depends on point of view

Enough is enough, It’s time Portland city councilors tend to the business of finding ways to help lower taxes and fees in this city instead of listening to a group of tree huggers from California tell us what we should do.

Really, has anyone seen the financial mess they have in that state? And now these same people have the nerve to come here and tell us we should get rid of plastic bags in stores and pay for paper ones?

And by the way, when and where have these people been looking for these bags floating in the harbor or along the shores? If you want no plastic bags, why doesn’t the city discontinue selling us its trash bags? I mean, plastic is plastic, isn’t it? Oops, the city makes money on those blue ones.

Most people reuse store plastic bags, as they come in handy for broken or leaky bottles in the auto or at home, parings from dinner preparations, and even as pooper scoopers.

Is this city so hard up for money that we have to place a fee on everything? Maybe city councilors should focus on energy waste, like turning off the lights at the stadium during rainy and foggy nights when nobody’s using the field, or removing all the walk/don’t walk signs, because noboby pays attention to them.

It’s time that city leaders listen to Maine and local people, Maybe, just maybe, Maine and Portland will be a better place to live.

Frank Teras

Portland

During World War II, only paper grocery bags were in use, as plastic was not available.

If the grocery bags brought home were not torn or wet, customers flattened and smoothed them out and returned them to the store, which collected them to be reused.

Conservation was the rule for everything during the war, and it was not only easy to do this, but everyone saved money.

Alice Leighton

Portland

Cheryl Leeman deserves another City Council term

Portland Councilor Cheryl Leeman is one politician who really has a big heart. She genuinely cares about the people of Portland; our concerns become her concerns.

On more than one occasion Cheryl has come through for me. She takes the time to listen and tackles the issue with ease and gets the job done quickly and efficiently. She has the experience and know-how that we need. She has my vote!

Josephine Ricci

Portland

I’m 54, and I have been a lifelong resident of Portland. Cheryl Leeman is one of the most reasonable city councilors the city has ever had. She has always let common sense decide what is best for her city and her constituents, rather than political ideology.

Cheryl works hard at everything she does, including cancer walk fundraising. I would hope that more people would get to know her on not just a professional level, because as a friend she can be counted on to always lend a hand. I wish we had more people like her in government.

Samuel T. Minervino

Portland

Who’s the victim when man sets house on fire?

The Oct. 6 headline read: “Victim set himself ablaze.” But the story said Ricardo Santiesteban torched himself and his apartment, leaving nine people without a home or their possessions, not to mention that he could have very likely killed them all.

So how exactly is he a “victim”?

Ted Bundy got the electric chair. Was he a victim?

John Hitchcock

Portland

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