Notes on a Scorecard - April 17, 1990

How has the shortening of spring training affected baseball? Not much. . . .

Scoring was actually down a trifle from last year in the first week despite the failure or unwillingness of most pitchers, including those working on no-hitters, to go the distance. . . .

According to statistics compiled by the Elias Sports Bureau, an average of 8.15 runs were scored in the first 76 games this year compared to 8.73 the first 70 games last year. The earned-run averages were lower this year (3.62 to 3.76), but the batting averages higher (.254 to .252). The only significant difference was in complete games pitched, down to two from 12. . . .

Next spring, teams should spend even less time on fielding drills. Thirteen fewer errors were committed this year in six more games. . . .

Robin Ventura, the third baseman who was voted NCAA player of the decade and got three hits for the Chicago White Sox Sunday, was the 10th selection overall in the June, 1988 draft. The Dodgers, who aren’t exactly overstocked with talent at the hot corner, took pitcher Bill Bene five picks ahead of Ventura. . . .

Are the pitching-poor Yankees really serious about trading Dave Righetti? . . .

Rarely, if ever, have the Kings scored a more important victory than they did Saturday night at the Forum. If they had lost, their chances to win the series at Calgary would have been slim and none. And early elimination from the playoffs would have made this the most disappointing season in the history of the franchise. . . .

Biggest winner Saturday was King owner Bruce McNall, who now will have profits from at least two more sellouts to help meet the largest payroll in the NHL. . . .

Actress Ellen Barkin was invited to compete in the Toyota Pro Celebrity race Saturday at Long Beach, but had to decline. She doesn’t have a driver’s license. . . .

If the Kentucky Derby is going to be decided by jockeys, I like Gary Stevens on Mister Frisky over Pat Day on Summer Squall. . . .

Some NFL scouts doubt the toughness of Illinois quarterback Jeff George. . . .

Next court case in boxing could be Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Don King, who has options on the junior welterweight champion. Chavez joined heavyweight champion Buster Douglas as host of a “solidarity” luncheon Saturday at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. . . .

Whatever, Chavez should wait awhile before a rematch with Meldrick Taylor. Another war like they waged in Las Vegas last month wouldn’t do either fighter any good. . . .

Fashion plate at the Michael Nunn-Marlon Starling fight was light-heavyweight champion Virgil Hill, who showed up in tuxedo jacket and matching short pants. . . .

Look-alikes: Brian Downing and Christopher Reeve. . . .

Four of the 20 high school seniors who played in the McDonald’s Classic Sunday in Indianapolis are headed for the University of North Carolina. . . .

The performances of Shawn Bradley, the 7-foot-5 center who will attend Brigham Young, and Ed O’Bannon, the forward from Artesia High who remains uncommitted, did nothing to change the opinion that both are better prospects than the more publicized Damon Bailey from Indiana. . . .

Look for former North Carolina State Coach Jim Valvano to be working as a television commentator or coaching a professional team in Italy next season. . . .

On a typical Sunday on the golf tours, Payne Stewart, Larry Mize and Steve Jones went into sudden death in the Heritage tournament and Gary Player, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino battled in the PGA Seniors Championship. Which did you watch on the tube?. . . .

The experiment that moved three-year starter Lance Zeno from guard to center has been successful during UCLA spring practice. And the loss of tight end Charles Arbuckle is being minimized by the performances of Randy Austin, Corwin Anthony, Rick Daly and Brian Allen. . . .

Bruin junior catcher Paul Ellis continues to lead the NCAA in home runs with 21. . . .

The increases in attendance (28.5%) and handle (24%) for the recently concluded Los Alamitos harness racing meeting are remarkable during tough times for most of the industry. . . .

The Lakers have both the best home (36-4) and road (24-14) records in the NBA. . . .

Those outlandish contracts awarded Jon Koncak by the Atlanta Hawks and Blair Rasmussen by the Denver Nuggets didn’t exactly boost the morale of what became two of the most disappointing teams in the league. . . .

The next time the New Jersey Nets’ Chris Dudley is fouled, he should decline the penalty.