Notes on a Scorecard - July 16, 1990

Formerly known as the Rooster, Angel Manager Doug Rader is now the Juggler. . . .

Inconsistency, a logjam in the outfield and injuries in the infield add up to 88 different Angel lineups in 89 games--the most remarkable statistic of an unremarkable season in Anaheim. . . .

Only the lineup cards of April 11 and 14 have been the same: Devon White, cf; Johnny Ray, 2b; Wally Joyner, 1b; Chili Davis, dh; Dante Bichette, lf; Claudell Washington, rf; Lance Parrish, c; Jack Howell, 3b; Mark McLemore, ss. . . .

That lineup is 2-0--Mark Langston and Mike Witt combined for a 1-0 no-hitter over Seattle and Bichette’s three-run homer beat Minnesota, 7-5, in 12 innings three nights later--but won’t be repeated because Washington was traded to the Yankees and McLemore is disabled. . . .

No wonder the Angels are not in contention for the American League West title. And, barring a dramatic upturn, this will be the first time since 1975 that neither the Angels nor the Dodgers will have been a factor in a divisional race. . . .

Worst call of the weekend was made Saturday by Wrigley Field official scorer Bob Rosenberg when he gave Andre Dawson a single after hitting a routine grounder to Dodger shortstop Alfredo Griffin, who couldn’t get the ball out of his glove until it was too late. . . .

Rosenberg had the biggest smile in all of Chicago when Mike Morgan allowed his first legitimate hit in the seventh inning. . . .

Amused was Loel Schrader, the recently retired sports columnist of the Long Beach Press Telegram. In 1947, Clair (Toby) Tobias of the Grand Fork Chiefs of the Class C Northern League was seeking his second consecutive no-hitter. In the first inning, a Duluth batter bunted the ball to the third baseman, who threw wildly over the first baseman’s head. Official scorer Schrader ruled it a hit. By the fifth inning, Tobias hadn’t allowed another hit. Schrader then went down and asked the first-base umpire if a good throw would have gotten that bunter in the first inning. He said yes. Schrader changed his call to an error--and Toby Tobias eventually got his second consecutive no-hitter, believed to be a first in the minor leagues. . . .

Look-alikes: Rob Dibble and Andrew Dice Clay. . . .

Think the Dodgers may have made a mistake when they re-signed Mike Marshall and not Steve Sax?. . . .

Although they are 0-1 in their 1917 style uniforms, the Chicago White Sox should wear them again. . . .

I hope Sox Manager Jeff Torborg isn’t going to wear out relief ace Bobby Thigpen, who made his third consecutive appearance and 42nd of the season Sunday. . . .

Few people enjoy their jobs more than Oakland Athletics outfielder Dave Henderson. . . .

Andrea Joyce, wife of CBS “Morning Show” co-host Harry Smith, did a good job hosting the network’s pregame baseball show Saturday. . . .

If the foul pole is in fair territory, why isn’t it called the fair pole?. . . .

Some of the best conditioned athletes in the world are competing in the Tour de France, where the other day they bicycled up mountains in 107-degree heat and 90% humidity. . . .

Mike Dunleavy made his first decision as Lakers coach a good one by retaining assistant coaches Bill Bertka, Randy Pfund and Jim Eyen. . . .

Two years ago, Jacques Demers and Jim Devellano of Detroit were the hottest coach-general manager pair in the NHL. Now Demers is out of a job and Devellano has been kicked upstairs. . . .

Could there be a place in the Kings’ organization for Demers?. . . .

“Valvano: My Side,” by Jim Valvano will be published by Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Book in February. . . .

Inside Sports magazine underrated the maize and blue uniforms of Michigan when it rated them second best looking in college football behind Florida State’s garnet and gold . . . .

Tallest female gymnast in the U.S. Olympic Festival was 5-3. . . .

Sorry, HBO, but I’m still not convinced that Mike Tyson is “baaack” like you say in your commercials just because he knocked out Henry Tillman. . . .

One winning Pick Six ticket has been sold on 15 of the first 61 days of the Hollywood Park meeting. . . .

Fenway Park gets less sacred every time I see beach balls being thrown around. . . . That celebrity golf tournament on NBC was OK, but I’d much rather watch Michael Jordan stuff a basketball than sink a putt. . . . You know what kind of a season it is for the Chicago Cubs when Harry Caray says, “It’s only a game.”