Notes on a Scorecard - Aug. 27, 1990

Peter O’Malley still should shell out the big money and sign Darryl Strawberry next winter, but the key to the Dodgers taking three-out-of-four from the Mets was holding the streaky slugger without an RBI in the series. . . .

There was a playoff flavor the last four days at Dodger Stadium, where 176,937 fans made a lot of noise and saw three games that were decided by one run and another by two. . . .

Famous last words: “This guy doesn’t have much home run power,” said Jack Buck on CBS Saturday just before Jose Gonzalez unloaded in the 14th inning. . . .

Public address announcer Pete Arbogast asked the crowd to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” a second time and stand for the “traditional 14th inning stretch.” . . .

Before Philadelphia’s nine-run ninth inning Tuesday, organist Nancy Hefley played, “It’s Impossible.” . . .

So much for that defeat being crushing. Since then, the Dodgers have gone 4-1. . . .

However, it’s difficult to imagine Los Angeles winning the division now that Eric Davis has come alive for Cincinnati. . . .

What is the market value of Jose Offerman? His autograph will cost $5 at a show in Cerritos next month. That’s $2 less than a Ramon Martinez. . . .

When the Texas Rangers visit Southern California this week, Nolan Ryan will present his friend, Angel coach Jimmie Reese, the ball Ryan threw to get the final out of his no-hitter in Oakland. . . .

Chicago White Sox reliever Bobby Thigpen has more saves than any team in baseball except Oakland. . . .

The Mets are hurt by a bench that is their weakest since the early days of the franchise. . . .

Remember when the American League East was the best division in baseball? Now only two of its seven teams boast winning records. . . .

The Dodgers are going to lose their major league attendance record--3,688,881, set in 1982--to Toronto this season. . . .

The Blue Jays may still be in the AL East race, but they rank among the most blatant underachievers in baseball. . . .

Look-alikes: Andy Van Slyke and Glenn Frye. . . .

Mike Marshall has split with his agent, former Dodger publicist Steve Brener. . . .

Canada is lucky the Padres weren’t playing the Montreal Expos the day Roseanne Barr sang the national anthem in San Diego. . . .

The Atlanta Braves could do worse than to hire Dallas Green to run the whole show. . . .

Poor Sportsman of the Week award goes to the Taiwan coach who yanked his third baseman in a Little League World Series game after the kid muffed a ground ball in the seventh inning. Taiwan was leading, 14-0. . . .

The Colorado-Tennessee game deserved a bigger crowd than 33,458, but what could you expect on a Sunday afternoon in August in Anaheim? . . .

Maybe it’s time for the colleges to adopt the NFL’s speedup rules. It took the Buffaloes and Vols 3 hours 43 minutes to play the opener. . . .

Jerry Glanville doesn’t mention Warren Moon’s name once in his book, which says something about their relationship in Houston. . . .

Maybe the Rams knew what they were doing when they picked up Bobby Humphery, the much-criticized former New York Jet who has intercepted two passes during the exhibition season. . . .

Offensive line no longer is a Raider weakness. . . .

Agent Leigh Steinberg had mixed feelings when he saw the cover of the latest issue of Sports Illustrated--client Mike Wise of the Raiders unloading on client Troy Aikman of Dallas. . . .

The World Series could last until Oct. 24, which is the eighth week of the NFL season. . . . This is not to suggest that Bret Johnson is in their league, but the last two No. 1 picks in the NFL draft, Aikman and Jeff George, were quarterbacks who transferred during their collegiate careers. . . .

In 1984, three NFL quarterbacks made at least $1 million a year. Now 20 make over $1 million, including eight who exceed $2 million. . . .

Cash Asmussen, who couldn’t crack the Southern California jockey circuit, has won the Golden Whip Award as France’s best rider four of the last five years. . . .

The Miami Heat is to be congratulated for trying to build a winner, but couldn’t it spend its money more wisely than to offer John (Hot Rod) Williams $5 million for next season? Williams hasn’t even started most of the time for the Cleveland Cavaliers. . . .

Frank Layden, who will do commentary on the new NBA Radio Network, says he likes Hubie Brown’s work except “sometimes he makes an inbounds pass seem like the invasion of France.” . . .

Name game: Bud Hustler was chairman of the Los Angeles County Life Guard Assn. golf tournament. . . .

Thank God, only one more week of NFL exhibition games. . . .