Notes on a Scorecard - May 20, 1991

What has the rest of the National League West worried is that the Dodgers are in first place while awaiting the return of Orel Hershiser and the arrival of the real Darryl Strawberry. . . .

Ramon Martinez is 7-1, but must share the Southern California and major league lead in wins with the Angels’ Chuck Finley. . . .

Gary Carter always looks as though he’s having fun at the ballpark. . . .

Maybe the Angels, who are 8-10 at home and 12-7 on the road, should stay at a hotel and take a team bus to Anaheim Stadium tonight for the start of their series against the Chicago White Sox. . . .

There are some loud fans at Dodger Stadium. Loud Laker fans, that is. People listening to radios stood up and cheered when the Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors Tuesday and the Portland Trail Blazers Saturday. . . .

The Lakers’ fourth-quarter performance at Portland was one of the greatest in the history of the franchise. . . .

Moments after Buck Williams missed two free throws in crunch time for Portland, NBC showed this promo: “Buck Williams is heating up. Is he the key to the Trail Blazers’ chances?” . . . A key to the Lakers’ win was Sam Perkins outrebounding Williams, 15-10. . . .

One of the worst calls in an important playoff situation came Friday when Jack Madden cited Boston’s Kevin McHale for offensive goaltending against Detroit. Wasn’t even close. . . .

Winner of the NBA most valuable player award will be announced today. Best bet is that it will go to a member of the Chicago Bulls. . . .

However, the Bulls showed Sunday against Detroit that they can win in the playoffs on days when the MVP, Michael Jordan, isn’t at his best. . . .

Even the deep Pistons can’t expect to win when their starting lineup scores only 37 points. . . .

Ready for a Seattle-Atlanta World Series? After all, Minnesota and Pittsburgh are playing in the Stanley Cup finals. . . .

Cincinnati is last in the National League in hitting and Oakland is last in the American League in pitching. . . .

Home plate umpire Frank Pulli, Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda and Met Manager Bud Harrelson all wore sunglasses Saturday. . . .

Maybe Bo Schembechler isn’t such a baseball genius, after all. . . .

Al Davis will receive the NFL Players Assn.’s first award of excellence, but still can’t get into the Hall of Fame. . . .

Give Preakness winner Hansel an excellent chance to win the Belmont Stakes if his connections allow him to run despite the New York ban on Lasix. Front-runners do better than you might expect in 1 1/2-mile races. . . .

The two betting bargains of the year were Farma Way in the Pimlico Special and Hansel in the Preakness. The public forgot about both of them because of poor performances in their previous start. . . .

Jerry Bailey, who rode Hansel, is another successful, New York-based jockey who once tried the Southern California circuit and couldn’t make an impact. . . .

The trouble with a come-from-behinder like Kentucky Derby winner Strike The Gold is that he has no chance if he gets caught in traffic. . . .

Making his HBO debut as a commentator Saturday night on the Macho Camacho-Greg Haugen telecast, George Foreman was too chatty and not humorous enough. . . .

However, HBO’s boxing telecasts are still among the best in sports. The production values are outstanding, Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant speak their mind, and as much effort is devoted to the postfight interviews and analysis as to the prefight hype. . . .

Camacho leaving the ring before the decision was announced brought to mind the time in 1947 when heavyweight champion Joe Louis left early after his 15-rounder with challenger Jersey Joe Walcott. Like Camacho, Louis got the decision. But, unlike Louis, Camacho seemed to deserve his by building a big early lead. . . .

Camacho’s skills are eroding. Julio Cesar Chavez or Meldrick Taylor would do a job on him. . . .

No wonder the Minnesota North Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins are so little known. Eight former Hartford Whalers play for them. . . .

I can sleep easier now that the London Monarchs have clinched a WLAF playoff spot.