Notes on a Scorecard - July 16, 1991

Darryl Strawberry is a man with an excuse for every city and every state of mind. . . .

New York was too intense for him. Los Angeles is too laid back for him. . . .

When he was a drinker, he was too wild. Now that he is a born-again Christian, he is too mild. . . .

The question is how effective the kick in the butt given Strawberry, the biggest Dodger, by Brett Butler, the smallest Dodger, will be. . . .

It’s apparent that trades are a big reason the Dodgers are leading the National League West. In the last 2 1/2 years, General Manager Fred Claire has dealt Juan Bell, Mariano Duncan, Mike Devereaux, Mike Marshall, Alejandro Pena, Brian Holton, Ken Howell, Wally Whitehurst, Jack Savage and Tim Leary for Eddie Murray, Juan Samuel, Lenny Harris, Alfredo Griffin, Kal Daniels, Stan Javier, Bob Ojeda and Mike Morgan. . . .

From Cincinnati second baseman Bill Doran: “I’m not worried about the Dodgers. I’m worried about us.” . . .

It won’t bother me if the Angels don’t acquire a fifth starter. Of course, I remember the not-so-old days when every team used a four-man rotation. . . .

After getting off to a slow start at the gate, the Angels have moved ahead of last season’s attendance pace. . . .

One of the New York Mets’ biggest achievements this season was holding Tony Gwynn hitless in the last three games of their series against San Diego. . . .

Mackey Sasser throws better from right field to second base than from catcher to pitcher. . . .

Every time I see Maury Wills play in an old-timers’ game, I’m reminded what the Hall of Fame is missing. . . .

Quietly, Wade Boggs is moving up on the American League batting leader board. . . .

Seventeen rookies have played for the Cleveland Indians this season. . . .

The way Harry Caray and Steve Stone are criticizing him on WGN, it shouldn’t be long before the Chicago Cubs trade shortstop Shawon Dunston. . . .

Joe Torre is a terrific manager, but the loss of his RBI man, Pedro Guerrero, to the disabled list will cripple the St. Louis Cardinals. . . .

Who ever thought that pitchers named Jeff Johnson, Wade Taylor and Scott Kamieniecki would be vital to the New York Yankee comeback? . . .

Don’t look now, but Steve Howe is one of the better left-handed relievers in baseball. . . .

It’s a banner year for young pitchers named Guzman in the American League--Juan of Toronto and Jose of Texas. . . .

Boston Red Sox reliever Jeff Gray makes Alejandro (Slow) Pena look as though he’s working fast. . . .

Greg Brock, the former Dodger first baseman who was released by the Milwaukee Brewers, probably won’t stay unemployed too long. . . .

One way to speed up games is for umpires to enforce the 20-second rule between pitches or pickoff attempts. . . .

It also wouldn’t hurt if catchers were allowed only one visit to the mound per inning. . . .

Syd Thrift, who built the Pittsburgh Pirates, would be a logical choice to become general manager of one of the National League expansion teams. Probably too logical. . . .

Best fight on the U.S. Olympic Festival title card tonight at the Forum could be national champion super-heavyweight Larry Donald vs. hard-hitting Samson Pouha. . . .

With the new bowl setup, the Rose Bowl needs to improve its matchups or it will get lost in the shuffle. Thank God for Penn State. . . .

Pat Valenzuela’s brother Fabian has two mounts on the Wednesday card at Hollywood Park. . . .

Leave it to Wayne Lukas to turn Twilight Agenda into a stakes star. . . .

Seven players obtained from Minnesota in the Hershel Walker trade already have played for Dallas, and the Cowboys have the Vikings’ top three choices in the next draft. . . .

Inter-team scrimmages are the rage in the NFL now that summer camp rosters are limited to 80 players. . . .

I wonder how New Jersey Devil Coach Tom McVie feels about his job security after the Devils’ hiring of Herb Brooks to coach their farm club in Utica, N.Y. . . .

Thumbs up to UCLA Athletic Director Pete Dalis for bringing Cal State Long Beach, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount and Cal State Fullerton into Pauley Pavilion next basketball season. . . .

First college football media guide in the mail was from Brigham Young. Of course, the Cougar sports information department didn’t have to think too long about which player to put on the cover. . . .

News item: New York Knick Coach Pat Riley doesn’t shout or yell at his players during first day of rookie camp. Reaction: Give him time.