Notes on a Scorecard - July 22, 1991

Darryl Strawberry’s bat and glove finally may be showing some life, but he sure doesn’t make it any easier on himself when the TV cameras expose him smiling and joshing with Shea Stadium fans and his former Met teammates while the Dodgers are getting trounced. . . .

The Dodgers’ bullpen wouldn’t be so pathetic if it weren’t asked to put out fires every game. . . .

During the trip of horrors after the All-Star break, Los Angeles starters lasted an average of 4 2/3 innings and relief pitchers made 29 appearances in 11 games. . . .

If anybody deserves the opportunity to stay in the rotation and try to regain his form, it is Orel Hershiser. . . .

On ESPN’s “Sports Reporters” show Sunday, Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News and Bill Conlin of the Philadelphia Daily News both said Brett Butler has been the most valuable player in the National League this season. . . .

I hope Tom Lasorda doesn’t forget about Gary Carter simply because Mike Scioscia is back. . . .

Before the 1983 season, Mike Marshall and Greg Brock were being touted as the next great power-hitting combination in the National League. They never quite lived up to expectations. Within days of each other this month, Brock, 34, was released by the Milwaukee Brewers and Marshall, 31, by the Boston Red Sox. . . .

Atlanta relievers have given up only one earned run since the All-Star break. . . .

The Braves are the only team in the NL West not struggling. . . .

Whew. What a break for the Angels to get those dreaded Cleveland Indians out of town for the season. The Indians won four of six games at Anaheim Stadium this year. . . .

Don’t hold your breath if you’re waiting for the Minnesota Twins to collapse. . . .

Suddenly, the AL West is only the third closest race in the major leagues. . . .

Pinch me when you tell me that the New York Yankees are ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the American League East. . . .

The Giants, who have a (Bud) Black and (Steve) Decker battery, now can offer a lineup that includes (Darren) Lewis and (Will) Clark. . . .

Rickey Henderson may have broken the stolen base record, but he’s having an off-year. . . .

Robin Ventura is showing the Chicago White Sox why he hit in 58 consecutive games during his sophomore season at Oklahoma State. . . .

Who ended Ventura’s streak in the College World Series? Stanford’s Jack McDowell, who is now a teammate. . . .

Rod Carew, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame Sunday, handled a baseball bat as though it were a pool stick. . . .

Phil Collier of the San Diego Union, who was inducted into the writers’ wing of the Hall of Fame, broke the story of Sandy Koufax’s decision to retire after the 1966 season. . . .

This British Open will be memorable only to Ian Baker-Finch, who won it, and Richard Boxall, who suffered a broken left leg. . . .

If you have to have your fix of hoops in July and August, catch the Southern California Pro Basketball Summer League at Loyola Marymount. On Aug. 1, Bo Kimble returns to Gersten Pavilion with the Clipper team to face the Lakers. . . .

Thomas Hearns and Virgil Hill, who fought for the light-heavyweight championship not long ago, spent the weekend fishing together in North Dakota. . . .

Bonecrusher Smith, who headlines the card at the Forum tonight, sought the help of a psychiatrist after suffering a losing streak and depression. The psychiatrist told him that if he wanted to win, he would. “Paying $70 an hour for that advice only made me mad,” said Bonecrusher, the only college graduate ever to win a piece of the heavyweight title. He changed psychiatrists and then knocked out Mike Weaver in the first round. . . .

Tommy Morrison has withdrawn from his scheduled Aug. 9 heavyweight fight against Ray Mercer because of a cut eye suffered while sparring. . . .

Eighty-seven of California’s 25,000 Special Olympians are representing the state in the International Summer Games at Minneapolis-St. Paul. . . .

That was a vintage Chris McCarron ride Exbourne got on the Atlantic City lawn Sunday. . . .

Thumbs up to Commissioner Paul Tagliabue for cracking down on drunk drivers in the NFL. .

Only 11 more days until the Pan American Games.