Notes on a Scorecard - Aug. 19, 1991

The Dodgers, who are fortunate that the Atlanta Braves are the only other team in the National League West with a winning record, cannot be accused of playing smart baseball these days. . . .

The latest example came in the seventh inning Sunday when Kal Daniels neglected to tag up and advance from second base on Eddie Murray’s fly out to deep right-center field with one out and the Houston Astros clinging to a 6-4 lead. Juan Samuel then singled, but the ball wasn’t hit far enough for Daniels to score from second. The Dodgers never threatened again. . . .

However, Darryl Strawberry is answering his critics by hitting some of the highest and longest home runs by any Dodger since Dick Allen. . . .

Strawberry called his game-winning shot against Houston in the 13th inning Friday night “cheap.” Sure. It traveled only 390 feet. . . .

What does a manager do in to loosen up his players in the 10th inning of a game they need to to win to protect a 1 1/2-game lead? “I told them to laugh,” Tom Lasorda said late Saturday night. “They’d been too serious. Some of them thought I was crazy, but they started to laugh.” . . .

They kept laughing when pitcher Kevin Gross, pinch-hitting for Jay Howell because no position players were available, singled. And they turned up the volume when Gross scored the winning run on Murray’s check swing. . . .

On another Saturday night in August during L.A.’s World Series championship season of 1988, Lasorda was forced to use pitcher Tim Leary as a pinch-hitter against the San Francisco Giants in the 11th inning because nobody else was available. He delivered a game-winning single. . . .

Lasorda was ejected from that game three years ago, and Sunday he got the thumb for disputing a call at home plate by umpire Mike Winters in the sixth inning. The replay showed that Jose Offerman should have been ruled safe. The umpires are having an even worse second half than the Dodgers. . . .

I wince every time I see Fernando Valenzuela getting shelled in the minor leagues. . . .

Jose Gonzalez’s chances to make the playoffs have gone from good (with the Dodgers) to excellent (with the Pittsburgh Pirates) to non-existent (with the Cleveland Indians). . . .

If 172-pound Ron Gant of the Atlanta Braves wins the National League home run title, he will be the lightest person to do so since 170-pound Frank (Wildfire) Schulte of the Chicago Cubs in 1911. . . .

Next time, Don Mattingly should demand a no-cut contract. . . .

Look-alikes: Jim Leyland and Dennis Weaver. . . .

Catchers no longer wear shin guards in the on-deck circle with two out because it’s now against the rules. . . .

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar singled and flied out in the celebrity game Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Pitcher Anthony Denison had no trouble finding Abdul-Jabbar’s strike zone. . . .

Few players have declined as quickly as Cory Snyder, who hit 101 home runs in his first four major league seasons, but was recently sent to the minors by the Toronto Blue Jays during his sixth season. . . .

Pretty soon, Rob Deer’s strikeout total is going to be higher than his batting average. . . .

Eight American League pitching staffs have earned-run averages higher than 4.00. . . .

The only thing professional about the Mets these days is Tim McCarver’s work in the broadcasting booth. . . .

Roger Maris was not intentionally walked during his 61-home run season of 1961. Of course, he batted one spot ahead of Mickey Mantle. . . .

Center fielder Michael Moore, beginning his sophomore football season at UCLA as a wide receiver, was voted the best pro prospect in the Cape Cod summer baseballleague. . . .

Sponsors of the Skins Game Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at PGA West in La Quinta are thinking about inviting John Daly. . . .

Poor Willie Brown. His first Cal State Long Beach team will play only three home games this season. . . .

Actor Mickey Rourke, on why he boxes: “I just do this instead of going to a psychiatrist.” . . .

Play of the day at the Coliseum Saturday was Raider quarterback Jay Schroeder’s crunching block on Chicago Bears’ lineman William (Refrigerator) Perry. . . .

The Coliseum clocks were in midseason form. The time-of-day clock was inoperable; the numbers on the game clock were partially chopped off, and the between-plays clock stopped working in the third quarter. . . .

Ah, for the good old days. From the Sept. 6, 1957, issue of Sports Illustrated: “The Brooklyn Dodgers’ Johnny Podres shut out the Giants, sometimes working so quickly his catcher barely had time to squat between pitches.”