Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 2, 1991

On the occasion of their final regular-season home game, let me be the first to congratulate the Dodgers for a job well done. . . .

They will either win the National League West title or finish with the best record of any second-place team in the major leagues. . . .

They have played their best baseball in the stretch drive. . . .

They won 11 of 18 games against their closest competitor, the Atlanta Braves. . . .

They have staged enough comebacks that growing numbers of Dodger Stadium fans have refused to leave after the seventh inning, no matter the score. . . .

We have been treated to a textbook display of leadoff batting by Brett Butler, awed by the power of Darryl Strawberry, delighted by the comeback of Orel Hershiser and tickled by the enthusiasm of Lenny Harris and Gary Carter. . . .

We have been frustrated by a team that underachieves one month and then surprised by the same team that overachieves the next month. . . .

During the most difficult year of his life, Manager Tom Lasorda again has shown why a place should be reserved for him in the Hall of Fame. . . .

George Foreman has agreed to fight Jimmy Ellis--not the former heavyweight champion, but the former Raider strikeball linebacker who is co-managed by Howie Long--Dec. 7 on HBO. . . .

Dick Maestro of the Official Boxing Record points out that Lou Nova died in Las Vegas Sunday 50 years to the day after he was stopped by Joe Louis in the sixth round in New York. . . .

Highlight of the Oak Tree race meeting, which begins today at Santa Anita, will be Breeders’ Cup day, Nov. 2. All seven races will be televised from Churchill Downs beginning at 9:15 a.m., and there will be a national Pick Seven pool. After the climactic Breeders’ Cup Classic, eight races will be run at Santa Anita. . . .

Barry Switzer, who is doing radio commentary on Arkansas football games and is a graduate of the university, could be the next Razorback coach. . . .

John Wooden, who will celebrate his 81st birthday Oct. 14, is feeling well and convalescing at home in Encino after hip surgery. . . .

Orel Hershiser hasn’t lost since June 25. . . .

After Bryan Hickerson’s six shutout innings for San Francisco at Dodger Stadium Sunday night, maybe Los Angeles shouldn’t be so concerned about the Houston Astros starting rookie pitchers against the Atlanta Braves. . . .

The Chicago Cubs expect to re-sign shortstop Shawon Dunston. . . .

Now the Montreal Expos have an excuse to move. . . .

If the Dodgers win the NL West, look for the Pittsburgh Pirates to put Bob Walk in the bullpen for the playoffs and go with left-hander Randy Tomlin. . . .

ESPN commentator Joe Morgan is among those who believe that the Giants would be unwise to trade Kevin Mitchell and break up the heart of their batting order. . . .

Roy Fisher, a free-agent forward from the University of California, could be a sleeper in the Laker camp. . . .

Here it is the eve of the opening of hockey season and the NHL has neither a national TV contract nor Eric Lindros. . . .

The Indianapolis Colts fired the wrong guy. They should have dumped the owner, not the coach. . . .

Ron Meyer’s successor, Rick Venturi, used to coach Northwestern, which was excellent preparation for his new job. . . .

Four former Trojans are captains of NFL teams--Don Mosebar of the Raiders, Anthony Munoz of the Cincinnati Bengals, Dennis Smith of the Denver Broncos and Hoby Brenner of the New Orleans Saints. . . .

Coliseum Club seats, not to be confused with the luxury boxes, already are on sale at $3,600 for the 1994 Raider and USC seasons. . . .

The San Francisco 49ers’ acquisition of Tim Harris--a 27-year-old linebacker who was a consensus All-NFL choice as recently as two years ago--for a second-round draft pick in 1992 and either a second- or third-round pick in 1993 was a steal. . . .

A capacity crowd of 91,494 attended the Raider-49er game Sunday at the Coliseum, but there was only one arrest--for ticket scalping.