Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 15, 1991

Ted Turner might have had trouble keeping his eyes open Monday at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, but it is hard to remember a more eventful 1-0 game. . . .

Pittsburgh Manager Jim Leyland was fortunate to survive his curious decision not to pinch-hit for relief pitcher Roger Mason with a runner on third base and two out in the ninth inning and switch-hitting Orlando Merced available. . . .

The Braves have been shut out for 18 consecutive innings. . . .

Just imagine how tough the Pirates would be if Barry Bonds were hitting. . . .

This crazy idea of playing baseball in the daytime might catch on if given half a chance, but the rest of the postseason tournament will be at night. . . .

The time between innings of games televised by CBS approximates that of a round of boxing. . . .

Play-by-play announcer Jack Buck anticipates the action too often. . . .

Putting umpire Ed Montague in the booth turned out to be a stroke of genius. . . .

Jim Kaat, who is an analyst on the Minnesota Twins’ broadcasts, did a good job of sounding impartial during the American League championship series. . . .

The Dodgers will formulate a game plan for the 1992 season this weekend at Mesa, Ariz., where organizational meetings will be held. Among the issues to be discussed: Are shortstop Jose Offerman, third baseman Dave Hansen and first baseman Eric Karros ready to play regularly in the major leagues? . . .

Atlanta reliever Alejandro Pena’s value as a potential free agent has risen dramatically in the past six weeks. . . .

Now that he hasn’t scored a goal in his first five games, it is apparent that Wayne Gretzky is being bothered by his bad back. . . .

Fight Night: There were 31 fighting penalties in the NHL Saturday. . . .

The odds are against Robert Pack landing a spot on the Portland Trail Blazers’ roster, but the former USC point guard is making a good impression. . . .

Bertrando’s owners will have to put up a $120,000 supplemental fee to run him in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs, but it is not that big a gamble. After romping in the Norfolk Stakes Saturday at Santa Anita, Bertrando is regarded as the leading 2-year-old in the country. First prize in the Juvenile: $450,000. Second prize: $225,000. Third prize: $108,000. . . .

The Northridge bettor who won $123,294 in the Pick Nine Sunday with a $12 ticket actually handicapped the races. He isolated three horses in one race, two in another and one in each of the other seven. . . .

Once upon a time, the Ray Mercer-Tommy Morrison heavyweight fight would have made a good Saturday afternoon TV network attraction. But if you want to see it Friday night, you will have to pay your local cable company for the opportunity. . . .

Alex Karras will produce and star in a motion picture based on his book, “Tuesday Night Football.” . . .

If USC wins at least seven games this season--no simple task--it probably will play in the Disneyland Pigskin Classic next August at Anaheim Stadium. . . .

Former Trojan tight end Bob Klein will be honored in ceremonies at the USC-Stanford game Saturday. But the loyalties in the family will be divided. Son Jimmy was scheduled to be a starting safety for Stanford before a knee injury sidelined him, and daughter Kristin plays for the Cardinal volleyball team. . . .

California’s first top-10 rating in the Associated Press football poll since 1968 is shaky, at best. The Bears will play Washington Saturday at Berkeley. . . .

Tennessee and Baylor no longer are ranked ahead of Florida State in the New York Times computer poll. . . .

Never underestimate the importance of a hot field-goal kicker such as the Raiders’ Jeff Jaeger. . . .

Ronnie Lott, who also happened to make the interception that set up Jaeger’s game-winner in Seattle Sunday, put a hit on John L. Williams that could have been felt as far south as San Francisco. . . .

The last-place 49ers haven’t finished in the NFC West cellar since the 1978 and ’79 seasons, when they went 2-14. . . .

Congratulations to Skip Caray for not saying, “Beat L.A.” once during the Raider-Seahawk telecast. . . .

Who would have thought the Kansas City Chiefs were capable of scoring 75 points in two games six days apart? . . .

Some of us who complained about NFL games lasting too long a couple of years ago are complaining about low-scoring games that are caused partially by speed-up rules. . . .

Green Bay and Tampa Bay should petition the NFL for another week off.