Notes on a Scorecard - April 20, 1992

Quick now, what young National League shortstop has batted .391 and committed only one error in his last seven games? . . .

None other than Jose Offerman. . . .

“He’s showing what he is capable of doing,” said Dodger Stadium press box visitor Maury Wills on Easter Sunday. “He has the tools. You can see that. His problems have been 100% mental. . . .

“He’s had the jitters, and that happens to a lot of new Dodger players. The tradition, the big crowds . . . everything is geared to winning, and the pressure is always going to be there. As he settles down and adjusts to it, he’s going to be fine.” . . .

Wills speaks from experience. He and a couple of other notable former Dodgers, Pee Wee Reese and Bill Russell, committed the most errors among National League shortstops during their first full seasons at the position. . . .

Early returns on the Dodgers’ decision to sign free-agent pitcher Tom Candiotti rather than re-sign free agent pitcher Mike Morgan: Candiotti is 3-0 with a 2.49 ERA; Morgan is 0-2 with an 8.71 ERA for the Chicago Cubs. . . .

Anyone who bought a ticket to watch the Kings sleepwalk for three periods against the Edmonton Oilers Saturday night at the Forum must wish that the strike never had ended. . . .

I can’t remember the Kings ever showing less enthusiasm in a Stanley Cup playoff game. . . .

Except for a check by Larry Robinson that sprained Craig Simpson’s shoulder, they turned hockey into a non-contact sport. . . .

How bad was it? King fans, usually the most loyal in town, booed the team, booed the announcement that it was another capacity crowd and then imitated Dodger fans by leaving early. . . .

The Kings were trailing, 3-0, in the second period when the organist played the theme song from “Hawaii Five-O,” which didn’t seem like a bad prediction of the final score. . . .

Between them, the Smythe Division runner-up Kings and champion Vancouver Canucks went 0 for 15 on the power play on home ice on opening night of the playoffs. . . .

Seton Hall Coach P.J. Carlesimo told George Raveling at the Venice Family Clinic benefit honoring the USC coach last week, “If you announced this as a Harold Miner farewell dinner, you would have had nine other Pac-10 coaches here.” . . .

If the performances at the Mazda Mt. San Antonio College Relays are any indication, the United States will have an exciting men’s track and field team in Barcelona this summer. . . .

The race at Santa Anita Friday that was named in honor of the USC Football Alumni Board of Directors was won by a horse named Iron Traveller. . . .

On the final day to file income tax returns, Tax Bite won the Bled Dry Purse at Aqueduct. . . .

Arazi looked fit but still tiny in the videotape of his recent victory in France. . . .

It would take a lot less for the Raiders to get Phil Simms from the New York Giants than it would to get Steve Young from the San Francisco 49ers. . . .

I wonder what Mel Kiper Jr. will do if this is the last NFL draft. . . .

Corby Smith, a redshirt freshman quarterback who is the son of Coach Larry Smith, will be the holder for USC placekickers this season. . . .

Working with the team as a graduate assistant is former Raider Ricky Hunley, who was an All-American linebacker for Smith at Arizona. . . .

The Trojans’ first three games are on the road at San Diego State, Oklahoma and Washington, but they will have an extra week off following the first and second games. . . .

George Foreman will receive the Harvard Lampoon “Man of the Year” award May 3 at Harvard, but it is no laughing matter that he has donated more than $2 million to charity the last two years. . . .

Foreman won’t be broken hearted if Evander Holyfield beats Larry Holmes as expected June 19. George believes he can upset Holyfield in a rematch if he drops 20 pounds from the 257 he weighed for the first fight. . . .

Whatever happened to Wally Joyner? . . .

This is some trip the Angels are enjoying, but, remember, they had a better record on the road than at home last season. . . .

John Goodman is fine in “The Babe,” but San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Williams still does the best Babe Ruth home run trot. . . .

Thumbs down on ESPN for canceling the informative and entertaining “Major League Baseball Magazine.” . . .

Baseball fashion trend: Belt loops are in and elastic waistbands are out.