Notes on a Scorecard - June 4, 1992

Early the night before he went on the disabled list, Darryl Strawberry was asked if the Dodgers could win without him. “The way we’re going now, no,” he replied. . . .

Since then, and despite the injury to Eric Davis, the Dodgers have won 12 games games and lost 6. . . .

However, Strawberry wasn’t being arrogant. He was being realistic. He was leading the Dodgers in home runs and runs batted in on a team that was 11-19 when his aching back took him out of the lineup. . . .

Don’t be overwhelmed by the Dodgers’ surge. They are relishing their new role of underdog. Their kids are showing promise, and their outstanding starting pitching will keep them in a lot of games, but they probably will need Strawberry in right field the second half of the season to contend for the NL West title. . . .

Last year, a stay on the disabled list did wonders for him. He was hitting .224 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs when he was put on the 15-day disabled list June 18 because of a bad shoulder. He finished with 28 home runs, 99 RBIs and a .265 average after carrying the team for a couple of months. . . .

Exactly when Strawberry will be ready again is uncertain. Bad backs are like that. But rest has taken away much of the pain, surgery has been ruled out and he might be available early next month. . . .

The Dodgers selected Dan Melendez of Pepperdine on the second round of the draft. He can hit the ball a mile. So maybe there will be four first basemen on the roster in the not-too-distant future. . . .

Among the sleepers in the draft could be Robby Welles, a DH/pitcher from Pierce College who was taken on the 17th round by the San Francisco Giants. . . .

Canseco recently hit two home runs estimated at 500 feet--Ozzie Canseco, that is, for Louisville of the American Assn. . . .

Jose Canseco had a couple of homers against the Red Sox on Wednesday. . . .

The St. Louis Cardinals believe Brian Jordan is going to be a terrific outfielder and are trying to sign the Atlanta Falcon safety to a contract that would limit him to baseball. . . .

When Cal Ripken Jr.’s consecutive-game playing streak ends late this decade, his replacement could be a Baltimore Oriole minor league prospect named Manny Alexander. . . .

Former Dodger outfielder Ralph Bryant leads the Pacific League in Japan with 15 home runs. . . .

If the trend continues the rest of the season, the Angels will finish with a better record on the road than at home for the third time in five years. . . .

Even more errors would be committed in the major leagues this season if most official scorers weren’t so generous. . . .

I wonder what Don Drysdale really thinks about artificial turf. . . .

The Belmont Stakes Saturday should be the best of the Triple Crown races. Down the stretch will come A.P. Indy, Pine Bluff and possibly Casual Lies. The winner will be the 3-year-old colt who is best able to handle the 1 1/2-mile distance. That should be A.P. Indy. . . .

An estimated 300,000 spectators watched Dr Devious win the Epsom Derby Wednesday in England. Fewer than half that saw Dr Devious--the $2-million, 60th birthday gift of Jenny Craig to husband Sid--finish seventh in the Kentucky Derby. . . .

Hollywood Park should have learned from a previous experiment several years ago that horseplayers prefer pocket-sized programs to the larger ones even though they contain more information. . . .

USC won its last official NCAA outdoor track and field championship in 1976, but the Trojans also finished first in 1978 at Eugene, Ore. They had the title taken away later when Billy Mullins was ruled ineligible. UCLA, coached by Jim Bush, and Texas El Paso eventually were elevated to co-champions. . . .

More than 2,000 participants will compete in swimming, track and field, basketball, bowling, cycling, gymnastics, softball and tennis during the California Special Olympics Summer Games June 19-21 at UCLA. . . .

Best news about the deal ABC and ESPN signed to televise the World Cup of soccer in 1994 is that there will be no commercial interruptions during the games. . . .

Jennifer Capriati, 16, doesn’t appear to have much fun playing tennis anymore. . . .

Andre Agassi never again should be seeded as low as 11th in a clay-court tournament. . . .

Thumbs up to Jim Courier for his suggestion that all Davis Cup matches be played over a two-week period. It should be one big tournament at one site. . . .

The Kings are raising their ticket prices at the Forum again next season. Must have been that great showing in the playoffs. . . .

One thing I don’t miss about the NBA finals this year is, “Beat L.A.!” . . .

Evander Holyfield’s handler, Lou Duva, recently visited a soothsayer. “He put oil on my head, wine on my lips and a salami in my pocket and said Evander would flatten Larry Holmes,” Duva said.