Notes on a Scorecard - Aug. 11, 1992

Yeah, sure, Tom Lasorda is going to become a Giant. . . .

The next thing you will try to tell me is that Duke Snider played for the Giants. Or Juan Marichal for the Dodgers. Or Sal Maglie for the Dodgers. Or that Leo Durocher managed the Giants. Or that Jackie Robinson was traded to the Giants. . . .

Of course, all those things did happen. It is funny how many guys who bleed Dodger blue for years eventually get a transfusion of Giant black and orange or vice versa. . . .

The one who refused was Robinson, who retired instead of reporting to the Giants after he was traded from Brooklyn for pitcher Dick Littlefield and $30,000 in 1956. . . .

So maybe Lasorda will become general manager or manager of the hated St. Petersburg Giants, although I believe his loyalty is greater to Peter O’Malley than to Vince Piazza. . . .

The worst thing about the Giants’ move to Florida is that it would mean another indoor ballpark with artificial turf. . . .

And I can hardly wait for the greatest rivalry in baseball: The St. Petersburg Giants vs. the Florida Marlins. . . .

Most teams won’t be hurt, but the Atlanta Braves are going to lose three decent players in the expansion draft. They are so deep that they have the best record in baseball this season without significant contributions from David Justice or Ron Gant. . . .

A case can be made for Atlanta third baseman Terry Pendleton repeating as National League most valuable player. . . .

I don’t care how old he is, Andre Dawson will be worth signing as a free agent. . . .

Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson, who once said Chris Pittaro was the best rookie he had ever seen, says Frank Tanana is the best left-handed pitcher he has seen, with the exception of Sandy Koufax. . . .

Mark McGwire and Cecil Fielder aren’t the only first basemen in the American League compiling impressive numbers. At last glance, Frank Thomas of the Chicago White Sox had an on-base percentage of .453. . . .

Seven American League teams have hit at least 100 home runs. No National League team has. . . .

Gary Sheffield is close enough in all three categories to have a chance to win the National League triple crown. . . .

Best looking hitter on the disappointing U.S. Olympic team was Michael Tucker, a first-round draft choice of the Kansas City Royals. . . .

Former Angel and Pittsburgh Pirate second baseman Johnny Ray recently was released by the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League. . . .

Current or former UCLA athletes won eight gold medals in Barcelona, as many or more than all but eight countries. . . .

Quincy Watts kept alive USC’s streak of having at least one gold medalist in every Olympics since 1912. Michelle Ford, swimming for Australia, won the 800-meter freestyle in the U.S.-boycotted 1980 Games at Moscow. . . .

The U.S. volleyball team could have used Karch Kiraly, who teamed with Kent Steffes to win a record-tying 13th consecutive championship match on the pro beach volleyball tour Sunday at Cleveland. . . .

You can expect a transaction or two from the Kings once new General Manager Nick Beverly and Coach Barry Melrose are finished evaluating their roster. . . .

NHL executives may outlaw fighting at a meeting Aug. 24. . . .

Tom Kite and John Daly are among those who will shoot it out in the Shark Shootout Nov. 20-22 at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks. The event has raised $2.3 million for charity the last three years. . . .

It has been this kind of year for the American Championship Racing Series: Strike The Gold clinched the championship--Best Pal mathematically is still in contention, but is out for the year because of an injury--by finishing fourth in the Iselin Handicap. . . .

Promoter Dan Goossen hopes to reopen the Olympic Auditorium for boxing in November. . . .

Goossen has obtained the promotional rights to World Boxing Assn. middleweight champion Reggie Johnson of Long Beach. I can just see it now: Johnson vs. Michael Nunn, the former star of the Ten Goose stable. . . .

A dozen Raiders each weigh at least 300 pounds. . . .

Suggested National League re-realignment: Put the St. Petersburg Giants and the Cuban Olympic team in the East and keep the Cincinnati Reds in the West.