Notes on a Scorecard - Feb. 18, 1993

Last year, I made the mistake of selecting the Dodgers to finish first, second, third, fourth, or fifth in the National League West. . . .

Not wishing to go out on such a limb again on the eve of the opening of spring training for pitchers and catchers, I am picking the Dodgers to finish fourth. . . .

They are improved, but so are the Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds, and none of them lost 99 games last year. . . .

The Angels, who tied for fifth in the American League West, will be fortunate to finish that high again. . . .

Here is how the divisions shape up in what might be the final year of the present alignment:

NL West--Atlanta, Houston, Cincinnati, Dodgers, San Francisco, San Diego, Colorado. . . .

NL East--Montreal, St. Louis, Chicago, New York, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Florida. . . .

AL West--Chicago, Oakland, Kansas City, Minnesota, Seattle, Texas, Angels. . . .

AL East--Toronto, Baltimore, Milwaukee, New York, Cleveland, Boston, Detroit. . . .

Is the Kelly Gruber trade Canada’s pay-back to the United States for the upside-down flag in Atlanta? . . .

The most improved thing about the Angels might be their logo. . . .

Too many meaningless late-season games make expansion of the playoffs logical. . . .

Rookie Troy Neel might be the new designated hitter at Oakland, replacing the departed Harold Baines. . . .

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in such a bind that they have invited Glenn Wilson to camp. The outfielder is 34 and hasn’t played the last two years. . . .

USC is off to a disappointing start, but catcher Casey Burrill has hit six home runs in nine games. . . .

The Daytona 500 is to Dale Earnhardt what the U.S. Open was to Sam Snead. . . .

Curtis Conway was clocked in the 40-yard dash in a sizzling 4.36 at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. . . .

Kent Desormeaux, who can do about everything on a basketball court except dunk, will lead the jockey all-stars against the Holy Angel school (grades 1-8) tonight at 7 in a charity game at Arcadia High. . . .

Desormeaux and Gary Stevens each will receive an appearance fee of $20,000 for the World Jockeys Competition March 26 at Dubai, United Arab Emirates. . . .

Mario Lemieux worked out twice with the Pittsburgh Penguins last week. . . .

Prize money will range from $40,000 for a first-place finish to $10,000 for sixth at the Hershey Kisses Pro-Am figure-skating championships April 6-7 at the Sports Arena. . . .

San Fernando heavyweight Alex Garcia, who stopped Mike Williams in the fifth round Tuesday, has been offered $1 million to fight Larry Holmes. Garcia also has been mentioned as Riddick Bowe’s next opponent. . . .

Best fight on the pay-per-view card from Mexico City on Saturday might be Terry Norris vs. Maurice Blocker. . . .

In memory of Loyola Marymount teammate Hank Gathers, New York Knick guard Bo Kimble shot his first free throw of the season Tuesday left-handed. He missed. . . .

Shaquille O’Neal’s 46 points against the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night were 12 fewer than the NBA rookie record, set by Wilt Chamberlain in 1960 against the Pistons. . . .

Lou Campanelli might have been a screamer, but I still don’t think that was reason enough for the University of California to fire him at midseason. . . .

Instead, why not at least a warning from the athletic director, the chancellor, or both? . . .

About reports that he is a candidate for the Cal job, UC Santa Barbara Coach Jerry Pimm said: “How could I leave paradise?” . . .

XTRA talk-show host Chet Forte has been passed by Buck Jenkins as the second-highest scorer in Columbia University history. . . .

Spencer Dunkley, the 6-foot-11 center at Delaware, can do more than dunk. He is second in the nation in rebounding and fifth in blocked shots. . . .

The USC women are making 68% of their free throws. The men are making 61%. . . .

Reader Willie Padilla agrees that a no foul-out rule should be adopted. He suggests that, instead of disqualification after a fifth foul in high school or college or a sixth in the NBA, the penalty be two free throws and possession of the ball. . . .

Day player: Since last May, Tom Kite has won the Atlanta Classic on Mother’s Day, the U.S. Open on Father’s Day and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic on Valentine’s Day.