Notes on a Scorecard - April 20, 1993

I am sorry to see the Dodgers leave town and happy to see the Angels come home. . . .

The resurgence of Eric Davis and Darryl Strawberry drew most of the attention over the weekend at Dodger Stadium, but the emergence of catcher Mike Piazza is what has me excited. . . .

Piazza, 24, hits and throws with power and has the best work habits of anyone on the team. He might be the next Johnny Bench. Well, at least the next Dodger rookie of the year. . . .

The way Angel first baseman J.T. Snow also has begun the season at the plate and in the field, it is not too early to think about the local teams sweeping the rookie awards. . . .

At 6 feet 2 and 202 pounds, Snow is among the biggest switch-hitters in the majors. Usually, they are smaller guys who switch to the left side to capitalize on their speed to first base. . . .

Kansas City is off to its worst start since 1992 when it went 1-16. . . .

Oklahoma State first baseman Sal Bando Jr. ranks sixth in the NCAA in home runs. . . .

Among those expected to be selected in the first round of the draft in June are UC Riverside pitcher Daron Kirkreit and UCLA first baseman Ryan McGuire. . . .

The infamous Mendoza Line (.200) was named for Mario Mendoza, but he knows enough about hitting to manage the Angels’ Palm Springs farm club in the California League. . . .

Frank Viola’s shutout of the Chicago White Sox Sunday was the first by a Boston Red Sox left-hander at Fenway Park since Bruce Hurst beat the Angels on May 10, 1987, 7-0. . . .

Bright, personable Willie Randolph should move up quickly in the executive ranks of the New York Yankee organization. . . .

Pedro Guerrero, Alex Trevino and Chris Brown are playing in the Mexican League, and Aurelio Rodriguez is managing there. . . .

Some scouts believed Brown had even more ability than Darryl Strawberry when they were Crenshaw High teammates. . . .

Yankee reliever Steve Howe, who gave up six earned runs in 22 innings last season, has given up nine in one inning over three appearances. . . .

The Rams, who have the 10th pick in the first round, might trade for a higher choice. Chuck Knox got Cortez Kennedy and Curt Warner that way when he was with the Seattle Seahawks. . . . Joe Montana, 37 and injury prone, isn’t worth a first-round draft choice. . . .

Look-alikes: 49er President Carmen Policy and owner Edward DeBartolo Jr. . . .

Mike Dunleavy has got to do something about the Milwaukee Bucks’ three-point defense next season. Against the Bucks last week, Miami’s Brian Shaw sank 10 three-pointers, Orlando’s Dennis Scott nine and Indiana’s Reggie Miller eight. . . .

Dunleavy is among the 14 NBA coaches who played guard in the league. . . .

What a difference one player can make. The Dallas Mavericks were 4-50 before Jimmy Jackson signed and are 5-19 with him. . . .

As of last week, there was still a billboard near the Columbia, S.C., airport welcoming Bobby Cremins back to South Carolina. However, there was a circle around his face, a slash mark and the word Not. . . .

Kotashaan’s victory by a nose over Bien Bien in the San Juan Capistrano was another in a remarkable series of close finishes in stakes races at Santa Anita. The San Juan, Santa Anita Derby and Santa Anita Handicap were determined by three-quarters of a length and two noses. . . .

However, when only four fillies lined up for the final race Sunday, you knew it was time for this meeting to end. . . .

Few riders ever have had the ability to sit chilly on stretch runners and then get them home with one big move in the manner of Eddie Delahoussaye, who has been elected to the Racing Hall of Fame. . . .

What an upset it would be if the favorite, Prairie Bayou, finally won the Kentucky Derby. . . .

Maybe the Kings’ victory at Calgary in the opening game of their playoff series Sunday wasn’t such a surprise. Last season, Coach Barry Melrose’s Adirondack Red Wings won all four road games during the American Hockey League Calder Cup championship series and lost all three home games. . . .

The way the Kings dominated the Flames, there is no reason they should settle for a split in the Olympic Saddledome on Wednesday night. . . .

It is difficult to remember an NHL first-round pairing more attractive than the Quebec Nordiques vs. the Montreal Canadiens. . . .

San Fernando heavyweight Alex Garcia, who fights Eric Curry tonight on the USA Network from the Riviera hotel in Las Vegas, has offers to oppose the George Foreman-Tommy Morrison winner--$2 million if it’s Foreman, $1 million if it’s Morrison. . . .

“I have an advantage in this fight,” Morrison said about his June 7 match with Foreman. “I’ve only got one chin to expose.”