Notes on a Scorecard - Sept. 16, 1993

If judge Mickey Vann really didn’t deduct a point from Pernell Whitaker for low blows and still gave Julio Cesar Chavez the sixth round Friday in San Antonio, then Vann is even more inept than I thought. . . .

The sixth was probably Whitaker’s second-best round all night, less decisive than only the eighth. . . .

The question about Darryl Strawberry isn’t whether he will play winter ball, but whether he will play summer ball. . . .

Among those giving Nolan Ryan a standing ovation Friday night at Anaheim Stadium should be the writers. Few athletes are more cooperative with the media. . . .

Mike Piazza is one-third of the way toward the rarest of rookie seasons--30 home runs, 100 runs batted in and a .300 average. . . .

If you thought the Pedro Martinez vs. Pedro Martinez duel the other night at San Diego was confusing, consider that the New York Mets had two pitchers named Bob Miller during the 1962 season. They were known as lefty Bob and righty Bob. . . .

Anthony Young, 1-16 and out for the rest of the season because of a thumb injury, has a lower earned run average than John Burkett (18-7). . . .

By the end of the weekend, people probably will be figuring out the Atlanta Braves’ magic number. . . .

“Play Ball: The Many Facets of American Baseball” is on exhibit at the Ziffren library at the Amateur Athletic Foundation library, 2141 Adams Blvd. . . .

Slumping Orel Hershiser is hitting only .373, which is probably why Dave Hansen pinch-hit for him in the first inning Wednesday night. . . .

Until Monday night, the Texas Rangers never had been less than three games behind the division leader during the month of September. . . .

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Where they are now: Former Angel third baseman Jack Howell has hit 23 home runs for the Yakult Swallows, leaders of the Japanese Central League. . . .

Just what New York Yankee Manager Buck Showalter needs during a pennant race--advice from George Steinbrenner. . . .

Ozzie Smith, 38, batted .500 last week. . . .

Just when you think Fernando Valenzuela has nothing left, he gives the Baltimore Orioles a complete-game victory over the Boston Red Sox. . . .

There is no truth to the report that Toronto will switch spring training to Blue Jay, Calif., home of the L.A. Kings’ training camp. . . .

Let me be among the first to offer 1994 major league baseball predictions: National League West--Dodgers, San Francisco, Colorado, San Diego. . . .

NL Central--Houston, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Cubs. . . .

NL East--Atlanta, Montreal, Philadelphia, Mets, Florida. . . .

American League West--Texas, Seattle, Angels, Oakland. . . .

AL Central--White Sox, Kansas City, Cleveland, Minnesota, Milwaukee. . . .

AL East--Toronto, Yankees, Baltimore, Boston, Detroit. . . .

NL Wild Card--Montreal. . . .

AL Wild Card--Kansas City. . . .

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Attention Rose Bowl scoreboard operator: The winning team in the Tom Osborne-Terry Donahue series has scored 42 points (Nebraska, ‘83), 42 (Nebraska, ‘84), 42 (Nebraska, ‘87) and 41 (UCLA, ‘88). . . .

The Nos. 1 and 2 NFL draft choices, quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe of the New England Patriots and Rick Mirer of the Seattle Seahawks, will go head to head Sunday at Foxboro, Mass. . . .

What was that about the good-field, no-hit New Orleans Saints? They scored the most points of any team in the league the first two weeks and allowed the third most. . . .

Glenn Bassett, who was men’s tennis coach at UCLA for 27 years, will be honored Friday night at Griffin Commons on campus. . . .

Nevada wide receiver Bryan Reeves, a Carson High graduate, is leading the nation with 11.5 yards per reception. . . .

My, how the Los Angeles County fair horse racing meeting has grown. Over 19 days beginning today, five stakes worth at least $100,000 will be contested. . . .

I wonder how long it will be before rookie center Vin Baker of the Milwaukee Bucks wants to renegotiate the 10-year contract he signed. . . .

The craziest NBA rumor has Dennis Rodman playing for the Detroit Pistons this season.