Notes on a Scorecard - May 12, 1994

Advisory to Dodger fans: As crazy as it might seem, don’t leave the ballpark early this year. . . .

So many games are being decided in the late innings that the team’s relievers have more decisions than the starters. . . .

In contrast, Dodger starters had 116 decisions and relievers 46 last year. . . .

The favorite baseball chant in L.A. has gone from a derisive “Dar-ryl” to an enthusiastic “Ra-ul.” . . .

The Dodgers haven’t pulled a triple play since moving from Brooklyn in 1958, but their Bakersfield farm club in the California League was the victim of an unassisted triple play by shortstop Neifi Perez of the Central Valley Rockies on Monday. . . .

With men on first and second, Perez caught a line drive, stepped on second to double off that runner and then ran a few steps to tag out the runner who had strayed too far from first. . . .

The teams with the three best records in the American League reside in the East Division. . . .

What helps make that possible is a league schedule that is nearly balanced. In football and basketball, the percentage of intra-division games is far greater. . . .

Atlanta Brave reliever Mike Stanton raised his lifetime batting average to .600--six for 10--with his two hits, including the game-winning bunt, against Philadelphia on Tuesday. Stanton didn’t bat once last year when he made 63 relief appearances. . . .

The economy-conscious Montreal Expos will probably trade free agent-to-be right fielder Larry Walker before the end of the season. . . .

At the major league owners’ meeting early next month, look for announcements that two franchises, including one in Tampa-St. Petersburg, will be added for the 1996 season and that University of Kansas Chancellor Gene Budig will succeed Bobby Brown as American League president. . . .

The good thing about early-season rainouts is that they create midseason doubleheaders. . . .

Jo Lasorda will be the host of a summer fashion show and luncheon June 1 at the Anaheim Hilton Towers, proceeds going to the Tommy Lasorda Jr. Memorial Foundation. . . .

Greg McMurtry, the former New England Patriot and Michigan wide receiver signed by the Rams as a free agent, was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 1986 amateur draft as a pitcher. . . .

I didn’t get a chance to watch the controversial Julio Cesar Chavez-Frankie Randall fight last Saturday, but a lot of my questions will be answered Sunday at 10 p.m. when the replay is shown on Showtime. . . .

Depending on whom you believe, Michael Moorer’s first defense of his World Boxing Assn. and International Boxing Federation heavyweight titles will be against George Foreman or Joe Hipp. . . .

Promoter Bob Arum, who wants to match Moorer and Foreman in September, is planning an attractive Riddick Bowe-Larry Donald bout July 15 at Lake Tahoe or July 16 at Hollywood Park. . . .

Gabriel Ruelas, who will fight Paris Alexander on May 20 at the Olympic, could challenge any of the super-featherweight champions but wants to face the best of them, James Leija. . . .

It would be a mandatory defense against the No. 1 contender for Leija, who was impressive winning the title from Azumah Nelson. . . .

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Danielle Scott of Long Beach State, who was named national volleyball player of the year and led the Big West Conference in rebounding, will participate in the long jump, high jump and triple jump and run anchor for the 49ers’ 400-meter relay team in the conference meet this week at New Mexico State. . . .

The absence of a $1-million bonus to the horse who does best under a point system in the Triple Crown races has made some decisions to skip the Preakness easier. . . .

However, Go For Gin still has a chance to win a $5-million bonus for sweeping the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. . . .

Charlie Whittingham on Strodes Creek, who is skipping the Preakness after a second-place finish in the Derby: “Before the year is over, he’ll be the best horse racing--without a doubt.” . . .

Jimmy Croll, the trainer of badly beaten Derby favorite Holy Bull, couldn’t leave Churchill Downs soon enough last Saturday. A parking attendant locked the keys in Croll’s car. . . .

Nick Vachon, the 21-year-old son of King executive Rogie Vachon, was the No. 1 draft pick of the L.A. Blades of Roller Hockey International. He played center for the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Knoxville, Tenn., farm club this season. . . .

Pavel Bure is the most exciting player in hockey. . . .

Dept. of Who Would Ever Have Thought: Mark Rypien signing as a backup quarterback to Vinny Testaverde.