Notes on a Scorecard - July 12, 1994

George Raveling made a good decision. . . .

His current income is substantial enough, Southern California winters are superior to those in New Jersey, he is a person of varied interests who might want to retire from coaching in a couple of years, and, besides, P.J. Carlesimo left the cupboard bare at Seton Hall. . . . *

The more juiced up the baseballs used in the All-Star game tonight, the better. . . .

There is nothing more boring to watch than pitchers coming in for an inning and overpowering batters--or more entertaining than a home run explosion. . . .

The last player to hit two homers in the All-Star game was Gary Carter of Montreal in 1981. Stan Musial of St. Louis has the record, six in 24 games. . . .

The Dodgers have 20 road games and 10 home games remaining until the probable strike date of Aug. 16. The Angels have 19 at home and 10 on the road. . . .

You’ve got to look twice before realizing that Montreal has the best record in baseball at the break. . . .

The other Canadian team, Toronto, has the sixth-worst record. . . .

Night games at Wrigley Field are bad enough, but a Sunday night game between the Cubs and Houston to conclude activity before the All-Star game? . . .

Raul Mondesi would give the Dodgers three consecutive National League rookies of the year. The record is four in a row, set by Dodgers Rick Sutcliffe, Steve Howe, Fernando Valenzuela and Steve Sax from 1979-82. . . .

It was only a matter of time before Barry Bonds became the third hitter in the San Francisco lineup. Last season, the Giants’ No. 3 hitter came to the plate 40 more times than the No. 5 hitter. . . .

The Giants are 4-0 since Darryl Strawberry was called up from Phoenix, but Strawberry has only one single and a .091 batting average. . . .

The American League West leader, Texas, is 10 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox, who would be the wild-card entry if the playoffs began today. . . .

Monday was the 80th anniversary of Babe Ruth’s major league debut. He pitched seven innings for the Boston Red Sox against the Cleveland Indians and got the victory. Ruth led the American League in 1916 with a 1.75 earned-run-average and in 1917 with 35 complete games. . . .

Notre Dame’s decision to join the Big East has to help its basketball recruiting. . . .

Athletic Director Dick Rosenthal will talk about the new conference affiliation at the Notre Dame Club of Los Angeles Sports Night on July 30 at the Beverly Garland hotel in North Hollywood. . . .

USC, which has spent time training at UC Irvine since 1984, will conduct all preseason football workouts on its campus this year. The freshmen report Aug. 9 and the veterans Aug. 11, same as UCLA. . . .

Zachary Padilla, who defends his World Boxing Organization junior welterweight title July 24 against Juan LaPorte at the Grand Olympic, isn’t tempted to join the growing number of fighters working out in the mountains. “I feel better prepared for a fight at the Olympic by training in smoggy Azusa,” he said. . . .

Phone Chatter, who beat Sardula in the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, is back in training after an injury and is expected to return to racing during the Del Mar meeting that begins July 27. . . .

The $4 Lakeway-Sardula exacta payoff at Hollywood Park Sunday reminded me that exacta wagering was offered on the Chris Evert-Miss Musket match race in 1974. . . .

*

Why not keep the natural grass from the World Cup for American football games at Giants Stadium? . . .

Among the most pleasant surprises of the soccer tournament has been the exemplary behavior of the fans in the stands. . . .

Pity Wednesday’s losers in the World Cup semifinals, who will have to play a consolation game for third place Saturday at the Rose Bowl. That game was dropped from the NCAA basketball tournament in 1982. . . .

Soccer should have a backcourt violation. . . .

People don’t buy tickets to see referees, but demonstrative Earl Strom, who died Sunday, added spice to NBA games. . . .

As part of the NFL’s 75th anniversary, teams will wear uniforms modeled after old ones on “throwbacks” day Sept. 18. But don’t look for leather helmets. . . .

Tom Rathman, tough and steady, would be the prototypical Raider fullback. . . .

Buddy Ryan has gotten the Arizona Cardinals more off-season publicity than the Phoenix, St. Louis or Chicago Cardinals ever got.