Notes on a Scorecard - June 27, 1995

In the Dodger dugout during the ninth inning Thursday night, Tom Lasorda playfully removed Chad Fonville’s cap. . . .

Lasorda rubbed Fonville’s head. . . .

Then the manager kissed the top of the infielder’s head. . . .

Before you knew it, the Dodgers had maintained their 7-6 lead and registered what would be the first of four consecutive victories over the San Francisco Giants. . . . Lasorda repeated the ritual every night during the sweep. . . .

But it hardly seemed all that necessary. . . .

Not when you have the bats of Mike Piazza, Eric Karros, Raul Mondesi and Jose Offerman, the gloves of Mondesi and Tim Wallach, the arms of Ismael Valdes, Hideo Nomo, Ramon Martinez, Todd Worrell and Mondesi and the legs of Delino DeShields and Mondesi. . . .

Worrell, one of the Dodgers’ spiritual leaders as well as a top candidate for National League comeback player of the year, believes this is developing into baseball’s best team. . . .

I don’t know about that, but I’m convinced that it will run away with the NL West title. . . .

It already has become one of the most crowd-pleasing Dodger teams since the move from Brooklyn in 1958. . . .

If there is a more exciting player to watch than Mondesi, show him to me. . . .

“I call him the Wild Stallion,” Lasorda said. “He’s all over the place.” . . .

The last time I looked, sophomore Valdes and rookie Nomo were Nos. 2 and 3 in the league in earned-run average among those who have pitched the minimum number of innings. . . .

So why aren’t the Dodgers well in front of the pack? . . .

Here is the key statistic--before Monday night’s game they were 21-9 with Piazza in the starting lineup and 9-17 without him. . . .

Only injuries can keep this emerging power out of postseason play. . . .

*

Boos broke out during a lull in Sunday’s game at Dodger Stadium. . . .

It seems that a spectator with a Raider cap was shown on the left-field board. . . .

Karros on his fast start: “I’m hitting the ball to the opposite field more. It took me 2 1/2 years to figure out that I shouldn’t try to jerk, jerk, jerk everything.” . . .

Daily highlights of Dodger batting practice are the tape-measure shots by Piazza and Billy Ashley. . . .

The second favorite Dodger player in Japan is Valdez because of his friendship with Nomo and cooperation with the Japanese media here. . . .

Wouldn’t young outfielder Roger Cedeno be better off playing every inning at Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League? . . .

The Detroit Tigers have been a lot hotter than the Red Wings recently. . . .

Noel Ragsdale, USC faculty athletic representative, has been named president of the Pacific 10 Conference for this year. . . .

This is “the Year of the Woman” in the Pac-10, in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the addition of women’s sports to the conference. . . .

Sport magazine’s preseason football top 10: 1. USC. 2. Florida State. 3. Nebraska. 4. Auburn. 5. Penn State. 6. Texas A&M.; 7. Notre Dame. 8. Colorado. 9. Florida. 10. Oklahoma.. UCLA is No. 17. . . .

Preseason All-Americans include wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson and punter John Stonehouse of USC, and tackle Jonathan Ogden and linebacker Donnie Edwards of UCLA. . . .

It will be interesting to see if the Trojans and Bruins attract many former NFL customers. . . .

Construction of the new press box at the Coliseum has begun. . . .

My choice for the next NFL team in L.A. is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Jimmy Johnson taking over as coach and General Manager Richie McKay, John’s son, returning to his roots. . . .

*

Hollywood Park racing secretary Martin Panza didn’t give Concern’s connections any excuses not to enter him in Sunday’s Gold Cup when he assigned Cigar 126 pounds and Concern 123. . . .

How dominant was Roy Jones Jr. before stopping Vinny Pazienza? Jones landed 173 punches, Pazienza 45. . . .

The Clippers will have a big-screen showing of the NBA draft Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at the Sports Arena. There will be a predict-the-draft contest, shooting contest, trivia game and charity silent auction. Admission and parking will be free. . . .

Asked who might become the next coach of the U.S. soccer team, interim Coach Steve Sampson said, “I hope it’s an American--this American.”