Notes on a Scorecard - July 11, 1995

This being the traditional All-Star break and close to the halfway mark of the untraditional 144-game season, it is time to analyze the performances of the local baseball teams. . . .

The format this year is head to head. . . .

Which position player, starting rotation or relief corps would you rather have, the Angels’ or the Dodgers’? . . .

First base--Eric Karros and J.T. Snow both have been extremely productive and are worthy of All-Star team selections, which they did not get. Karros has become a more versatile hitter, and Snow is fulfilling his potential after a couple of disappointing years. Edge: Dodgers. . . .

Second base--We go from overachievers at first to underachievers. Delino DeShields continues to struggle. Damion Easley’s batting average is .198. Edge: Dodgers. . . .

Shortstop--Jose Offerman is hitting .303 and getting plenty of walks. However, he is leading the major leagues in errors. Gary DiSarcina is hitting .324 and fielding well. Edge: Angels. . . .

Third base--Tony Phillips, 36, and Tim Wallach, 37, are veterans who play with enthusiasm and intelligence. Wallach has the advantage in the field, but Phillips has supplied more power. Edge: Angels. . . .

Catcher--A no-brainer. Mike Piazza is in the early stages of what should be a Hall of Fame career. None of the three Angel catchers--Jorge Fabregas, Greg Myers or Andy Allanson--can be mentioned in the same breath with him. Edge: Dodgers. . . .

Left field--There is little to choose between unproven prospects Billy Ashley and Garret Anderson. Ashley has had problems in the field and strikes out way too much, but has tape-measure home run power. Anderson remains a question mark. Edge: Dodgers. . . .

Center field--All-star selection Jim Edmonds is one of the surprises of the American League season, a power hitter who has had a 23-game hitting streak. Roberto Kelly has been solid at bat since being traded to the Dodgers from Montreal, but disappointing in the field. Edge: Angels. . . .

Right field--A strength of both teams. Raul Mondesi is probably the most exciting player in baseball. He can do it all and with flair. Tim Salmon’s power numbers are even better than Mondesi’s. Edge: Dodgers. . . .

Starting pitching--Hideo Nomo, Tom Candiotti and Ismael Valdes have lower earned-run averages than any Angel starter. Chuck Finley and Mark Langston are the Angels’ best. Neither rotation is deep, but few in the watered-down major leagues are. Edge: Dodgers. . . .

Relief pitching--Todd Worrell has yielded one earned run in 28 1/3 innings, but middle relievers are hurting the Dodgers. Lee Smith is slumping, but has 20 saves. Troy Percival has been a consistent middle reliever. Edge: Angels. . . .

Advantages have been given to the Dodgers (34-35) over the Angels (39-30) in six of the 10 departments. . . .

But, of course, the Angels have the better designated hitter. . . .

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Prediction: Hideo Nomo will strike out the first batter he faces in the All-Star game tonight, Kenny Lofton. And, come to think of it, Randy Johnson might do the same to Lenny Dykstra. . . .

New York Met center fielder Brett Butler is batting .255, which is 59 points lower than his average during his final year with the Dodgers. . . .

Another free agent who didn’t re-sign with the Dodgers, Orel Hershiser, has lost his last three starts for the Cleveland Indians after getting off to a fast start. . . .

Jelani McCoy, the 6-foot-10 center who will be a freshman at UCLA, has been a dominating shot blocker during summer league games at Cal State L.A. . . .

Brian Golden will conduct one-hour talk shows on KMPC before and after the USC football broadcasts this season. . . .

The four champions who will box on the pay-per-view card at the Forum on Saturday night have a winning mark of 97%. . . .

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Trainer Bobby Frankel’s six stakes victories at Hollywood Park in 56 days this meeting are a tremendous achievement, but the track record is 14 by Charlie Whittingham in 75 days in 1971. . . .

There should be plenty of offers for Brian Mayberry’s services, now that the successful trainer has been let go by the Mace Siegel family. . . .

Former Dodger pitcher Rick Rhoden has won four tournaments on the Celebrity Golf Assn. circuit this year. . . .

Doubles tennis is fun to watch, but can you name any winner of the men’s, women’s or mixed doubles competition at Wimbledon this year besides Martina Navratilova? . . .

I’m changing my AFC champion pick from L.A. to Oakland.