BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Riggleman Picks Gwynn Over Piazza

Chicago Cub Manager Jim Riggleman looks at the batting leaders daily and is well aware that Dodger catcher Mike Piazza is giving San Diego’s Tony Gwynn all he can handle in the batting race.

“If I was going to build a franchise, I’d want to build it around Mike Piazza,” Riggleman said.

But when asked his prediction on the batting race, he picked Gwynn, whom he managed for two years in San Diego.

“For me, Piazza is more of an MVP candidate than a batting title candidate,” he said. “As good as [Eric] Karros and [Raul] Mondesi are, when you look at that ballclub, no one scares you like Piazza.

“But to say Piazza will win the batting title, it’s not going to happen. I’d bet the farm on Tony.”

Gwynn is batting .365, Piazza .363.

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Third baseman Tim Wallach suffered no ill effects from playing Monday night on his injured left knee but his heart was still racing Tuesday.

Sammy Sosa hit a screaming line drive in the seventh inning that hit Wallach’s right thumb.

“That was the hardest-hit ball that’s ever been hit toward me,” Wallach said. “But otherwise, I feel fine.”