Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 16, 1995

Now, the Seattle Mariners have the Cleveland Indians right where they want them. . . . The Mariners, who trail in the American League championship series, 3-2, have staved off elimination four times already this month, once against the Angels and three times against the New York Yankees. . . .

All four games were played at the Kingdome, site of the remainder of this series. . . .

Besides, Randy Johnson will pitch for the Mariners in Game 6 on Tuesday. . . .

What more could they ask for?. . .

Well, I suppose Randy Johnson in Game 7 too. . . .

That was a nice show put on Sunday night by Orel Hershiser and Eddie Murray of the Dodger Alumni Club, Cleveland branch. . . .

Thumbs up to Indian Manager Mike Hargrove for ignoring the overrated percentages and allowing left-hander Paul Assenmacher to pitch to right-handed batter Jay Buhner with runners on first and third and two out in the seventh inning instead of calling upon right-hander Eric Plunk. . . .

Plunk gave up a three-run homer to Buhner in the 11th inning of Game 3. Assenmacher struck him out. . . .

As it was, Plunk was lucky to escape unscored upon in the eighth inning Sunday. . . .

For her shabby treatment of Manager Davey Johnson, Cincinnati owner Marge Schott got what she deserved in the National League championship series that was won by Atlanta, 4-0. . . .

Heck, Schott even complained about a sweep when the Reds eliminated the Dodgers, 3-0, in the first round and deprived her of income from one or two more home dates. . . .

Most valuable player of the series was Mike Devereaux of the Dodger Alumni Club, Atlanta branch. . . .

*

San Francisco beat the Rams eight consecutive times at Anaheim. But the question Sunday will be whether the 49ers can beat the Rams for the first time at St. Louis and reclaim a share of the NFC West lead. . . .

If you don’t think quarterback is the most important position in football, you didn’t watch the Dallas Cowboys, with Troy Aikman, defeat the San Diego Chargers, without Stan Humphries. . . .

After two disappointing seasons, former USC wide receiver Curtis Conway is giving the Chicago Bear offense a personality. . . .

How about those gutty little Arizona Cardinals? . . .

Just when you think it’s impossible, the New York Jets get worse. . . .

USC wasn’t half bad Saturday. . . .

In fact, the Trojans were terrific while building a 26-0 lead over Washington State in the first 34 minutes. . . .

But during the rest of their 26-14 victory they looked more like the No. 5 team in the Pacific-10 Conference, not the nation. . . .

It was a combination of USC losing interest, the formidable Washington State defense asserting itself, and the Cougars switching to a five-receiver offense. . . .

The Trojans’ last touchdown came on perhaps the best play call of the year. On fourth and one on the Washington State 40, Brad Otton faked a handoff to Delon Washington and found tight end Tyler Cashman all by his lonesome on the 23. . . .

The concern the week of the Notre Dame game is that the Trojans are thin at tailback with LaVale Woods and Leonard Green injured and Shawn Walters ineligible. Washington slowed down considerably in the second half against the Cougars. . . .

About all UCLA did Saturday at the Rose Bowl was win. . . .

It is hard to get excited about a 17-10 victory over an Arizona team that was lacking its dominant offensive player, wide receiver Richard Dice. . . .

The departure of the Raiders and Rams has had little, if any, impact on the USC and UCLA box office. The unbeaten Trojans drew only 51,131 Saturday at the Coliseum and the Bruins even less, 43,798, at the Rose Bowl. . . .

Most improved conference in the nation, top to bottom, might be the Big Ten. . . .

Ohio State doesn’t play Northwestern this season. . . . Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, who took Alabama apart in front of an ESPN audience, has a chance to become the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. . . .

The first Midnight Madness basketball practice sessions in L.A. were successful. A near- capacity crowd of 12,000 saw UCLA at Pauley Pavilion and a turnaway 1,600 saw USC at the Lyon Center. . . .

A slim Kris Johnson looked like a new man during the Bruin scrimmage and 6-2 freshman guard Damion Dawson was the people’s choice during the Trojan slam-dunk contest. . . .

Fox TV commentator Matt Millen, watching San Francisco quarterback Steve Young play against Indianapolis despite illness and injury: “He’s either tough or dumb.”