BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : WORLD SERIES : Polonia Can’t Forget the Hershiser of 1988

Atlanta outfielder Luis Polonia hoped all along that the Braves would be playing the Cleveland Indians in the World Series, but Friday he started to have second thoughts.

You see, Orel Hershiser is starting for the Indians, and the mere thought brought back bitter memories of the 1988 World Series when Hershiser led the Dodgers to the World Series title over Polonia’s Oakland Athletics.

“We never dreamed Los Angeles would beat us,” Polonia said. “I mean, come on, everyone knew we were the better team. We figured we’d sweep.

“But Hershiser, man, we didn’t count on him. We didn’t think he could shut us down.

“Now, you look at the guy and what he did to Seattle, and you say, ‘Uh-oh.’

“I don’t think he throws like he did in ‘88, but we know he can do the job. To me, he’s like an old Greg Maddux.”

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Atlanta shortstop Jeff Blauser, who has been nursing a deep thigh bruise, took part in Monday’s workout, but might be replaced by Rafael Belliard in the starting lineup and could be replaced by Ed Giovanola on the Series roster. Manager Bobby Cox said he would wait to see how Blauser is today before making any decisions.

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Cleveland left fielder Albert Belle may be the finest slugger in the game, but on the eve of the World Series, he once again blew off reporters and declined all interview requests.

This time, however, he was polite about it, contrary to a few of his publicized incidents this season:

Belle, when asked during the American League championship series if he had any extra tickets: “No, and even if I did, I wouldn’t give them to you--you’re too funny looking.”

Belle, to the kids in Milwaukee who kept asking for his autograph: “No! And stop yelling my name!”

Belle, to a Chicago radio reporter: “I don’t know you, I don’t want to know you, and I don’t want to talk to you.”

Belle, to a New York radio reporter: “‘Do you know the meaning of the word no?”

Belle, to a cluster of reporters by his locker: “What do you think this is, a barbecue?”

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Cleveland center fielder Kenny Lofton after watching his pitchers bat for the first time this season: “I think some of these guys have been sneaking off to the batting cage during the season. They looked too good. And [Jose] Mesa, he can hit, boy. He can do it all.”

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Lofton, on shortstop Omar Vizquel’s frequent barehanded grabs: “When I first saw him, I said, ‘What’s that guy doing?’ Now, it’s like a routine thing.

“Maybe I’ll do it in the last play of the World Series. Nah. If you do it, and you drop the ball, you become a laughingstock and look like the most idiotic person in the world.”

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* Bud Black, former Cleveland pitcher and now part-time coach and scout, on Vizquel: “To me, he’s our most valuable player. He’s that good. I don’t want to think where our defense would be without him.”

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Brave right fielder David Justice threw a barb at Cincinnati Red center fielder Reggie Sanders while discussing his own performance in the division series, in which he batted .231, and the league championship series, in which he hit .273.

“I don’t know how much I struggled,” Justice said. “I feel like I got a few key walks for our team that have been overlooked. I might have only hit .250, but I didn’t pull a Reggie Sanders. I didn’t do that bad.”

Sanders batted .138 in the postseason, striking out 19 times in 29 at-bats.