A Piazza Idea That’s Not Out of Left Field

The argument that the Dodgers should move the National League’s leading hitter, Mike Piazza, to a position less physically taxing than catcher is becoming more convincing. . . .

Before Piazza hit his game-winning home run in the ninth inning Sunday at Dodger Stadium, the Houston Astros stole two bases. . . .

Rivals have been successful on their last 13 stolen base attempts against Piazza, who has thrown out only 12 of 75 for the season. . . .

Granted, the five right-handed Dodger starting pitchers aren’t very good holding runners on, but it’s apparent that Piazza’s throwing arm would not be missed if he was switched within the next couple of years to left field or third base in an attempt to make him less prone to injuries and prolong his career. . . .

Piazza is batting .357, which is 11 points above the single-season Los Angeles Dodger record he shares with Tommy Davis. . . .

It turns out that I really was watching WGN and not dreaming early Sunday morning when I saw Fernando Valenzuela pinch-hitting for the San Diego Padres in the 16th inning and striking out to end the game against the Chicago Cubs. . . .

The trade that sent Jeff Bagwell to the Houston Astros for relief pitcher Larry Andersen on Aug. 31, 1990 was only the second worst in Boston Red Sox history. . . .

The worst: Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000 and a $300,000 loan on Jan. 3, 1920. . . .

Can you top this? The first sports event Associated Press correspondent Joe Resnick ever saw was the perfect game thrown by Jim Bunning of the Philadelphia Phillies against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium in 1964. . . .

The only thing worse than having Bud Selig as interim commissioner would be having him as full-fledged commissioner. . . .

Atlanta’s John Smoltz (14-1) is on a pace to become the first 30-game winner since Denny McLain was 31-6 in 1968. . . .

When Cleveland’s Dennis Martinez faced New York’s Kenny Rogers on Saturday at Jacobs Field, it was only the fourth such meeting between pitchers who have thrown perfect games. The Yankees won the 1996-style pitching duel, 11-9. . . .

Three American League teams, Baltimore, Boston and Milwaukee, yet to have a shutout. . . .

Mike Gillespie’s USC program was flattered when assistant coaches Frank Sanchez and Frank Cruz were appointed head coaches at Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount, respectively, on Thursday. . . .

For a change, I heard no complaints about the King trade that sent winger Eric Lacroix to Colorado for goaltender Stephane Fiset. However, the swap of first-round draft choices in 1998 that was included in the deal could prove damaging to the King youth movement. . . .

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Former Atlanta Falcon running back Harmon Wages is instrumental in a campaign to change the name of Centennial Olympic Stadium to Hank Aaron Stadium next year when it becomes the new home of the Braves. . . .

The U.S. Olympic men’s track and field team is powerful in a lot of events, but it will be an upset if an American even reaches the final in one of the glamour races, the 1,500 meters. . . .

Michael Moorer clearly won the fight for the International Boxing Federation heavyweight title, but he should have no complaints that the decision awarded him over Axel Schulz in Schulz’ home country of Germany was split. . . .

Once again Roberto Duran, after his loss to Hector Camacho, ought to say, “No mas.”. . . .

I see absolutely no need for an Oscar De La Hoya-Julio Cesar Chavez rematch at the Rose Bowl, but dollar signs are flashing in the eyes of promoter Bob Arum. . . .

Thumbs up to John Cook, who is one of the nicest guys in golf, for winning his first tournament in four years and coming within a stroke of the PGA Tour record in the St. Jude Classic at Memphis. . . .

Boston Celtic General Manager M.L. Carr began his 1996-97 executive-of-the-year campaign when he traded center Eric Montross and a No. 9 draft pick to Dallas for the Mavericks’ No. 6 pick and their first selection next season. The Celtics would have received no compensation if Montross had signed elsewhere as a free agent after this season. . . .

Sign of the times: Alonzo Mourning’s dismal playoff series for the Miami Heat against the Chicago Bulls means his next contract might be for only $13 million a year. . . .

Among the questions about NBA draft prospect Roy Rogers, a forward from Alabama, is whether he can pull the trigger. . . .

The CIF Southern Section Division V player of the year is Joe Hardy, who hails from Pasadena La Salle High, not Hannibal, Mo., home of the “Damn Yankees” hero with the same name.