Dodgers Could Sure Use a Helping (Left) Hand

The Dodgers made no attempt to fool Montreal on Sunday. . . .

They started a right-handed pitcher for the 556th consecutive game. . . .

A change is in order. . . .

If not this season, then next. . . .

Mark Guthrie might be just the left-hander to end the streak that began the night after Bob Ojeda started against the Houston Astros on Sept. 25, 1992. . . .

Guthrie began his major league career as a starter with the Minnesota Twins in 1989 and has indicated that he would like to return to that role even if it means signing elsewhere when he becomes a free agent after this season. . . .

He has a 1.76 earned-run average coming out of the Dodger bullpen, but another lefty reliever, Scott Radinsky, has been nearly as effective. . . .

Dodger vice president Tom Lasorda will be honored during ceremonies before the game against Pittsburgh on Sept. 7. . . .

Hideo Nomo might be having a disappointing sophomore year in some statistical categories, but he needs only one more victory to equal his rookie total of 13. . . .

For their games against the San Diego Padres at Monterrey, Mexico, over the weekend, the New York Mets started an infield of Carlos Baerga of Puerto Rico at first base, Edgardo Alfonzo of Venezuela at second, Rey Ordonez of Cuba at shortstop, and Alvaro Espinoza of Venezuela at third. . . .

Yes, the wave was performed by fans at Monterrey although at least once they had the good sense to do it between innings. . . .

Maybe the New York Yankees should have tried to acquire a starting pitcher instead of Cecil Fielder. . . .

Former Dodger Tim Belcher is 12-7 for the Kansas City Royals, who have a losing record. . . .

Considering where they play their home games, it isn’t surprising that the Rockies rank first in the National League in hitting and last in pitching. . . .

The first no-hitter ever at Dodger Stadium was pitched by an Angel, Bo Belinsky, against the Baltimore Orioles on May 5, 1962.

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The Houston Rockets gave the Phoenix Suns too much for Charles Barkley, who is 33 and injury prone.

To those who say Shaquille O’Neal never has won anything important, doesn’t the 1995 NBA Eastern Conference title count? . . .

Free agent Brian Williams certainly can’t be accused of rushing his decision. . . .

Unbeaten super-flyweight Johnny Tapia again showed that he is one of the best entertainers in the ring when he battered Hugo Soto for 12 rounds and played to the hometown crowd in the Albuquerque baseball stadium on Saturday. . . .

I like Tapia over Danny Romero in a crosstown Albuquerque fight that has to be made eventually. . . .

Couldn’t the Chicago Blackhawks have gotten more in return for all-star center Jeremy Roenick than center Alexei Zhamnov, right wing Craig Mills and a first-round draft choice from the Phoenix Coyotes? . . .

Coolest event of the summer should be the World Cup of Hockey that begins Aug. 26. . . .

With the U.S. Open coming up, it’s difficult to reel off the names of the men’s winners of the first three Grand Slam events. Boris Becker won the Australian Open, Yevgeny Kafelnikov the French and Richard Krajicek Wimbledon. As usual, the women’s champions have been more predictable--Monica Seles, Steffi Graf and Graf again. . . .

A giraffe born July 27 at the Knoxville Zoo was named Peyton for Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning. The giraffe already is 6 feet, only five inches shorter than the quarterback. . . .

UCLA running backs coach Skip Peete is a brother of Philadelphia Eagle and former USC quarterback Rodney Peete. . . .

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TV commentators Mike Ditka and Bob Trumpy both are predicting that the Philadelphia Eagles will reach the NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers. . . .

The Arizona Cardinals played down to expectations during their 32-10 loss to the Chargers at San Diego on Saturday night. . . .

I was shocked that the Jets and Giants combined for as many as 19 points in the battle of New York. . . .

The Oakland Raiders don’t seem the same without Vince Evans.