This Insider Says Mondesi Won’t Be Playing for Scale

The skinny on Raul Mondesi:

It was reported here last week that Dodger sources, who may or may not have been exaggerating, said Mondesi’s weight during the off-season soared to 275. As it turns out, they probably were exaggerating.

Mondesi’s weight when he reported for informal workouts at Dodger Stadium earlier this month was 243, which was only 28 pounds higher than his listed playing weight of 215.

But, in fairness to Mondesi, listed playing weights have about as much to do with reality as the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. According to the Baseball Encyclopedia, Babe Ruth weighed 215.

Mondesi’s agent, Jeff Moorad, said Wednesday that the Dodger right fielder is at his best when he weighs between 220 and 225 pounds and that, as of the night before, he was down to 230.

He weighed considerably more when he reported to spring training last season and was never in good shape, which contributed to his back problems in August and September. For that reason, the Dodgers have been extremely anxious about his conditioning this winter.

“He came in with a bit of a paunch on him last year,” Moorad said. “This year, it’s not there. He’s a little bit softer than he would like, but he’s worked feverishly on his arms.”

Moorad negotiated a deal for Mondesi before last season similar to Sammy Sosa’s with the Cubs, then Mondesi failed to produce like Sosa on the field.

No one expects him to do that this season, either, but Moorad said Mondesi is counting on being the 30-30 (home runs and stolen bases) player that he was two seasons ago.

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Now that Mondesi appears en route to earning the Richard Simmons seal of approval, let’s turn to another weigh-in with some tension. . . .

I’m talking about the one today in New York involving welterweights Felix Trinidad and Pernell Whitaker, who are scheduled to fight Saturday night. Reports are that Trinidad is having difficulty making the 147 weight. . . .

If he fights Oscar De La Hoya next year, it probably will be at 154. De La Hoya also wants to move up in weight. . . .

Whitaker hasn’t fought in 16 months while dealing with his cocaine habit. . . .

I would have thought the layoff put him at a disadvantage against Trinidad before seeing Ike Quartey last Saturday against De La Hoya. Quartey also was fighting for the first time in 16 months. . . .

Whitaker, 35, says that time off for an older fighter is more of a help than a hindrance. . . .

Has it really been 21 years since Bobby Dye’s Cal State Fullerton Titans advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament and almost knocked off Arkansas? . . .

According to the Sagarin Rankings, the Titans this season are 206th in the nation. . . .

Their closest Big West neighbors, Long Beach State and UC Irvine, are 199th and 257th, respectively. . . .

What happened to the Big West? . . .

Nevada Las Vegas and Fresno State left in 1996, quickly followed by the conference’s “Big Monday” games on ESPN that brought the teams national exposure. . . .

You’re going to hear a lot when the NCAA tournament starts about Gonzaga as a potential surprise team. But the Bulldogs are too good to be up for the role as Cinderella. . . .

Their coach, Dan Monson, has been rumored as the No. 1 candidate at Nevada. . . .

When the Harlem Globetrotters are at the Great Western Forum on Feb. 27 and the Arrowhead Pond on Feb. 28, it will be a homecoming for two of their stars. . . .

James “Jumbo” Bacon is from Dorsey High, Wun “the Shot” Versher from Compton Dominguez. Both played at Arizona State. . . .

The NFL could correct at least one mistake it made in the L.A. market by next season. Reports are that the league will allow ABC to move back kickoffs on “Monday Night Football” by 15 minutes. . . .

ABC reported a 14% loss in viewership on the West Coast with the 5:20 p.m. kickoffs last season. . . .

Ricky Williams’ agent is rapper Master P. . . .

“Kids are not going to listen to you unless you are cool, and signing with Master P makes you cool with those kids,” Williams says. . . .

I thought staying in school, breaking the all-time rushing record and winning the Heisman Trophy made him cool. I guess I’m not a kid anymore.

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While wondering why we need an American League season when the Yankees already have it won, I was thinking: David Wells should have pitched two perfect games if he wanted to remain on George Steinbrenner’s team, NBA players should be ready for the regular season in a couple more weeks, no Dennis Rodman news is good news.

Randy Harvey can be reached at his e-mail address: randy.harvey@latimes.com