Notes on a Scorecard - April 15, 1991

The big guy in right field is hitting the ball a mile. The pitching staff is surviving the absence of an important right-hander. The middle of the lineup is scary. And the team is off to its best start in years, winning five of its first six. . . .

The Dodgers? Peter O’Malley only wishes. We’re talking Angels here. . . .

Without Eddie Murray, the Dodgers looked more like Eddie Murphy in the field during a lost weekend against San Diego. . . .

They also seemed to be in need of a right-handed hitter. Someone like, say, Hubie Brooks. . . .

However, Kevin Gross did prove Sunday that he can be awfully tough in the ninth inning. . . .

As if things weren’t bad enough during Gross’ brief stint the night before, the new and not necessarily improved scoreboard gave the Padres four runs, instead of three, in the second inning. . . .

One home run by his team in five games isn’t exactly what Tom Lasorda had in mind. . . .

If this were New York, the fans already would be giving Darryl Strawberry the raspberries. . . .

The happiest, but most nervous person at Dodger Stadium Saturday was Army Specialist Nick Lozenich, a veteran of the Desert Storm campaign who got a tryout with the Dodgers’ organization. . . .

Specialist Lozenich drew notice on TV when he took the only kind of batting practice available in the middle of the Saudi Arabian desert by hitting rocks with an ax handle. . . .

In Los Angeles, he attempted to hit the pitches of batting practice pitcher Mike McDermott and coach Bill Russell with a Louisville Slugger. . . .

“He was very aggressive,” Lasorda said. “And he looked good taking grounders at second base. Of course, he needs some work. We’ll look at him again in a few months after he’s discharged from the Army.” . . . Giving Lozenich a boost was Strawberry, who peered into the batting cage and kept yelling, “Atta boy, Nick. Good swing. Way to go!” . . .

In case you don’t know what year it is, all of the Dodger batboys and ballboys are wearing No. 91. . . .

Dave Winfield can still hit three home runs in a game at 39 because he is in better shape than most ballplayers 10 years younger. . . .

Tough decision tonight. Do you catch the Angels’ home opener against Oakland at Anaheim Stadium or the Laker-Dallas game at the Forum, where Magic Johnson is a cinch to break Oscar Robertson’s NBA career assist record? . . .

The frightening thing about the Pacific Division champion Portland Trail Blazers is that they are playing as well in April as they did in November. . . .

Dick Enberg, who had never called pro basketball until this season, is the consummate professional on the NBC telecasts. . . .

The NBA playoffs might not end until June 19, which would be 79 days after the NCAA championship game. . . .

It wouldn’t bother me if the Clippers traded all of their future draft choices except the lottery pick this year. . . .

NBA opinion on Kenny Anderson is split. Some scouts think he will become the next great point guard, while others don’t like his decision-making during fast breaks. . . .

UCLA’s 1992 Pac-10 basketball championship hopes got a boost when Arizona center Brian Williams said he will make himself eligible for the NBA draft. But the Wildcats received some good news when Damon Stoudimire, the best prospect in Oregon, said he would attend school in Tucson, not Louisville. . . .

That was a vintage, one-run ride Eddie Delahoussaye gave Oaklawn Handicap upset winner Festin. . . .

After what has happened the last four years at Augusta, maybe it should be known as the British Masters. But there already is a British Masters. . . .

The difference between the comebacks of George Foreman and Mark Spitz is that Foreman fought Steve Zouski in his first match and Spitz swam against Tom Jager in his first race.