Notes on a Scorecard - July 31, 1995

The opportunity is there for the Dodgers. . . .

They have moved to within three games of Colorado in the National League West, will open a three-game series at Denver on Tuesday after winning nine of their last 12, and have a schedule advantage over the Rockies the remainder of the season. . . .

The Dodgers are through playing the teams with the two best records in the league, Atlanta and Cincinnati. . . .

Colorado has to play six more each against the Braves and Reds. . . .

That is the good news. . . .

What might be bad news is that the trade deadline is tonight and the Dodgers have made no deals. . . .

The signing of Derek Lilliquist, a left-handed reliever who was released by the Boston Red Sox two weeks ago, to a minor-league contract was not exactly a blockbuster. . . .

Middle-relief pitching, the fifth spot in the starting rotation, and defense remain problems that could cost an otherwise talented team the division title. . . .

*

With the Angels appearing to be the team of the future, as well as the present, this time Jim Abbott would be crazy not to sign a long-term contract with them. . . .

In retrospect, the Angels’ deals with the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox look terrific. I mean, would you rather have Abbott, J.T. Snow and Russ Springer, or Andrew Lorraine, McKay Christensen, Bill Simas and John Snyder? . . .

Pick from the Angel left-handers and the Dodger right-handers and you would be able to put together a dandy, well-balanced pitching staff. . . .

Florence Haney, 96, called Angel public relations consultant John Hall and nominated her late husband Fred for a spot in the team’s Hall of Fame. . . .

I second the nomination. Haney was the Angels’ first general manager and was voted American League executive of the year in 1962. . . .

Cleveland and California are 1-2 in the American League in both batting and pitching, but the Angels are fourth and the Indians 11th in fielding. . . .

The Dodgers’ 65 Roses Club’s annual family fashion show, luncheon and silent auction--a benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation--will be Aug. 12 at the Sheraton Grande Hotel. The hosts are Anne Scioscia, Donna and Tom Candiotti, Eric Karros, Lori and Tim Wallach and Jennifer and Mitch Webster. . . .

Does Greg Maddux ever pitch a bad game? . . .

The pro football and baseball hall of fame ceremonies should be spaced apart, instead of having to share the spotlight on the same weekend. . . .

Richie Ashburn--the former Philadelphia, Chicago Cub and New York Met batsmith who was inducted into the Hall of Fame Sunday and has been a Phillies’ broadcaster for more than 30 years--would have been a wonderful batting coach. . . .

Ashburn had a lifetime average of .308 and drove pitchers crazy by fouling off pitch after pitch. . . .

The active player closest to him in style is Brett Butler. . . .

*

I don’t know if Monica Seles will be sharp enough to win the U.S. Open in September, but reserve a spot for her in the semifinals. . . .

Athlete of the Week: Joe Jimenez, 69, who shot a 62 in the Americtech Senior Open Saturday. . . .

Among those participating in “An Evening at the Net,” a benefit for the California State Summer School for the Arts tonight at UCLA’s Los Angeles Tennis Center, will be Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Gabriela Sabatini, Tracy Austin, Jay Leno and Nicollette Sheridan. . . .

The selection of Larry Robinson as coach must rank as the most popular in Kings’ history. Among those pleased are many fans who called the team office last week to say they changed their minds and will renew their season tickets. . . .

Roll call of King coaches since the NHL expanded from six teams to 12 in 1967: Red Kelly, Hal Laycoe, Johnny Wilson, Larry Regan, Fred Glover, Bob Pulford, Ron Stewart, Bob Berry, Parker MacDonald, Don Perry, Roger Neilson, Pat Quinn, Mike Murphy, Robbie Ftorek, Tom Webster, Barry Melrose and Robinson. . . .

That doesn’t include three very brief interim stints by Rogie Vachon. . . .

The surprise is that Webster has the best winning percentage--55.4. . . .

Remember when fighters had managers instead of promoters? . . .

Someone must have forgotten to tell the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars that the Pro Football Hall of Fame game is supposed to be a total bore.