Notes on a Scorecard - April 9, 1991

Things I would like to see this baseball season:

An October Freeway Series. . . .

A $3-million pitcher win 20 games. . . .

A $2-million hitter bat .300. . . .

Nolan Ryan equal Johnny Vander Meer’s record. . . .

Ernie Harwell get a contract extension. . . .

More doubleheaders, even though it means more rainouts. . . .

Stars giving autographs for nothing. . . .

Sweet seasons for Candy Maldonado, John Candelaria and Tom Candiotti. . . .

No mention of George Steinbrenner. . . .

Dave Stewart win the Cy Young Award. . . .

Four divisional races that aren’t decided until the final week. . . .

Fay Vincent ban rotisserie leagues. . . .

Jack Clark’s actions continue to speak louder than his words. . . .

More out-of-town scores on the Dodger Stadium and Anaheim Stadium scoreboards. . . .

Home runs from Darryl Strawberry. . . .

Bunts from Brett Butler. . . .

Victories from Mark Langston. . . .

Rob Deer pinch-hit for Tom Selleck. . . .

A return to his rookie form by Jim Abbott. . . .

Peace between Frank Robinson and the umpires. . . .

A televised minor league game of the week. . . .

More triples. . . .

A chauffeur for Jose Canseco. . . .

Vintage years from the Angels’ old-timers. . . .

Cal Ripken do himself a favor and sit down for a day. . . .

Jose Offerman return to Dodger Stadium. . . .

A division with every team above .500. . . .

A division with every team below .500. . . .

National League pitchers learn how to bunt. . . .

Another baseball script by Ron Shelton. . . .

Billboards back on outfield fences. . . .

More hit-and-run plays. . . .

Cleveland in first place after the All-Star break. . . .

Two-hour games. . . .

Goose Gossage throw a 98-m.p.h. fastball again. . . .

Recognition for Tom Lasorda as a baseball man, not a pitchman. . . .

Properly executed cutoff plays. . . .

Spectators at Atlanta. . . .

Al Michaels broadcast a game. . . .

Alejandro Pena pitch an inning in less than 30 minutes. . . .

Houston get a major league franchise. . . .

Fewer stats. . . .

A right-hander be called crafty. . . .

An All-Star game that isn’t a bore. . . .

Steady work in the major leagues for Fernando Valenzuela. . . .

A runner called safe when the second baseman doesn’t touch the bag on a force play. . . .

Another great odd-numbered year for Bret Saberhagen. . . .

Fewer TV shots of managers spitting in the dugout. . . .

Ozzie Smith on a pennant contender. . . .

Respect for underrated Rafael Palmeiro. . . .

San Diego be competitive before salary-drive time. . . .

Roger Owens be allowed to throw. . . .

Announcements that artificial turf at several stadiums will be torn up and replaced by grass. . . .

Jane Fonda become aerobics coach for Ted Turner’s Atlanta Braves. . . .

No waves. . . .

Lou Brock come back and regain his stolen-base record from Rickey Henderson. . . .

Tony Gwynn and Wade Boggs challenge .400. . . .

A week without a contract dispute. . . .

A day without Mike Marshall asking to be traded. . . .

Texas southpaw Kenny Rogers sing. . . .

The Dodgers draft a Southern California prospect. . . .

Jeff Parrett get traded to the Blue Jays, Cardinals or Orioles. . . .

Nick Esasky feel well. . . .

A good explanation of the balk rule. . . .

Best-seller status for David Lamb’s wonderful new book, “Stolen Season.” . . .

Andujar Cedeno live up to his name. . . .

Bo Jackson come to bat for the Chicago White Sox. . . .

Terry Cooney treat Roger Clemens like any other pitcher. . . .

Roger Clemens treat Terry Cooney like any other umpire. . . .

Black ink for new Angel president Richard Brown. . . .

A Philadelphia Phillies’ trade speculation story that doesn’t mention Von Hayes. . . .

Whitney Houston sing the national anthem at San Diego. . . .

Mackey Sasser throw a strike to the pitcher. . . .

Orel Hershiser prove that he’s a bulldog.