Critic Expects an Encore From Angels, Dodgers

Viewing baseball’s regular season as a three-act play, the curtain is about to fall on the second act for the Angels and Dodgers. Both will have completed two-thirds of their schedules after tonight.

As a sportswriter, I’ve made numerous suggestions to the teams, who ignored each one, and will continue to make them over the next two months.

As an amateur drama critic, I have only one word for the teams so far.

Bravo!

Major league baseball, above all else, is supposed to be entertainment. The Angels and Dodgers have provided as much of that as any team except, of course, for George Steinbrenner’s Yankees, who are the sport’s version of “Les Miserables.�

The Dodgers have been engrossing, with Brett Butler’s comeback from cancer, their diversity issues and scuffles between Bill Russell and pitchers Ismael Valdes and Pedro Astacio in the dugout.

The Angels have been exhilarating, with Jim Edmonds’ diving catches, Troy Percival’s daring saves and trade talk about Mark McGwire.

For the third act, the casts are all but set. The Angels traded for pitcher Ken Hill. The Dodgers are seeking a veteran second baseman. Otherwise, neither team is expected to make a significant move before tonight’s trading deadline.

They aren’t in first place, but they could be soon. Much will depend on the effectiveness of two pitchers returning from the disabled list, Mark Langston for the Angels and Ramon Martinez for the Dodgers.

No matter what happens, it figures to be good theater.

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Now that they’re not trading for McGwire, I suggest the Angels vigorously pursue him as a free agent when the season ends. . . .

But they should be careful when discussing contract length. . . .

If the proposed realignment plan is adopted, the Angels would move to the National League. If the rules remain unchanged, that means they couldn’t let McGwire play out his golden years as a designated hitter. . . .

Wondering whether their management has quit on this season, the Chicago White Sox are arriving at the Big A tonight in a bad mood. . . .

After learning Tuesday night that popular designated hitter Harold Baines had been traded to Baltimore, White Sox shortstop Ozzie Guillen smashed a television set in the clubhouse. . . .

Or maybe Guillen watched Larry Holmes fight and was mad at himself for wasting his time. . . .

George Foreman would be embarrassed to fight Holmes, says Foreman’s publicist, Bill Caplan. . . .

“He’s afraid they’d call it, ‘The Geezers at Caesars,’ � Caplan says. . . .

Although it might cost him prize money, Dave Stockton would like to see Johnny Miller approach his golf game more seriously for the benefit of the Senior PGA Tour. . . .

“Miller hasn’t played well for 15 years,� Stockton said on a conference call to promote next summer’s U.S. Senior Open at Riviera. “I know he announces really well.� . . .

Ato Boldon, the former UCLA sprinter from Trinidad, will upset Canada’s Donovan Bailey in the 100 meters Sunday at the track and field world championships in Athens, Greece. . . .

The most intense competition there will be among representatives of the five cities campaigning for the 2004 Summer Olympics. . . .

By staging a successful track and field championships, Athens believes it can gain an edge over favored Rome in the September vote of IOC members. . . .

Madison Square Garden’s Dave Checketts is the first choice to replace embattled Tom Welch as chief executive of Salt Lake City’s 2002 Winter Olympic organizing committee. . . .

If he turns it down, it wouldn’t be a reach for organizers to approach King President Tim Leiweke. . . .

The Kings were impressed with left wing Steve McKenna’s rapid improvement during a conditioning camp in Thunder Bay, Canada. . . .

If he opens the season with them, he will be the NHL’s tallest player at 6 feet 8. . . .

In 10 games with the Kings last season, he’s best remembered for his fights with Marty McSorley. . . .

Maybe McKenna can volunteer to keep the teenage boys away from 16-year-old Russian tennis star Anna Kournikova next week in Manhattan Beach if her close friend, Detroit Red Wing center Sergei Fedorov, isn’t available. . . .

On second thought, she can handle herself. . . .

When a group of teenagers whistled at her at Wimbledon, she smiled and said, “Sorry, boys, you can’t afford me.�

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While wondering if the Clippers are as committed as they should be to signing Bo Outlaw, I was thinking: I’m glad Robert Horry is still a Laker, I can’t say the same about Elden Campbell and Nick Van Exel, let’s see Green Bay beat New England without Desmond Howard.