European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 9, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 22 the stars and stripes May some who have thoughts on baseball by John Nelson a sports writer Afler one month of the 1985 baseball who have thought that Rick Mahler would be 70 for the Atlanta braves that Fernando would be 3 3 for the los Angeles dodgers despite an earned run average thai the California Angels would be in first place in the american league West by three games that Mike Davis of the Oakland As would Lead the Al in slug Ging percentage and runs it has been a rather bizarre month of major league the sport has progressed thus far with out a setting a major league re Cord for uninterrupted the closest any game has come to being rained out was sunday at Wrigley Field when san Diego and Chicago were suspended after six innings by darkness because of three rain Dale Murphy of the braves also tied a major league Mark for april with 29 getting two on the final Day of the that equalled the Mark Ron Cey set in 1977 with the Murphy leads the National league with a 32 an slugging 22 runs scored and 10 half of his including two april have come in support of who has won each of his starts this Mahler was 1310 last year and didst Start a single game in spending part of that season in the minor among his victories this season were a three hit shutout on opening Day against Steve Carlton at Philadelphia and an eight inning Outing sunday to beat last Valenzuela finished with a 1317 in 13 of his the Dodg ers scored one run or and scored two runs or less in 18 of his the pattern of no support continues this two of his three victories have been by while the dodgers have been shut out in two of his three in those his teammates have scored Only one Valenzuela has Given up just five earned while the dodgers have allowed an other five unearned runs during his 52 innings in the american the big sur prise has been the California who won six in a Row from april 2530 to move into first place in the West by two in the past the Angels have widened that Gap to three despite Davis hot the As still were 1115 and six games Back of califor who hit just with nine homers in 134 games last is hitting with a league leading nine 23 slugging percentage and 23 runs Davis newfound propensity for the Longballa has helped the As Lead the league in Oakland has homered in 19 of its first 26 games and is one of three along with Boston and min which have seven multiple Home the Baltimore orioles Are tied with Seattle for the most Home runs in the majors with Baltimore has Only 16 Home run games but leads the majors with 10 the mariners have six  and in one of on april 11 in they hit seven the highest figure so far this year in the Gorman Thomas had three of those including a grand despite Murphys 10 the braves Are tied with the new York mets for second in the National league in homers with the los Angeles Dodg who finished eighth in the league last year with Only 102 Lead the no so far this year with Virginia May leave Atlantic 10 conference a Virginia University is ready to leave the Atlantic 10 and the league commissioner Calls the parting of ways a very amicable separation i Felt West Virginia should stay sit Back and look at the but i think we All agree that the sentiment is very Strong Down there for whatever change they plan to Charlie theokas told the Morgantown 1 would think we collectively will have a Resolution by the end of the we both feel we should Settle the matter it int unfair to say they will be theokas theokas met with Wavu athletic director Fred Schaus on monday to discuss West Virginias plans concerning the league that also includes Penn George Rhode Josephs and were reviewing and i think what we want to try to do is do what is Best for All 10 Schaus said were obviously concerned for but we have to be sensitive to wishes and welfare of All other nine schools for scheduling Schaus said we have to address sched uling problems that could arise should West Virginia the 198586 season is very key to he what do we do wed like to review it before we draw any Schaus said no Date has been set for having the situation Only that it would be As soon As West Virginia has been unhappy with the Atlantic 10 because the league has failed to come up with a television package for Bas Wavu fans have clamoured for the school to saying its recruiting and exposure have suffered and that the Atlantic 10 cant compete against the better known big late last Wyvus athletic Council composed of students and alumni unanimously recommended that West Virginia leave the West Virginia has been mentioned As a possible replacement for Tulane in the metro although Schaus said he would favor an Eastern Al sports Confer ence for metro conference officials conducted a fac finding trip to Morgantown two weeks but commissioner Steve Hatchell said tuesday from his office that Hes had no Contact for quite a while with West Virginia stomachs May turn photo by boo Odem to some people their nicknames May be they also May double up some ones but the Heidelberg doubles entry of jumping Joe Cooley and Harvey Fox Doest known As King Maggot and they Are competing in the american Bowling con Gress european Allstar now in Progress at the Sheridan Bowling Center in they were scheduled to bowl their doubles event Rahal is quickest again at indy Indianapolis a Bobby Rahal continued to be the quickest Driver tues while Gordon Johncock and defending Champion Rick Mears began finding Speed they Hope will produce their third Indiana Polis 500 Triumph May Rahal went Mph during the fourth Day of practice for the it was the top practice time this year and just a Little quicker than the he drove his March Osworth Johncock had a hot Lap of Mph in the first hour of practice at the Indiana Polis motor his March co Worth was caught at at the 2vi mile sunny skies and Cool temperature greeted the Drivers when practice and 10 went quicker than 200 in the first the list included still recovering from leg injuries received in a sep tember practice he showing no sign of a problem with a in the March co Worth on Only his seventh Lap of the Danny Sullivan and Al team mates of Mears for owner Roger also had their fastest time of the a new member of the Penske team this recorded a Quick Lap of in a Colwort powered seeking to join Veteran Foyt As the Only four time Winner of the posted a in another Johnny also a three time indy moved the top time of his March Osworth from to three other Drivers topped 200 tuesday for the first time since practice the list included Howdy who reached in a Lola Bosworth and later improved to Chet who never attempted a qualification run Here last year after making the race the previous two became a member of the 200 Mph club with a in a Michael who finished fifth As an indy Rookie last drove the March co Worth entered As his backup car at Scott who went earlier in a Buic powered improved to in the Buic March designated As his backup the official track which can Only be set during the race or in is it was set in qualifications last year by Tom Mario win Ner of the seasons first race at Long recorded the fastest unofficial prac Tice Speed in indy history last year at Andretti said tuesday that his bid to earn the pole As the quickest opening Day qualifier has been slowed by a series of engine weve Only had four hot at four different said who is seek ing his 20th indy were losing valuable time in getting ready because our engines Haven been its some thing weve had things happen in rapid succession and we think weve put our Finger on we had an Oil leak today and its set us Back some Andretti top time this year in his new Colwort powered Lola was a reached others Topping 204 in practice tuesday included Pancho Roberto last years Danny and Al Unser Milan putting in bid to Host 92 but chances poor Italy a Milan wants to Host the 1992 summer olympics but its chances for Selec Tion Are considered is a heavy favor Ite to get the Milans Carlo announced tuesday that the Industrial City will file an application with the International olympic committee by the May 19 also vying for the summer games Are new and the 1988 games Are to be held in South officials of the Alpine resorts of you and said tuesday their towns were submitting a joint application to Host the 1992 win Ter the three towns Are within 60 Miles of each