Bottom Line: Overrated

Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone is no longer proclaiming there is a new sheriff in the City of Angels, but he sure is putting his best PR spin on the prospects of a better season next year.

During a radio interview with Jim Rome this week, Malone sang the praises of Andy Ashby.

“We think he is going to be the key,” Malone said. “We think Andy can be most effective as a third or fourth starter.”

Asked Rome, “Bottom line 2001. Ashby is in. Todd Hundley is out. Other than that, the team is pretty much the same. Why would next year be any different than last year?”

“We’re going to do the little things,” Malone said. “We’re going to work on fundamentals. Defense is going to be a priority… . To me, it’s approach, it’s philosophy, it’s aggressiveness, it’s style of play.”

Bottom line 2001. The Dodgers still have the most overrated offense in the majors.

Hey, a record is a record

Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle points out Jim Deshaies is on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot, even though his pitching record was 84-95.

Deshaies summed up his credentials to ESPN.com. “I struck out the first eight batters I faced in a game, which is a record. I set the record for pickoff attempts to first base in a season, which I think is still standing. And I set the major league record for most at-bats without an extra-base hit, which I think still stands.”

Thou shalt not steal

ESPN moved its regular Sunday night game to Saturday night this weekend to avoid showing a game on Christmas Eve, but some are upset that the NFL is playing on Christmas Eve at all.

State Senator Dean Johnson of Minnesota, who is also a minister at a church in Willmar, Minn., wrote to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, protesting that the Vikings are playing the Indianapolis Colts at 3:15 Minnesota time. His Christmas Eve service is scheduled for the same time.

“On a personal note,” he wrote, “I don’t know how I am supposed to explain to my congregation the wires coming out of my ears and under my robe.”

Come on, everyone knows he stole that line from a television commercial.

Maybe the Seahawks should try it

In a symbolic protest against violence, the start of the next round of games in Italy’s top two soccer leagues will be delayed 15 minutes.

The captain of each team is expected to read a message in defense of the “right to lose.”

The last word …

“Unless he falls, there’s not a good chance I’m going to be able to (punch) him in the face.”

- Atlanta Thrashers winger Donald Audette (5-foot-8) on a failed fight with St. Louis Blues defenseman Chris Pronger (6-6).