The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 71

Plavoff boost for Brains Radio station with stronger signal sought for postseason games I XThzt thsv T7ers ratchliis I I si SporTVUw Xftzt thzy 7crc watching 'Our pitching is maligned. We don't have a henom utthe strongest part of our staff is our bullpen, which is five -Tommy John Following are the audience measurements for sports events on local television over the weekend. Each rating point represents one percent of the area's 1.9 mtllton homes: ront bating World Figure Skating 15.3 Ch.7 Sat. 8-10 p.m. Celt)p-Knlck 8.4 Ch.

66 Sat, 1 p.m. Candlppins 7.1 Ch. 6 noon-1 p.m. No. Carolina-Arizona 6.6 Ch.7 06 p.m.

VillanovaOklahoma 6.5 Ch. 7 Sat, 4-6 p.m. Michigan-No. Carolina 6.1 Ch.7 Fit, 8-10 p.m, Kansas-KanwaaSt 6.1 Ch.7 p.m. CBS Sports Sunday (skating) 6.0 Ch.7 noon-1 :30 p.m.

Canriifpin DotibW 8.3 Ch.5 Sat, p.m. Wide World of Sports (sled racing) S.3 Ch.S Sat, 4.30-6 p.m. Kansas 5.1 Ch, 7 Frl a.m. Duke-Temple 6.1 Ch.7 Sat. p.m.

CBS Sports Saturday (skating 8.1 Ch.7 Sat, noon-1 :30 p.m. Kansas City-Red Sox 4.4 Ch. 88 Sat, 1-4 p.m. TPCOoif 4.4 Ch.4 2-6 p.m. Celtics Prrfame 3.7 Ch.66 Sat.

p.m. Pro Bowlers Tour 3.5 Ch. 8 m. TPCGolf 2.4 Ch. 4 4-6 p.m.

World Cup Skiing 2.4 Ch.S Sat, 2-3 p.m. Ted Williams Spwial 2.2 Ch.S Sat, 1.30-2 p.m. Sunday Scoreboard 2.2 Ch.66 p.m. 38 on Sports .5 Ch. 38 p.m..

-aaa. SHAUGIMZSSY ON BASEBALL I DAN By JACK CRAIG Campbell Sports Network Is seeking a major Boston radio outlet for Bruins postseason games, but chances of finding one appear slim. If a station with a strong signal does agree to Join up for the playoffs, Jack Campbell, owner of the network, must then negotiate with WDLW in Waltham. Its regular-season Greater Boston outlet, whose signal serves primarily west of Boston. "We have an exclusive contract," WDLW general manager Bill McCarthy maintained yesterday.

The other regional outlet for Bruins games Is WPLM In Plymouth, the flagship station, but its audience is required to switch to FM. uncommon for sports play-by-play. WEEI would have too many conflicts with Celtics games, and to a lesser degree, so would WRKO because of Its Red Sox schedule. Neither WHDH nor WBZ Is showing much interest in sports these days. Campbell acknowledged yesterday that his search for a better radio signal during the playoffs Is In response to pressure from Bruins president Bill Hassett, who negotiated a three-year renewal contract last year for radio rights.

If Campbell enlists a prominent station, it would reduce his own flagship's audience, which raises a question of how hard he is looking. Campbell denied yesterday that he was asking a reported $25,000 for postseason rights fees. "That Is much too high." he said. Wider radio coverage of the Bruins becomes more Important as they surge in popularity and prospects grow for the team to advance far Into the Stanley Cup' playoffs, unlike recent seasons. Road games can be seen on Channel 38, but home games during playoffs, as In the regular season, will be limited on TV to NESN, the pay cable channel to which only 10 percent of the 2 million households In Greater Boston subscribe.

Radio Is the only alternative for the non-NESN audience. Wider radio coverage would Introduce a new generation of fans to play-by-play announcer Bob Wilson, whose candor has increased over the years and who mixes In Informative asides. A 40-minute video of Holy Station Day, time 9 p.m. and tap off 1 1 minutes later. Togetherness: Johnny Most's voice Is heard on Glenn Ordway's answering machine Larry King will have a 30-mlnute baseball program on TBS Saturdays at 1 1:30 a.m.

CBS offered no explanation for delaying until 45 minutes Into the telecast a graphic stating that the women's figure skating show Saturday night actually took place hours earlier. It was a strategy to hold the audience, aided with a little deception by omission How can NBC claim it televises baseball's "Game of the Week" every Saturday when the schedule Is determined before the season begins? NESN will run a tape of the March 18 boxing card at Boston Garden Friday night at 7:30. The network will begin Its third year of college lacrosse coverage with UMass-Brown April 7, the first of 15 taped telecasts Ken Fouts produced the tennis match on ESPN In which Jimmy Connors freely used obscenities in his match against Miloslav Meclr that could be heard by the television audience. Fouts said yesterday that If he had turned down the ROLLIE FINGERS Tops among relievers LIST Career major league uvi leedere 1. Roll Flngera 341 2.

Rich Goseage 289 3. Bruce Sutter 286 4. Sparky Lyle 238 5. Dan Qulaenberry 237 6. Hoyl Wllhelm 227 7.

Gene Garber 212 6. Jeft Rear don 183 Elroy Face 193 10. Mike Marshall 188 11. Lee Smith 180 Tug McGraw 180 loyroe: Diehard magazine BILL HASSETT Applies playoff pressure JOHNNY MOST The sound of the tone sound the overall quality of the telecast would have suffered. The unthinkable happened Sunday to 1.436 Wrestlemania IV fans watching on Boston and Brookllne Cablevision.

After more than two hours of warmup mayhem, the screen went black as the principal gladiators were entering the ring. The television audience's response to Cablevision. by some accounts, ranged from outrage to apoplexy, but the cable company Is offering compensation. Those who lost the telecast, after paying an average of $20 on pay-per-view, will be offered a $10 refund or a replay of the entire program next weekend. A lesser number of Boston viewers lost their picture for a few moments between bouts, according to Cablevision spokesman Charles Schueler, and they will be offered a $5 refund or two pay movies of their choice.

"We accept responsibility," Schueler said, blaming the blackouts on a computer malfunction. There was no problem with Boston Garden's picture or with suburban pay channels. All told, 5.800 cable subscribers In Boston and Brookllne signed up for the pay-per-view event. Names: Wilander out with injuries Mats Wilander, who defeated Jimmy Connors Sunday to win the International Players Championship, withdrew from the eight-man World Championship of Tennis In Dallas because of a pulled groin muscle and sprained ankle. Martin Jalte replaces Wilander In the $680,000 tournament, which begins tonight Portland Trail Blazers center 8am Bowie Is scheduled to undergo surgery on his fractured right tibia today Free agent quarterback Joe Ferguson Is close to signing with the Indianapolis Colts.

Compiled by Don MacAulay FOR THE RECORD Correction: Because of an AP photographer's captioning error, a photo of Arizona's Tom Tolbert was Incorrectly Identified as teammate Steve Kerr yesterday. LG Baseball: Dawson gets two-year contract Here's the Yankee pitch MIAMI You are a Red Sox fan and you can rationalize the Sox cruising back to the top of the American League East. Let's go over the competition: The Blue Jays? No problem. Jimy Williams has lost his grip. George Bell Is a time bomb, and they'll forever be Manila Folders.

The Tigers lost Kirk Gibson and Walt Terrell is hurt. The Brewers can't be expected to have career years again. The Indians and Orioles are reduced to folly fodder for Letterman and Carson. Oh yes, and the Yankees well, to use campaign vernacular, Conventional Wisdom says the Yankees are unelectable because of their front-line pitching. The men In pinstripes disagree.

Billy Martin goes into the 1987 season with a starting five of Rick Rhoden, Richard Dotson, Tommy John. John Candelaria and Al Lelter. The Yankees think their starting staff Is underrated. "It doesn't bother me a bit." says Martin. "We'll go with what we got and I like what we've got.

It's as good as anybody around." "Our pitching is maligned." says John. "We don't have a phenom. with the exception of Lelter and myself. We don't have guys that throw 96 miles per hour. But the strongest part of our staff Is our bullpen, which Is five deep.

"We've also got two starters who can pitch 250 innings Rhoden and Dotson. We've got two others capable of winning 15 games myself and Candelaria. And Lelter Is an untapped talent." Rhoden, who will be Martin's Opening Day pitcher against the Twins a week from today, adds. "Everybody has their own opinion, but we have guys here who have won. We can get guys out.

We can pitch a lot of Innings. And we're better off than we were last year now that we have Dotson and Candy." Skeptics Insist that the Yanks' hurlers will break down. Obviously, any staff In baseball will have problems If a couple of starters are shelved, but New York Is considered particularly vulnerable because Candelaria, Rhoden and Dotson have all been on the disabled list since 1985 (you can make that same statement about Roger Clemens, Bruce Hurst and Oil Can Boyd). Profiles on the Yankee quintet: Rhoden A 34-year-old rlghty. Rhoden has won 68 games In the last five years, eighth-highest In baseball.

His ERA In this span Is 3.34. He went 16-10 last season after recovering from a quirky spring rib Injury. He pitched more than 213 innings In each of five seasons prior to 1987. He's the ace. Dotson Still only 29, he's got eight years of major league experience and is still remembered for his overpowering 22-7 season with the White Sox In 1983.

Unfortunately, if you take away that stellar campaign, Dotson Is 49-63 since 1982. But he uxis pitching for the White Sox all those years. Jim Palmer thinks Dot-son was hurt by Carlton Flsk's excessive game-calling had him throwing 30 pitches more than he had to" Palmer). Dotson was 1 1-12 with a 4.17 ERA in 21 1 innings last year. He had major shoulder surgery In 1985 and complained of stiffness In his shoulder late last season.

John The 44-year-old lefty was New York's most consistent pitcher In 1987. In a season when he was supposed to be working as a coach at North Carolina, John went 13-6 and pitched 187 Innings. Was that an aberration? Is there anything left? TJ Is 2-2 with a 2.77 ERA this spring and shows no signs of age. He'll be the first to tell you that his blonlc left arm (part of his right forearm was surgically put Into his left elbow) Is only 13 years old. "I'm only throwing 83 miles per hour," admits John.

"I'd like to get that up to 87." Candelaria Of all the Yankee starters. It's toughest to predict what might happen to the Candy Man. A 34-year-old lefty. Candelarla's .614 winning percentage (151-95) Is third-best in baseball among active pitchers with 150 wins. He's had six straight winning seasons and has given up only two homers to lefthanded hitters In the last two years.

He's a great control pitcher and he wins. So why is everyone dubious? Easy. He's on the disabled list a lot and he's recovering from a much-publicized bout with alcoholism. Letter It's nice to have three lefties on any starting staff, particularly In Yankee Stadium. Lelter Is a refreshing rarity in the "80s he's a young guy who throws hard.

Unfortunately, he may have Yankee disease. He's never thrown more than 124 Innings In a season. He was 2-2 with the Yanks last September and fanned 28 In 22Vi innings. There. Martin has a balanced blend of lefties and righties.

youth and experience. He's also got some depth with Charles Hudson and Lee Guetterman In the pen and Ron Guldry due off the shelf later this spring. Pat Clements and Nell Allen are probably bound for Columbus, but nothing Is forever In Camp Yankee. Even If their starters stumble, the Yankees could still win because: 1. New York's offense Is one of the best In the game; 2.

Yankee Stadium Is a forgiving ballpark, especially for righthanders; 3. New York has a great closer in Dave Rlghettl and promising middle and set-up relief In Guetterman. Hudson. Cecllio Guante and Tim Stoddard. No Yankee starter pitched 200 Innings last year (first time since 1945, excluding strike years) and New York was still In the race until the final month.

"The thing with the Yankee starters Is that they don't have to give you wins as long as they give you innings." says Ken Harrel-son. Ever the philosopher. John points out, "There was only one team In baseball last year that had pitching good enough to win. The Minnesota Twins won with three pitchers. I'm talking like Gene Mauch now, but It's true.

The Blue Jays were supposed to have the best pitching last year, but they couldn't win one of their last seven games when It counted. "We have a good ballclub. That's not saying you should go out and bet the house on us. But we're gonna be In the hunt along with five other teams." Cross' undefeated football season Is being sold for $27 through the school's athletic office During his appearance on "Costas Coast to George Stelnbrenner repeatedly told anecdotes about former disgruntled Yankees that suggested they actually admired him. In all, Stelnbrenner projected as a strange fellow Tomorrow night's ESPN spring training previews will focus on the Red Sox.

The five-minute segment will be carried on SportsCenter at 7 and 11:30 p.m.. with Roger Twlbell reporting ESPN Is looking for a college football play-by-play announcer next season to replace Jim Kelly, who has become the channel's voice of tennis. The new person's first assignment will be USC-Boston College on the night of Sept. 1. The NCAA semifinals will come on CBS Saturday at 5 p.m., but tapoff for Duke-Kansas Is not scheduled until 5:41 p.m.

Oklahoma-Arizona will begin 30 minutes after the first game ends, placing a semifinal on CBS In prime time for the first time. Brent Mus-burger and Billy Packer will broadcast both games and the Monday night championship telecast, which will come on the air at Issue of GO, Smith said. "I felt the team needed a vote of confidence -for the manager to say, 'You guys are as good or better that they But Whltey kept saying. 'I don't know why we're here," like he expected us to lose." The Kansas City Royals have tabbed Bo Jackson as their starting left fielder. Jackson beat out rookie Gary Thurman, who started the last month of the 1987 season.

In 57 spring at-bats, Jackson batted .298 with a club-leading 5 home runs and 12 runs batted In and 22 strikeouts Cleveland Indians second baseman Julio Franco will be disciplined for missing the team bus to an exhibition game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Manager Doc Edwards said Franco was Involved in a minor traffic accident Sunday The Atlanta Braves traded relief pitcher Jeff Dedmon to the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named Mario Soto's comeback from two years of arm troubles got a boost when manager Pete Rose named him the Reds' Opening Day pitcher The Detroit Tigers acquired pitcher Don Schulze from Minnesota for minor leaguer Karl Best Two former Red Sox pitchers were released Tim Lollar by the Tigers and Mike Trojlllo by the Mariners. Conn, hires Brown ping wrestling as a varsity sport The Los Angeles Clippers signed forward Claude Gregory for the remainder of the season and guard Steve Burtt to a second 10-day contract The US Olympic Committee will choose Atlanta or Mlnneapolls-St. Paul as America's potential bid city for the 1996 Summer Olympics. BLUE CHIP SOCCER SCHOOL Apr II II IK am 4 00 pm AT TH1 SOUTH SHORE SPORTS CENTER In HINQHAM (outdoor grue Indoor tatroturf) DkKtort, Ban Brewalar end Tony Man one CALL 740-1108 for detelle National League MVP Andre Dawson agreed to a two-year contract with the Chicago Cubs last night for approximately $3.95 million and reportedly waived his right to become a free agent again If the Players Association wins the 1986 collusion case.

Dawson, who lost his bid for a $2 million salary and was awarded $1.85 million by an arbitrator In February, will receive a base salary of $1.85 million for this season and $2.1 million In 1989, a source told the Associated Press. The source also said the Cubs have an option for 1990 for about $2.1 million, and that Dawson waived his right to become a free agent again Pam Pottema's bid to become the major leagues' first female umpire was stalled yesterday when the National League named two men to fill its vacancies. "I would say the chances of her working in the big leagues this year are slim," said Randy Mobley, administrator of the American Association, In which the 33-year-old Postema will serve as a crew chief St. Louis shortstop Ozzle Smith says manager Whltey Herzog expected the Cardinals to lose the 1987 World Series and failed to give the team a confidence boost when they needed it most. In the April Miscellany: Central Seton Hall assistant Mike Brown, known for his recruiting prowess, was named head basketball coach at Central Connecticut State.

Brown will succeed Bill De-trlck. who was the dean of New England college basketball coaches before stepping down In December during his 29th season because of health problems The University of Maine Is drop form Boston Bed Sox Mike Andrew 13th Annual Baseball Camp aorae-ia Jvty 17-JOene ar twe week: a pay er eveniiim IMMnmWtrttua, I CAU (117) S1S-17U ts-' rot Mfo jar writ. Boi Paaborty OlvMO i LjVNEX CAR PHONE! with hands free operation toWn34 PER MONTH! INCLUDES INSTALLATION, ANTENNA NYNEX PHONE NUMBER Finally you CAN afford all the conveniences of a quality, full featured, NYNEX CAR PHONEI Complete with Nynex service and 3 year warranty. Why settle for less when you should own the best? Auto Sound AetiaJa B0e) kjv Toll Free 1-800-992-0522 BROCKTON QUINCY WATERTOWM 0500 567 2100 472 0210 926 4800 NYNEX Mobile Comrnuracatant Sid an Cr4M Approval from HfC. Taro 96 Wontha Call FRAMINGMAM 626 APR 17 44 manc Chardt 24 Total afNymanlaSl2 34.