National League Playoffs

Plate umpire John McSherry left Game 7 of the National League playoffs Wednesday night after 1 1/2 innings, apparently feeling weak. McSherry, who appeared pale and was sweating profusely, consulted with NL President Bill White after the Pirates batted in the second, then talked with the rest of his crew. After about two minutes, McSherry left the field along with Brave trainer Dave Pursley. Randy Marsh, who was umpiring at first base, moved behind the plate.

After watching the Dodgers mail in their third straight "Somnambulists' Special" against the Angels, two thoughts spring to mind: 1. Grady Little's got the guys playing as if it's October and it's the National League playoffs. 2. Instead of Troy Glaus, maybe the Dodgers should think about trading LaRoche, Kemp and Billingsley for Mike Scioscia. BOB LEWIS Longwood, Fla. Of the Angels' sweep over the Dodgers last weekend, Mike Scioscia, in analyzing the outcome, emphasized this point: "We had a lot of good first-to-thirds."

Tommy Greene, then in his early 20s, made brief appearances with the Atlanta Braves in 1989 and '90, but he was basically part of Atlanta's pitching stockpile. "If I started and did well, I'd get another start," Greene said. "If I didn't, I'd be back in the bullpen or back in the minors. I never would have had the chance to do what I've done with Philadelphia."

Diamondbacks' seventh inning, two on, one out (Diamondbacks lead, 1-0): Matt Williams, who had been booed at home for his lack of production during the National League playoffs, drove a hanging curve deep to left-center to break the game open. Williams thus became the first player to hit World Series homers for three teams, having accomplished the feat for San Francisco and Cleveland.

During a season in which he has set records for runs given up in one inning in an All-Star game (five) and runs allowed in one inning in a National League playoff game (eight), Tom Glavine knows his reputation has been stained. "I won 20 games this year, and that has all been thrown out the window," he said. "It bothers me that nobody is going to remember that." Glavine is 40-19 during the last two regular seasons, but his postseason record during that span is 1-5.

John Smoltz will take his 5-0 postseason record to the bullpen as Steve Avery and Greg Maddux pitch Games 1 and 2 for the Atlanta Braves in the National League playoff. Smoltz, who would have started a Western Division playoff game with the San Francisco Giants if it had been needed Monday night, will not face the Philadelphia Phillies until Game 4. "There's no way I'd stand here and second-guess the manager, but I'd be a fool to say I'm not disappointed," Smoltz said.

Marquis Grissom, center fielder for the Atlanta Braves, is not surprised that all four players involved in the Montreal Expos' spring payroll purge ended up in the playoffs. He referred to Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies, John Wetteland of the New York Yankees, Ken Hill of the Cleveland Indians (originally traded to the St. Louis Cardinals) and himself. "I'm happy for all those guys," Grissom said. "We finally got a chance. I told them before we left Montreal, 'It's going to work out.'

As the Diamondbacks finished a road trip against the Marlins a week ago, Manager Buck Showalter had a thought: Why not hold Randy Johnson back a day and save him to pitch in last weekend's playoff-preview series against the Mets in Bank One Ballpark? Showalter had another left-hander, swing man Brian Anderson, available to start against the Marlins. Wouldn't it make sense to use Anderson on Thursday and then unleash the fury of Johnson's 97-mile-an-hour heat on New York at home the next day?

Marquis Grissom, center fielder for the Atlanta Braves, is not surprised that all four players involved in the Montreal Expos' spring payroll purge ended up in the playoffs. He referred to Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies, John Wetteland of the New York Yankees, Ken Hill of the Cleveland Indians (originally traded to the St. Louis Cardinals) and himself. "I'm happy for all those guys," Grissom said. "We finally got a chance. I told them before we left Montreal, 'It's going to work out.'

Rules? Phillie Manager Jim Fregosi said he has only one: no earrings. "The general manager (Lee Thomas) doesn't like them," Fregosi said. "As soon as he told me, I told my wife she couldn't wear them." On the National League manager of the year award, Sporting News variety, going to Bobby Cox of the Braves, Fregosi said: "I voted for him. He's a great guy, and he did a great job bringing that team back (from a 10-game deficit)."

What were the odds that the Atlanta Braves would lose two games at home to the Philadelphia Phillies, be down 3-2 in the National League playoffs, and be here today, facing elimination? Probably about the same as the Phillies' being one victory away from the World Series. "A lot of things were said about this club, about how we are not supposed to be on the same field as the Atlanta Braves," Phillie Manager Jim Fregosi said. "But this team never quits. And we are a team.

Atlanta's Terry Pendleton on the wild man of Philadelphia, pitcher Mitch (Wild Thing) Williams: "It's easier after you've faced him a few times. After a while, you realize he doesn't hit every batter." Williams on how his wildness might affect batters: "If they're thinking about living through the at-bat, it takes their mind off hitting a little bit."