L.A.'S BULLDOG BITES BACK TO TAKE WIN, MVP AWARD

Bulldog?

Orel Hershiser proved the appropriateness of the nickname again Thursday night.He did it with both bark and bite.

"I don't usually get emotional on the mound, but when I get upset it just makes me pitch better," the amazing Hershiser said after restricting the Oakland Athletes to four hits while pitching the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-2 victory and the championship of the 85th World Series.

Hershiser got upset at himself in a tense eighth inning after earlier getting upset at the A's attempt to disrupt his rhythm by repeatedly stepping in and out of the batters box.

"They were trying anything," said Hershiser, who finally had enough of it while Tony Phillips was batting in the fifth inning.

"I walked in to talk to (catcher) Rick Dempsey, but I talked loud enough to let Phillips and the umpire hear me," he said. "I asked Rick at what time and how often can they do it (step out).

"I wanted to let them know I didn't like it and that anytime I get aggravated I become a better pitcher.

"I wanted to let them know it was inspiring me and not affecting me adversely. People would have better luck if they tried to lull me to sleep. The A's made sure I stayed awake."

Awake? Is there any other way to describe Hershiser's accomplishments of the last two months except to call them eye-opening?

Combined with his three-hit, 6-0 shutout in Game 2 of the World Series, his victory in Game 5 Thursday night netted him the Most Valuable Player Award and a car that he will donate to charity.

Hershiser stood on the television platform at one end of the Dodgers' clubhouse, held his MVP trophy overhead and yelled to his roaring teammates at the other end of the clubhouse:

"Hey, guys, this is for you."

A week earlier he had won the same award as MVP of the National League playoff with the New York Mets.

In all, he made six postseason appearances and was 3-0 with one save and a 1.05 earned-run average.

He allowed two runs and seven singles in his two World Series starts and finished the season with an overall record of 26-8, having last lost on Aug. 14.