Goop Melange

There was a scene in an episode of The Odd Couple (TV) in which Oscar cooks a disgusting looking dish filled with a little bit of everything in the refrigerator which he called “Goop Melange”. Here is a little bit of everything.

First, I made it out to a Wednesday afternoon game at SBC between the Giants and the Braves. I drove to the parking lot, but got caught in a traffic jam near the 3rd Street bridge and missed the first inning. I was walking through the club to my seat out in left field, and saw Andruw Jones blast one on a TV screen for a 2 run jimmy jack. For all intents and purposes, that was the game. So I saw the only important moment of the game on television. Kind of a waste of $40 for a club seat, though it was a nice day.

Noah pitched today. It reminded me of all of those sorta good starts I saw him make where he looked like a hell of a pitcher except for two or three moments, but those moments would result in a 6 inning 5 run losing result. The Braves had a real pitcher out there, John Smoltz, who just mowed the Giants down inning after inning except for a stupid up and in fastball to Pedro Feliz who blasted it barely out. Smoltz got blown up in his first outing this season, which was before the auction, and everyone pretty much stayed away from him. Good for George for exercising good judgment and buying him on the cheap. He’s put together a hell of a season transitioning back from closing to starting.

Here is one more thing on the Giants today, this from the Chronicle this morning:

Meanwhile, Armando Benitez was on the field in San Francisco practicing the very act that landed him in surgery, covering first base. Standing off the mound, he pretended to pitch then jogged toward first and took underhand throws from Conte. Benitez said he was running at about 60 percent.

Sorry, but isn’t that how the fat slob ran to first the time he got hurt and pretty much every time he has to make that play?

I was taking a look at Derek Lee’s numbers today. BA .376, 30 HR’s, 77 RBI’s, 129 Hits, 76 Runs, first in the NL in all of those categories (maybe in the majors, but I refuse to look at the AL stats). Throw in 11 steals. Slugging is at .738. These are Barry Bonds kinds of numbers, without the walks. I still can’t believe this guy is going to win a triple crown because he’s doing it in a breakout year, but there is no denying he is the man right now. I don’t think everyone would have kept him like Barry did at that price, so a hearty Good for Barry for doing so.

The other night Jay Powell was pitching in the bullpen, which is in front of Ken’s seats. Mark and I were all over the former “Closer of the Future” from about 40 years ago. He’s actually only 33 years old, but it seems he’s been around for ever. He came up in 1995 with the Marlins and was touted just like Ryan Wagner and Mike Gonzalez have been lately. Ten years in the majors, and he’s got a grand total of 22 saves, with no more than 7 in any season. It doesn’t always work out. Speaking of that, when is Ricky Bottalico going to pass John Franco in saves?

Kerry Wood went out after 3 innings last night. I know the Bums have been planning to try and trade him, but it’s a reminder to the buyers that he’s a lot like Griffey, Jr. The moment you trade for him is the moment he turns to peanut brittle.

Finally, Bruce Jenkins wrote an extended article about Rafael Palmiero and his Hall of Fame prospects. Jenkins has always been a gut guy. A player should be in the Hall because he was great and it’s just obvious. When he was playing, he was great. Period. Stats don’t matter. Gaylord Perry’s stats didn’t make him great.

Palmiero has never been great, never even been voted as a starter in an all-star game. No homer crowns, no batting crowns, no MVP’s, no memorable playoff moments. His greatness has been his consistency and longevity. In the end, he’ll probably amass not 500/3000 but 600/3000. The first club only has 4 players, but the second club only has 2 players, 2 really, really great players. Frankly, I’m still of the school that says 500 homers is in and 3000 hits is in. But he’s got to be the quietest player to put together these numbers, and hell, he’s still doing it at 40 (41 in September). Jenkins concludes that he's the exception that proves the rule. Of course he’s in, but it’s a sad statement that he’ll best be remembered for his Viagra commercials.