Baseball notes, world(ly) observations

First, notes from the world of baseball:

* A definite Red Herring to A's fans today. Given their choice of which highlights to watch on DiamondVision, A's fans applauded (least) for the Cardinals against the Pirates, (more) for the Astros against the Cubs -- which was not played, due to snow -- and (quite loudly) for ice fishing.


Ice fishing highlights? And yes, they then heartily cheered the highlight.

* Last night's Giants game: You heard it here first: if Adrian Gonzalez hits 32-35+ home runs this year, he could be a Hall of Famer. Armando Benitez: automatic.

* Both the Dodgers and the Giants are having major parking issues. A's attendees can't get consistent internet, even in the press box. Is this California? Or what? No wonder we can't touch the NFL.

The Giants story is an interesting one. Word is, the Port Authority wanted to bump the rates for the rights to some of their lots -- and the Giants turned them down. The Giants, then, start 2007 with about half the already meager total of parking spots they've had 'til now. Then the Giants chose to keep this development so quiet, I can't even confirm that it happened (which is why my link up there sucks; notice they "forgot" to update the figures.)

Keep an eye on this. I wasn't there, but the story I heard was, a lot of very unhappy Giants fans. If it's true -- and I can't say that it is -- it could serve as an exemplary story of an organization that's slowly eating itself from within.

In other sports news, charges are dropped against the remaining Duke lacrosse players. Rape is so tough to prove. Did they ever have a case?

And, in politics, I heard Rush Limbaugh railing against Nancy Pelosi today. (Did you know? Limbaugh and Braves General Manager John Schuerholz are good friends, dating from when both worked in the Kansas City Royals front office.) Anyway, Rush played Pelosi's audio byte, and while his point is actually well-taken (how can she claim to be relaying the "President's message," as Lantos and others assert a new Democrat foreign policy alternative?) Pelosi has at least assimilated some badly-needed advice from political linguists. Pelosi said "unified," "united," and, importantly for the donkeys, "consistent." The other words she said, surrounding those, don't much matter.

-Zed

QWTOFDY
"You get whatever accomplishment you are willing to declare."
-Mal Pancoast