* Tonight on the Sci-Fi Channel: Clone Wars! Noah Lowry v. Randy Wolf. Lefties with mid-80s fastballs, good change-ups, slow curves. You might consider Lowry a poor-man’s Wolf, as the latter was able to sustain high K-rates for several years before injuries began to bite in 2004. If Lowry can pitch as well as Wolf through his first five major-league years, the Giants should be happy. Now that Wolf’s healthy, he’s got his old mojo back: 25 Ks, only 6 BBs in 24 IP. So far, he’s one of the best pick-ups of the year.

* With 2 HRs in 11 career ABs against Wolf, Pedro Feliz will probably be in tonight’s lineup (and how about giving Lance Niekro a start, too?). But expect to see less of Feliz in coming weeks. Bruce Bochy said yesterday that Klesko “deserves more playing time,” and it will likely come at Feliz’s expense.

* The national press is starting to notice that the Giants aren’t just BONDS STEROIDS-JOKE BONDS AGE-JOKE BONDS AGE-JOKE LINCECUM BONDS. For what it’s worth, the team has moved up to the middle of the pack in this ranking with praise for the rotation and a joke about Russ Ortiz.

* Speaking of Russell, here’s an analysis of his mechanics this year versus last year.

 * Off-topic, but I can’t help pass along today’s words of wisdom from the Chron’s Bruce Jenkins: “Why can't the Warriors take a 2-0 lead? Just because. You won't know the reasons until they unfold.”

I guess it’s worth reading if you open the morning paper to find out how an old hack’s gurgling gut is feeling that day. Thoughtful analysis? Bah — gives me a headache. I prefer the written equivalent of Slim from Newark calling on his cell phone or the guy sliding off the barstool last night.