Very interesting idea that could also be a low risk, high reward proposition. I like it! And the Giants have took on future HOF on their last gasp in the past, so this would fit in, either way.

Though I would note that Romo is OK now, I think. I think some of it was just small sampling effects for a reliever. But clearly Affeldt lost his mojo of earlier in the season, perhaps due to over use.

Yeah, Pablo's turn at the plate is for the ages, I agree, the type of story that exemplifies this season of fighting to prove themselves.

Can he hit?

HAH

Seriously, with how hard our offense is to watch 3 out of 4 days (and that is being generous) its hard to get interested in a future-less bullpen arm. There is clearly no reason to bother with Smoltz unless he can help us make the playoffs this year which I'll assert he certainly cannot. I'd rather see someone from within getting experience and a worthwhile evaluation at the MLB level than waste innings on Smoltz's final 8.4 ERA hurrah. By god what we all know we need is a bat with some pop in it, somebody, anybody, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

2 Questions re Saturday's game:

1) I thought the "unwritten rule" was that if a pitcher plunks a hitter because the hitter is getting good swings, or the previous batter hit a home run, THEN retaliation is in order. I didn't recall the rule being that even unintentional beanings call for retaliation. Am I wrong? Does every hit batsman require a response?

2) After Santana threw behind "Pedro" Sandoval (as the Mets' announcers called him), the home plate umpire warned both benches. However, when Santana proceeded to plunk Molina after Sandoval's moon shot, the ump simply waved it off. I thought the rule was that after a warning, a hit batter meant that both the pitcher and the manager are automatically ejected. Why weren't Johan and Manuel tossed?

Yesterday was ick, but they are still in it. Sooner or later, Garko's line drives have to start finding holes.

Garko's first week was kind of anxiety ridden, but since then he has hit the ball hard - and been quite unlucky. I just wonder how a team or a scout determines if a change of league will effect a player. It seems reasonable to assume that the player should hit about the same after a trade as before. But Garko has lost approx 80 points off his BA and Hillenburg (or is it Hillenbrand?) lost 70 or 80 points off of his BA. I am not aware of any stats that try to predict how a hitter will fare in his new league. I can see the getting acclimated, finding a new apartment, etc leaving a guy reeeling for a week or two, but after that I would expect he would 'regress to the mean.' But maybe that two week acclimating gets the guy out of his rhythm, he loses his timing, etc.
In short, Sanchez (no league change) is pretty much who he was in Pitt. Garko, (league change) is significantly under his AL performance. Is it likely Garko returns, this season, to his Cleveland production levels?