E.K. NATION

Take Cal minus the points against Texas Tech! The Bears will be pissed at being relegated to the Holiday Bowl when they should be in the Rose Bowl, and they are going to try to shove it up the BCS's ass.

Take Oregon State tonight in the Insight Bowl! Notre Dame is in shambles.

Lots of fellow Giants bloggers wondering what the hell we're doing signing geriatric after geriatric. But hey, I really like what we're doing. I don't worry about age so much down the line. I want to win a World Series yesterday, and I think the Giants are playing for the present, and I'm happy about it.

How can you be unhappy about acquiring Moises Alou? He has the quickest bat in the game--and I don't think I'm selling Barry short here--and he's a legit guy to bat behind Barry. At age 38 last year, he had a career-high 39 slamma-lamma-ding-dongs. Bring him in! Get that offense rolling! I like it a lot. And I have to believe he'll be happy playing for his dad.

Omar Vizquel, I suppose, has been obtained for leadership and experience more than anything. Mike Matheny? For defense. I never expect catchers to hit at a premium; when they do, it's gravy. I'm satisfied getting him for defensive purposes. And getting Armando Benitez to shore up a seriously shaky bullpen was outstanding, assuming he picthes more like a Marlin than a Met.

I give it an A for effort. I may be the only one. Haven't found any Giants bloggers who are as enthusiastic about the off-season deals so far than I am. Easy, grasshoppers.

Baseball Hall of Fame voting gets announced soon.

Returning players (with last year's vote total; 75% needed for election):
Ryne Sandberg (61.1%), Bruce Sutter (59.5%), Jim Rice (54.6%), Andre Dawson (50.0%), Rich Gossage (40.7%), Lee Smith (36.6%), Bert Blyleven (35.4%), Jack Morris (26.2%), Steve Garvey (24.3%), Tommy John (21.9%), Alan Trammell (13.8%), Don Mattingly (12.9%), Dave Concepcion (11.3%), Dave Parker (10.5%), Dale Murphy (8.5%).

Not a soul on this list belongs in a group that would have Babe Ruth, Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, et. al. Not one.

Ballot rookies: Jim Abbott, Wade Boggs, Tom Candiotti, Chili Davis, Mark Langston, Jack McDowell, Willie McGee, Jeff Montgomery, Otis Nixon, Tony Phillips, Terry Steinbach, Darryl Strawberry.

And from this list, I take Wade Boggs. And that's it.

Okay, look: Jeff Montgomery? Tony Phillips? Otis Nixon?

Where's Joe Zdeb? Bump Wills? Biff Pocoroba? Buzz Capra?

Come on, people.

It's not even close to a good bet, but...Portland is the only city besides Washington in the running for a baseball team that has a stadium ready for play. If this Washington Nationals team doesn't get its operation running by the end of the year, good ol' P-Town may get one more shot at the Expos.

I actually think we're crazy if we don't turn it up right now. Portland would be great for Major League Baseball. People look at the attendance figures at PGE Park for Beavers (AAA) games, and say, that's not many, and the simple response, which I have used many times, is, "The Beavers are not Major League Baseball. If a Major League Baseball team comes to Portland, it will draw fans." I am convinced of that.

Portland Nationals? Portland Expos? Portland Whatizits?

Tonight: Take Southern Miss (-6) against North Texas in the New Orleans Bowl!!