My moniker honors the nonexistent Bluto Rizzuto, and not some pinstriped broadcasting clown.

Riz - you could do a lot worse than sharing your moniker with a Hall of Fame shortstop even if he does come from the wrong side of the tracks.

Holy Cow! Don't worry, he's one of the worst Hall of Fame players. If he did not have the NY Broadcasting gig, he never would have made it.

Thanks Jed!

Players are honored for their performance both on and off the field. Don should be proud that he shares his screen name with a 5-time All-Star who spent 40 years as a popular broadcaster and was American League MVP in 1950. Note also that Rizzuto played on 9 World Series teams during his 13-year career, a feat that no RS player will ever achieve.

The scooter was a hanger on. Sort of like Peter Lawford and the Rat Pack. He was there, but definitely not one of the major contributors. Today's shortstops are almost all better than he was.

Apples and oranges - today's shortstops are just bigger. For example:

Garciaparra - 6'0", 165 lb
Jeter - 6'3", 175 lb

Rizzuto - 5'6", 160 lb
Pee Wee Reese - 5'9", 175 lb

It's funny you should bring up Garciaparra. He's a better shortstop than Rizzutto. Yet, there's no chance of his making the HOF. Not to mention, Scooter was batting in between a pretty ferocious line-up. Did he ever gat an intentional walk? In his entire career?

Rizzuto had at least 1 intentional BB, in 1955; they didn't keep stats on that before then.

He was AL MVP in 1950, finished in the top 15 of MVP voting 4 other times, and was on 5 All-Star teams.

Not exactly a slam-dunk for the HoF, but kinda hard to argue with it. Probably a good case could be made that he'd not be in Cooperstown if he played for the A's or the Browns/O's.

He should be a near miss. Only his whiny little voice got him there. Does he have the fewest All Star appearances of any post 1950 HOFer?

Fodorite Lounge, here we come...

I would not last two days over there. I'd quickly join reprobates like Filmwill and Lcuy. I'm not so sure there would be a free Panda movement. Unlikely.

I'll protect you!

Thanks Mimi. I knew I could count on you. Unlike some unreliable Needhamites.

Ate dinner at Similans again last night. Different dishes than last week. All very good.

Dinner at Similans twice in two weeks? Are you trying to make us jealous?

Well you succeeded...

Their food is so good!

Gpanda: totally off track:
Why do I associate the name H.P. Lovecraft [science fiction author] with Needham?

Does it ring a bell with you?

We eat at Similans about three times a month. We've never had a bad dish there.

Dogster-I just read the Wikipedia entry for H.P. Lovecraft and saw no reference to Needham. H.P. was from Providence, Rhode Island about an hour drive from Needham. Perhaps one of his wierd tales was set in Needham. I did note that Stephen King cites Lovecraft as a great writer.

I'm glad to report that the Dogster suit has found a new home. Beth gave it to a Vietnamese woman with whom she transacts business. Her young son will wear it for Halloween. A fitting resting place for the Dogster.

Sans speedos, one desperately hopes.