1) Who is your favorite player currently playing...I don't think we've covered this ground before.

and

2) One last meal, where and what??

For my part, a dirty little secret of mine is that my favorite player is Ryan Klesko. It looks like he might not get picked up for 2008 and that makes me a little sad. I'm an unrepentant Braves' fan and I still mourn the day he got dealt...

As for my last meal, it would definitely be in New Orleans and even though there are a number of contenders, I'd have to say that I'd go to Commander's Palace for lunch where I'd feast on bowl after bowl of seafood gumbo washed down with .25 cent martinis. After that I'd head to Coop's in the French Quarter and drink myself silly listening to the classic rock jukebox happily sucking oysters all evening. I'd die happy at that point.

Next??

1. Tim Wakefield
2. Fenway Frank, Fenway Park

Last meal. It would probably be the Buffet at the Bellagio in Vegas. I know that it doesn't have the charm that Chris and Josh are discussing, but the quality and selection of food is great. It would be all about gorging like I was Jackie Gleason during his prime. Hell, if it's my last meal, let's throw in the John Entwistle Vegas package of blow and blow jobs.

I've eaten at the Bellagio Buffet and sir, there is no shame in enjoying that at all. I am normally anti-steam table, but Cuh-rist that is one awesome spread.

Kennedy typically bores me, because its rare that anything he says is different from the typical sports platitudes and cliches you can get anywhere - and that I know are bunk. Every once in a while though, Dibble actually talks some sense. It still amazes me. I prefer the show when he's by himself.

And the Kennedy-Billy Ripken pairing? I can't listen to that drivel, my ears bleed. Its like a three-hour long game of "who can spew the most useless drivel?" and they both want to win.

2

1. Andy Pettitte
2. This is tough, so I'll go with somewhere I haven't eaten yet. I've always wanted to try the Chocolate Buffet at Le Meridian in Boston . . . whoops, I see that Le Meridian is now The Langham Boston. Over 125 different chocolate-based desserts? Yes please. (http://tinyurl.com/2s6hp5 for the current menu, note its a pdf file)

It is a phrase that urges people to accept mediocrity. Many -- perhaps most -- of us are in situations where mediocrity (or what we perceive as mediocrity) is thrust upon us, and there seems to be little we can do about it. Rather than fight, we say "it is what it is" -- it's just another way of saying "I don't care," but using two more words to do it.

That said, I'm in that situation right now with something. I could fight, but I would lose -- and my betters are already on my side and demanding that I just let it go. There is great financial gain to be had by letting this go and there is no pride to be gained by taking it on. So why take it on? I think I need to accept that it is what it is -- indeed, that I don't care -- and move on.

The only thing is that I can't get away with saying "I don't care," but I can get away with saying "it is what it is." The extra words do bother me. Can we shorten this to the two-syllable word iiwii (ee-wee)? Have I just make it worse?

You take the good. You take the bad. You take them both, and there you have...the facts of life.

When he became a Dodger and I got to watch him every day, it was a real pleasure. He would form the bridge between the Old Dodgers, who weren't so good, to the New Dodgers, who were in Jacksonville and Las Vegas and banging on the door. For half a season, he was great, and it was a joy to root for my favorite player on my favorite team.

Since then, though, Garciaparra has become the second-worst* sign of What's Wrong with the Los Angeleses. After his good-then-crappy 2006, he was handed a two-year contract and a first baseman's mitt, even though James Loney had nothing left to prove in the minors. It took too long last season to shift him to third base, and his presence made the Wilson Betemit trade possible, and even now, when the job should be handed to Andy LaRoche, that's not a done deal, because he is around. All of this wouldn't be so bad if he'd just hit... but the fact that he's given so much rope and has done nothing with it since the 2006 AS break has been frustrating.

He used to be my favorite, but it's so hard to root for him now.

*I mean, he's no Pierre, but nobody is.

Final meal: Probably a filet at a steakhouse somewhere, but I need more time on this one.

Final meal: anything my wife chooses to make, but I'd request her special 40-clove garlic chicken. Friends all around, and plenty of wine. And then when we run out of wine, port. And then when we run out of port, aquavit. We all fall asleep; everybody except for me wakes up in the morning. Yeah, that'll work.

Favorite Player to Watch: Jose Reyes.

Last meal: It'd be at home. I'd gorge on five dishes made by my wife. The woman can flat cook.

Last meal, eh? Is there a way to make a fried chicken kung pao baby back rib burrito suizo stuffed pizza that wouldn't suck?

As for favorite baseball player: Pedro Guerrero

Favorite food: A Chivito in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Question: what non-pitching Hall of Famer has the fewest number of career triples. Anyone know?

Killebrew??? (maybe Kiner??)

2 That's a really good question that made me think for a few minutes. While I was sifting through candidates, there's one guy that stands out now, someone I always get a thrill from when he comes into a game: Carlos Marmol. I know...strange that I pick a middle reliever, but when he's on, he just makes right-handers look silly. And whether he's on or off, I'm never quite sure where his fastball is going to end up.

Meal-wise, it's hard to beat a Morton's steak. So I'll say Morton's in the town I love to visit: Las Vegas, NV.

Favorite Non Dodger: Frank Thomas

Last meal: Eggs Benedict

Favorite movie: The Garbage Pail Kids Movie

[BTW, I am actually excluding Roy Campanella, whose HOF membership is somewhat asterisked, IMO. Campy had 18, which is technically fewest. But his career was cut short by paralysis. I am not sure if you can hold that against him, but he was already 35 when that happened and without the Clear and the Cream, we can't say he'd have turned around his mediocre career. Looking at his numbers, I am shocked he's even in the Hall.]

And how does a three-time MVP catcher with a career 124 OPS+ have a "mediocre career"?

As I kid I idolized Mike Marshall (the RF not the RP) and would get up every morning to check the box scores in the Times. I remember finding my father's scrapbook from when he was a kid and he had all these box scores and articles about Tommy Davis (his favorite player).

But then I grew up and found out first-hand that 90% of these guys are complete douche bags. Maybe it was different in the good 'ol days.

But every year I find myself watching, attending and paying attention to college sports more and more and pro sports less and less.

Last meal - Oh, it has to be Round Table Pizza

Hell, I'll even asterisk Campy's latter two MVP awards, since he followed them up by batting .207 and .219 in each of the following years, respectively.

Besides, Stan Musial was robbed in '51.

I know your name is El Lay Dave, so I understand your bias. It's cool.

As for the main question:

Favorite baseball player - Russell Martin

Favorite all-time player - Greg Maddux

Last meal - anywhere I can get a damn good steak and as much booze as I can drink

Campy does not belong in the Hall without an asterisk.

Favorite ballplayer, non-Red Sox division: Edgar Martinez

Favorite ballplayer, non-Red Sox or Mariners Division: Jim Edmonds

Pedro Martinez saved my baseball fandom. I had pretty much lost contact with the game as a fan, and then the Red Sox signed Pedro, and he made everything more exciting. I really lement that vintage Pedro could not have pitched for these dynastic teams of late. That would have been a thing to see.

Last meal: something involving my mother's latkes. Maybe latkes and collard greens with bacon and plenty of butter. Wow, that makes me hungry. Is it dinnertime?

a) Jason Giambi
b) Gary Huckabee
c) Alex Rodriguez
d) Archie Bunker
e) None of the above
f) All of the above

a) You are personal friends with someone on one of the teams.
b) You have lived exactly half of your life in each city represented by the two teams.
c) You won enough money to become independantly wealthy betting on one of both of the teams.
d) It is never acceptable.

a) That guy from the Rockets
b) Jeff Van Gundy
c) That guy who keeps getting busted for dope.
d) Allen Iverson.

a) In the bullpen
b) In the starting rotation
c) In Minnesota
d) In a hyperbaric chamber filled with midges

a) 17
b) 150
c) 201
d) None.

a) Tom Brady
b) Kyle Brady
c) Tom Brady
d) Tom Brady

a) Darren Erstad
b) All of the Above