Benjamin Grimm

Looks like we've already grown tired of playing "Ask Hal" I'll post the answer to this question tomorrow. I have a few more questions and answers ready to go. Maybe I'll wait until we're deeper into the offseason.

15% discount for orders over $1000. I like this, for $250: It's 7 feet wide by 14 inches high and made of aluminum.

That would be a cool memento! Contact them NOW before someone else does! (Personally, I'm hoping they don't rename the stop, but I'm sure they will.)

That clip ran about 20 seconds too long.

She was Rita's mom. The one who didn't like Dexter.

I think it was used much more than once. It was probably even used more than "punch him in the neck and tell him his sister is a ****"

JoBeth Williams showed up last season on Dexter. She still looked fairly attractive. (Better than she does in that photo!)

How about "he can't be any worse than what we have now"?

AG/DC wrote: If all you want is wank material, then... That does seem to be how some are voting. (Or at least, commenting.) But if that's the criteria that makes a film good, then so be it.

Oh, I think there may be an element of truth to this. Look how happy the Marlins were to beat the Mets in both of the last two season-ending games. I don't know if that's directly because of Jose Reyes' antics, but I'm not so sure they would have been as jubilant at knocking the Milwaukee Brewers out of the playoffs.

I'll have to abstain from this one. I never saw Ruthless and saw Breakfast far too many times. (My sister used to watch it over and over again.) I think I was already too old for it when it came out.

Two movies that I saw during their original release! I got a big kick out of Poltergeist. Lethal Weapon, not so much.

Daily News reports this morning that HoJo, Warthen, and Alomar Sr. will return. Oberkfell, if he doesn't return, would resume minor league managing. Meanwhile, Art Howe is out as a Texas Ranger coach.

If you're trying to lure Hispanic players, it might help.

30 Johan Santana 29 David Wright 28 Carlos Beltran 27 Carlos Delgado 26 Jos� Reyes 25 Mike Pelfrey 24 Oliver Perez 23 John Maine 22 Fernando Tatis 21 Ryan Church 20 Damion Easley 19 Billy Wagner 18 Joe Smith 17 Brian Schneider 16 Luis Castillo 15 Daniel Murphy 14 Pedro Feliciano 13 Brian Stokes 12 Scott Schoeneweis 11 Duaner Sanchez 10 Endy Chavez 9 Ramon Castro 8 Pedro Martinez 7 Luis Ayala 6 Nick Evans 5 Aaron Heilman 4 Angel Pagan 3 Nelson Figueroa 2 Claudio Vargas 1 Moises Alou

I said Rays in 6.

When is the new football place scheduled to open? (Somebody wrote to the Daily News a while back and suggested that they sell the naming rights to JetBlue. An excellent idea!)

The new Comiskey Park had the misfortune of being built a year or two before Camden Yards sparked the reimagination of baseball stadiums. It appears serviceable, much like Nationals Park. (I haven't been to either, but hope to get to DC next seasons.) I don't know that you really need bells or whistles. I think the most important of the new innovations is the wide pedestrian walkways that offer a view of the field. That, along with the stands being aligned with the foul lines, is the significant thing that Citi Field will have over Shea Stadium.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p276/umdb/Misc/askHal.jpg Hal's answer to James P. Halloran: ="Hal the Referee"]I haven't heard it, but theoretically it could occur this way: let's say the bases are loaded and the batter lifts a high fly between home and third. The runner from first, losing sight of the ball, is off and running. He passes the runner who is on second. One out. The runner on third moves off his base a few feet and stands there. The fly hits him on the head. He's out -- and how. The batter is out because it's an infield fly. There you have it. Three outs with the ball untouched by human hands. Now: ="Ted Whitcomb, El Centro, Calif."]Professional baseball: A runner is on third base with one out and is the potential winning run. A short fly is hit to the outfield and runner attempts to score. He wants a jogging lead, so as the ball is in the air, he takes a few steps away from third and toward second. The runner times it so that the catch is made as he streaks by third. In doing so, he touches the bag simultaneously with the catch. Was this a legal play? Was the runner allowed those few steps so he could get a faster start from third? Have you seen this play attempted?

I'm really surprised that the Steinbrenners signed off on that big "Home of the Chicago White Sox" sign in their new ballpark. Strange.

The most annoying thing for me will be the pep rally in my office building's lobby tomorrow at noon. I'll have to sneak out for lunch through the back door.

Do you really think McCain will win, or are you doing that 27th World Championship piss-taking?

No fielder touches the ball, metirish.

Okay, that one was too easy. Let's try a tricky one. http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p276/umdb/Misc/askHal.jpg First, Hal's answer to Tom Sekelsky: ="Hal the Referee"]The umpires were right and the protest committee was completely off base in its ruling. The run counts because it was scored when there were only two outs. The only time a run doesn't count is when it scored on a play in which the third out is on a force or ont he batter before he reaches first base. Tom, this play happens often, even though it was new to you. But this is the first time, to my knowledge, a protest committee blew this basic play. I hope it's the last. I hope, too, the umpires gave the committee a rules book for Christmas. Now: ="James P. Halloran, Omaha, Neb."]Several years ago, a friend was telling how a team could receive credit for an unassisted triple play without touching the ball. I know it involves a pop-up, but I can't remember the rest. Have you heard this one and can you tell me how it can happen? Hal does come up with a scenario in which this can happen.

Christmas Story is a dud, but I voted for it because it's up against a bigger dud. I was over 30 the first time I saw A Christmas Story and had already heard all the hype. Maybe I'd have a different opinion of it if I had seen it when I was younger.