The opposite-field home run Jim Thome stroked to left on Monday night re-ignited what seems to be every baseball fan’s passion — a debate about who belongs in the Hall of Fame.

To me, Thome is indisputable — one of eight men to hit 600 homers and the second fastest to the milestone (in terms of at bats). Obviously, many of you disagree.

I do agree completely about a lot of the enshrined Hall of Famers being marginal at best. But that’s what happens when you have a political process. It's an election, after all.

It seems like a silly discussion, since only seven others have done what the big, friendly farm boy did on Monday night.

But the question has been raised repeatedly this season, and not just by the culls and rejects who support so much of what passes for talk radio in this town, but by serious sports people.

But the issue — also raised about pitcher Don Sutton and shortstop/outfielder Robin Yount — comes down to spectacular vs. consistent.

Glad to see the U.S. and Mexican national teams conformed to the official score of MLS, 1-1. Might as well have everyone on the same page.

THE POCONO 400? There was a time when running 500 miles separated the men from the boys in NASCAR. Now, it seems, the good ole’ boys in the stands and in the driver’s seat want to call it a day after 400. Shameful!

When Pocono announced it would cut back both of its NASCAR events to 400 miles, track officials said it was the long-stated wish of both fans and drivers.

Is it just me, or is Charlie Manuel’s slavish devotion to his veterans getting as irritating as a Red Sox-Yankees game?

Clearly the manager wants to find out if Brad Lidge can be of any help in the post-season and the only good thing about that is he did so on August 8th.

Lidge’s tottering performance at Los Angeles on Monday night, saved only when an idiotic base-running blunder by Juan Rivera gave him an out and kept another runner from advancing, should have shown the manager all he needs to know.

The Phillies haven’t climbed Mount Lince-Cain yet, but at least they got out of base camp this weekend.

After flailing away to a spectacular lack of sucess against the Giants duo in Philadelphia last month, the Fightin’s weren’t exactly a juggernaut in Frisco the last two days, either.

They beat Matt Cain on Saturday on a double, a broken-bat single, an error and a wild pitch.  The Giants’ righthander gave up just one hit in the next seven innings, but Cole Hamels was even better and brought home a 2-1 win.

Thoughts while wondering whatever became of the brainless reports that the Eagles would lure Brett Favre off his muddy tractor in Mississippi to back up Michael Vick. Or want to.

KEEP IN MIND. Remember the name Brett Wallace. It’ll come up later.

THE NFL's NEW TOY. Am I the only one who thinks the NFL should shut down for six months every year? The week of sustained excitement from the end of the lockout on Monday, July 25th through Sunday the 31st was the best football entertainment in this town since Donovan McNabb gave a new meaning to chunky soup.

Thoughts on a weekend that left you more covered with sweat than if you’d worked out in a boxing ring.

 
1. Is it just me, or does Hunter Pence further enhance the Phillies’ league-leading collction of bad beards?

Just kidding. The Phillies got their man and he’s important both in righthanded batters box and right field, because excellent fielding helps an already top-flight pitching staff look even better.