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I know a few days have passed since the Spider-Man story, but the notes pertaining to baseball's decisions and to my column were so entertaining (and then there's the reaction to my imaginary Pedro Martinez contract demands) ...

From: John Bingham

Scott,

I'm with you on this one. Although Spider-Man was one of my favorite comic book characters, he doesn't belong on the field. He could climb any wall to pull down a fly, ball that is. He could hit the ball out of the park anytime he wanted. It wouldn't be fair to the regular players. That said, it's worse that MLB is selling out. This sport has been through some tough times and has always pulled through. I'm afraid if it gives in on Spider-Man like this, where will it stop? Hulk playing left field? Wait, we already have Barry Bonds out there. Need I say more?

I hear the Yankees are preparing to sign Batman and the Green Hornet. And Wonder Woman is looking at a warm-weather site.

From: Bill Piotrowski

Gotta tell ya, Scott, I pretty much disagree with you. Like you said, somebody's gotta pay the bills, and it might as well be a movie, Pepsi, Advil or Coke. Seems to be the American way.

As an interesting sidelight, I voted on your page after reading your story about if the Spider-Man bases were a good idea or not.

After voting "yes," a pop-up ad for Nextel covered my screen.

Ironic, huh?

It would be more ironic if it was a Spider-Man 2 ad that popped up on your screen.

From: K. Mountain Landis

I (write) to deplore this latest gimmick from the destroyer of my formerly favorite sport. However, I realize that the biggest reason I am angry is that commissioner Bud Selig and his corporate cronies have finally pushed me into a crowd I never hoped to live long enough to join: The old "you're ruining the game with all these changes" crowd that I laughed at in the 1970s when the DH and colorful uniforms made the game more interesting to me as a kid.

I hate feeling like one of those old-timers who resists change because it's change, and it's all Selig's fault!

Let me remind you, Judge Landis: You died in 1944. You weren't around in the 1970s. Who are you trying to kid?

From: Stan Sak

Get over it Scott! Advertising at the ballpark has been part of the game as long as chew has. If it helps keep prices low, then heck, let 'em put ads on the players' foreheads!

Didn't Mike Tyson already do that?

From: Jim

How is baseball putting the Spider-Man logo on the bases any different than logos under the ice at a hockey game?

For starters, I've never attended a hockey game.

From: Alex Whitfield

I have had to click away Expedia and AT&T three times before I could write this letter. This whole business about baseball selling out is just the dumbest thing I have been forced to listen to and read in a long time!

Did you get any deals?

From: John Smilanich

I'll tell you what's ridiculous. Sure, selling out to Spider-Man is terrible, but how about when I click to submit a response to your fan poll, my entire screen becomes covered with an ad for Croc Week? That is desecrating the sanctity of my computer.

Depends on what kind of junk you normally have on your computer screen, I'd guess.

From: Tim Howard

Scott,

I gotta say I generally like your writing, but this latest article on the Spider-Man controversy smacks of Peter King-like self-importance. It's a holier-than-thou attitude that is unnecessary and unbecoming. Baseball, like every other professional sport, is a business, and like any business, the goal is to make money (something way too many people, like you, fail to grasp). Ever since professional baseball was started there have been ads on the fences. Now tell me, how is a fence any less a part of the field of play than the top of a base. By putting ads on the fences and on the bases, no one is changing the size of the fence or base, so who gives a you-know-what? It doesn't affect how the players perform, does it? Do you have such a low opinion of the product that you think adding some more ads is really going to "destroy" the game?

Such a low opinion of what product -- baseball, or Spider-Man 2?

From: Sean

Scott,

MLB has already desecrated itself through racial barriers before the early '50s, lockouts, and steroids. Like we don't get bombarded enough by the huge ad screens in the outfield. Plus, Spider-Man looks to be a great film, so relax.

Thanks for writing, Roger Ebert.

From: Ian Garfoot, UK

Hey Scott,

I wanted to write to you about the selling-out of baseball by allowing Spider-Man logos to be printed on the bases.

Over here in the UK, sponsorship is a huge deal -- especially in soccer. Not only do companies buy advertisement space on the front of uniforms, but clothing manufacturers pay for the right to make certain teams' jerseys.

Can you imagine what it would be like if this were the case in baseball? Instead of New Era making caps for each franchise, a bidding war would erupt for the rights to make certain team's caps. Surely, the Yankees would receive higher offers than, say, the Devil Rays, and this would only serve to make them richer.

I've been following baseball for a number of years now, and it's always a refreshing change to watch games without huge corporate sponsors emblazoned on the players (uniforms).

Shhh, don't tell the Yankees about this plan. George Steinbrenner will be on it in a heartbeat.

From: Jose Luis Garcia

I think your imagination went too far. Don't you think, I am 100 percent sure, that Pedro Martinez is not the way you said he is.

OK, so he hasn't demanded to play drums for Jimmy Buffett in Fenway Park in September. Other than that, he's been pretty demanding.

From: Larry Gumaer

Scott, I usually agree with almost all of your articles, but I must take great exception to the Pedro Martinez article. I happen to love French's mustard and do not think it is "cheap crap." Other than that, the article hit the Pedro on the head.

Why, I never, ever meant to insinuate that French's mustard is "cheap crap." Au contraire, I'll take it over that highfalutin Dijon any day.

From: Eric Smothers

Nice article on Pedro. You are officially an idiot.

Better look down, I think your fly is open.

From: Warner Maney

Dear Scott,

The only thing I learned from your column today was that you must be paid to NOT write about baseball. Where have all the good baseball writers gone? Do some work and tell me something I don't know or at least find something interesting to write about. Baseball is a great game with lots of depth and great stories. Your half-baked jokes leave me wanting to watch SportsCenter, and that's the worst thing I can imagine.

Oh come on -- that column was way funnier than Stuart Scott.

From: Walter Schweitzer

Your last article on Pedro was ridiculous. We got the point after the first 10 outlandish contract proposals. There was no need to go on or you should have just kept some of the funny ones. It really was tiresome to read and not that informative. In other words: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

You put yourself to sleep by the end of your diatribe, and you blame me?

From: Jorge Perez

Bravo! Thanks for the very funny comments about Sir Whines-a-lot, the ace. I'm so tired of hearing professional athletes in most sports ache about their tiny salaries. It's very off-putting given what they're (over)paid. I, for one, plan to contribute zero dollars henceforth to the revenue streams of baseball, football and basketball combined.

Cordially yours,
Sir Saves-a-lot

Sheesh, apparently they'll knight anybody these days.

From: Justice

Pretty lousy column!

I'm 10 years dumber after reading it. I hope you can do better than that.

Hate to break it to you, but I think the reason you're 10 years dumber is early senility creeping in.

From: David Jones

Hey Scott, why don't ya get off of Moises Alou for his pregame rituals (re. soaking his hands in urine to make them harder). You know, if a career .300 hitter and future Hall of Famer wants to do these little things before each game, so be it. Who are you to judge him for his actions? It doesn't hurt you at all does it? Didn't think so.

Except for the times when I shake his hand after interviewing him.

From: Mike Chromey, Pascagoula, Miss.

How did Dodger reliever Eric Gagne earn a save in the 9-4 victory over the Marlins on Thursday? He pitched only one third of an inning. Yes, the bases were loaded, but there were two outs. In my opinion, even though I am a Dodger fan, a save should have not been awarded in this instance. He didn't earn it. I could have thrown a ground ball out in that situation, and I know I am not a major-league quality pitcher with an inflated 71 saves in a row. Explain the reason for the save and what your opinion on this situation is?

Excellent question, Mike, and here's the answer: Bases were loaded, Dodgers led by five runs, and here's the key part: The tying run was in the on-deck circle. If that situation occurs, the pitcher gets a save -- no matter how many outs he obtains.

From: Mychal

Hey Scott ... what do you think about this jumbled NL Central? Will the Cubs or Astros take control, or can the Reds and Brewers stick around and make this interesting? I am a die-hard Reds fan and am wondering if you think Adam Dunn can stay hot and if Mr. Griffey can stay healthy and lead this team into the playoffs?

You hit on the key point: health. If they stay healthy, the Reds lineup could take them to unexpected heights -- but I still don't think they have enough pitching, unless they get a couple of unexpected surprises - say, Brandon Claussen is recalled and is lights out.

From: Frank Pugh, Leesburg, Va.

Regarding Mike Piazza playing for Salem in the minor leagues in 1989. There must be more than one Salem with a minor-league team. The reader (Mr. Lindsey) was referring to Salem, Va., of the Carolina League, which was a Class A affiliate of the Pirates in 1989. Piazza was in the Dodgers system. Salem, Va., had a Rookie League team in the Appalachian League in the 1960s but went up to A ball in 1968. The team has gone by several nicknames, but never the Pilots. That was a nickname for Peninsula (Va.), also in the Carolina League.

Frank, thanks for bringing this back up. Piazza played with the Salem, Ore., club in the Northwest League in 1989.

From: Carl Jeisman

Hi, Scott, I just wanted to know. With baseball talking about a World Cup, who do you think would win? I know you're probably already typing USA. But what about the Dominican Republic, Japan and Puerto Rico? (and Australia for that matter)?

Yeah, and the United States' amateur baseball team was supposed to beat Mexico last November in the Olympic qualifier, too, right? Hey, there are no guarantees of anything. It depends on who plays. If Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling and Nomar Garciaparra back out, for example, because they're too tired, that's going to take the shine off the U.S. team. You can't predict until you see the rosters, but every country you mentioned will be capable of winning.

From: Tom

I find it funny no one backs Barry Bonds off the plate yet Manny Ramirez is headhunted at least once a month.

What's so funny about that?

From: Patrick Fuller

With regard to "Hot Lists" -- you ever heard of Lyle Overbay?

Isn't he a country-and-western singer?

From: Huck Barnes

Does the fact that you're a "Senior Writer" here mean that you get to publish any drivel you want?

Not only do you waste the reader's time with all your Hallmark mood setting (in the Aaron Boone column), you wind up missing the point once you start ambling toward it:

His contract says he shouldn't play basketball. Period.

Why then are you giving him credit for doing so by sole virtue that he admitted it?

Is it because you don't really expect anything more out of today's players? Or is it to further serve your weak opening?

Did you even read the Jeff Kent example? And as for the point, did you have any idea the Yankees and Dodgers are talking with Boone about signing him? Go back to the Hallmark store in your local mall, you're in over your head here.