In Met Booth, It Was a Kiner, Jocular Place

In honor of Ralph Kiner’s being dropped from New York Met telecasts this year, Jayson Stark of the Philadelphia Inquirer has offered a list of all-time Kinerisms. A sampling:

“Ralph the historian, during a visit to Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium: ‘Baseball began right here in this very stadium in 1869.’

“Ralph the stats machine: ‘Half of Jeff King’s extra-base hits last year were extra-base hits.’

“Ralph the enunciator mispronounces his own name twice--calling himself ‘Ron Kiner’ and ‘Ralph Korner.’ ”

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Trivia time: Which pitcher holds the major league record for consecutive victories?

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Chatterbox: Lionel Hollins, joking about former teammate Bill Walton during a Portland Trail Blazer reunion:

“I think I liked the guy better when he stuttered and didn’t talk as much.”

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Pat’s plan: Heat Coach Pat Riley, explaining his job philosophy to Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald:

“I think everyone should change jobs every five years. Not locations. Professions. Be a doctor for five years, a lawyer for five years, a coach for five years. You can’t, of course, but it would keep things fresh.”

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Tiger bait: Michael Jordan reportedly has invited Tiger Woods to Chicago for the Bulls’ last game of the regular season Saturday with the possibility of playing golf Sunday or Monday.

And if they play?: “He shot 59 the other day [before the Masters], so he’d have to give me 20 shots.”

At least.

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Next question: Colorful golf analyst Gary McCord was a guest on WRXR-FM in Augusta, Ga., to promote his new book, “Just a Range Ball in a Box of Titleists.” The show’s co-host, Jerome Fisher, asked McCord to name the LPGA’s sexiest player.

McCord’s reply: “Ben Wright said some things about the LPGA Tour and he’s no longer broadcasting for CBS. I think I’ll pass on that one.”

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FYI: Churchill Downs and ABC Sports might have jockeys wear 1 1/2-pound cameras in the Kentucky Derby. The plan had been approved four years ago by Churchill Downs stewards.

ABC expects three to six riders to wear the cameras. The jockey, owner and trainer all must approve the device beforehand.

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Trivia answer: Carl Hubbell of the New York Giants, 24, from July 17, 1936 to May 27, 1937.

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Looking back: On this day in 1935, 40-year-old Babe Ruth made a productive National League debut in Boston. He hit a single and home run off Hubbell, leading the Braves over the Giants, 4-2.

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And finally: New York Yankee pitcher Dwight Gooden, when asked why he would throw Oakland’s Jose Canseco, a notorious off-speed hitter, a curveball in his power zone, which Canseco hit for a home run:

“I’ll just accept that I’m stupid.”