Hey, Vinny, Who Do You Like in Fifth at Del Mar?

In the top of the ninth inning of last Friday’s Met-Dodger contest, as Roger Cedeno stood on third base representing the tying run, Vin Scully wondered aloud about pitcher John Franco’s recent history with wild pitches. On his very next delivery, Franco skidded one in the dirt and through Mike Piazza’s legs, scoring Cedeno. With characteristic cool, Scully reported that it had been Franco’s first wild pitch of the year.

Good? We’ve always known Vin was every bit of that. Modest? To a fault. But clairvoyant? I guess greatness is just like that.

BROCK WALSH, Santa Monica