can't help wondering if joe ever read the schoolboy book called "the kid who batted 1.000," about a country-hick chicken farmer who plays townball with an uncanny knack for fouling off every strike until he inevitably earns a walk. the kid gets scouted, hooks up with a last-place major-league team, continues to work his on-base magic and leads them to the world series. along the way, however, he becomes frustrated with "merely" walking in every at-bat -- and his one and only non-walk is a home run to win the world series. he finishes his career 1-for-1, then retires to the chicken farm with his 1.000 intact.