San Francisco Blog

The conventional wisdom used to be that chicks dig the longball. Not true. Chicks dig Barry Zito. Who would have thought being young, wealthy, handsome, and articulate could be such a turn-on? Rick Reuschel may kick Zito's ass on paper -- but, in the flesh, Giants pitcher Zito gets to hob-nob with Paris Hilton and Big Daddy serves as a role model for fat, sweaty bald men the world over (and currently runs a farm with his brother -- not super glamorous).

Yes, it's true -- the intrepid folks at People recently spotted Hilton and the $126 million man on the town in Los Angeles last week. The magazine also noted that Hilton danced on couches, tables, and Zito (hell, the entire National League danced on Zito. Sorry, that was obligatory).

Not to be outdone, gossip Web site TMZ.com managed to catch Zito motoring about town with four attractive women as his chaperones. When the photographer noted "You got hot chicks, dude," Zito noted "They're not mine." Clever! Apparently they came with the car.

It all goes to show that baseball number-cruncher Bill James can argue about statistical arcana until Shoeless Joe is elected to the Hall -- but it won't get him any dates.