Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes is a sharp, clean stylist, knows and loves baseball, maintains an excellent perspective (isn't overly critical but has no problem telling it like it is, either), and in addition to his Indians coverage, does a lively weekly roundup of news and rumors from around the majors.

Among his tidbits today is a list of the Major League's Hoary Ten:

Reds shortstop Barry Larkin turned 40 Wednesday. He joined nine other active big leaguers who are 40 or older - Julio Franco 45, John Franco 43, Roger Clemens 41, Jamie Moyer 41, Edgar Martinez 41, Jeff Fassero 41, Terry Mulholland 41, David Wells 40 and Randy Johnson 40.

These ancients are my heroes, although we have now crossed the great divide where all major leaguers are younger than I am - I'm two weeks older than Julio.