Animal House

Not-so sports related, but have you ever read the Wikipedia entry about Animal House? It's one of the more comprehensive/interesting ones I've seen. A quick highlight: For two days work on the picture, Donald Sutherland was offered either a $40,000 flat fee or a percentage of the film's gross; assuming that the movie would be quickly forgotten, he opted for the sure money, a decision which (by his own admission) has cost him millions.

Volquez for Hamilton

It had to be tough for Krivsky to deal Josh Hamilton, especially because acquiring him via the Rule 5 draft was one of the best recent moves they've made, his comeback has been inspirational and he seems like a phenomenal talent and a good guy as well. But if we're going to refuse to give up Jay Bruce to get Bedard, I'm very excited about this deal they made Friday. Here are just a few reasons why:

Volquez's numbers in the minors were filthy. Combined at Class A, Double-A and Triple-A, he was 14-6 with a 3.67 ERA and 166 strikeouts over 144 2/3 innings. Sounds like just the type of guy we desperately need.

Hamilton is great, but we have a glut of outfielders (as I mentioned before) and another solid starter is what we need. And of course there's the obligatory need (especially now that we've dealt him) to point out that Hamilton's body is susceptible to breaking down after everything he's been through and considering how long he was out of the game.

And the reds.com article points out, "By moving Hamilton after he spent just one season in Cincinnati, the Reds clearly bought low and sold high." That's the idea.

The southpaw we got in the deal, Danny Herrera, has impressed in the minors ... and he's only 23.

Only other thing from the article that bears mentioning: "Volquez first reached the Majors with Texas in 2005 as a 21-year-old. He was a September callup again in 2006, but he went all the way back to Class A ball before last season. Krivsky wasn't concerned about the yoyo-esque movement of his new pitcher."

But I don't expect this to be another trade like the debacle with the Nationals. Hard to see Hamilton go but I like it.

Pizza Bowl

Check out a great post my friend Stewart sent me about the scene at UC's bowl game and maintaining the integrity of the bowl system. Gotta love the T-shirt with the misspelling.

Bedard

Reading through the comments on John Fay's Reds Insider blog post about Bedard, I have to agree with Dave from Louisville, who says ...

Currently if we keep Bruce, I don't see him getting many ABs next year given the current depth. And don't start that "When Griffey gets hurt crap" because he played 144 games last year with more ABs than Dunn. Trade from a position of excess for a position of weakness.

How many more years do we need to go into camp with 4 or 5 OFs that can start on any team in baseball?

Why is trading Bailey better than trading Bruce?

Think about it.

I love Bruce as much as the next guy (sounds weird), but I said months ago that I don't think we'll ever see him in a Reds uniform. How can they afford NOT to trade him for Bedard? Isn't it common knowledge that they'd at least have a better shot at contending if Bedard was their No. 2? I don't know how much more patient fans can be ... and the message you're sending if you don't do what it takes to acquire Bedard (even if it involves dealing Bruce) is that you're not doing everything you can to win now. And John confirms (in the comments section) ...

The Orioles can't comment publicly on Bruce and the Reds can't comment on the Bedard. Talking about another teams players is tampering. This is not rumor or speculation. People with the Reds have told me -- not for attribution -- that Orioles want Bruce, but the Reds aren't going to give him up.

Youk article

Interesting Boston Globe article about Sycamore High School and UC alum Kevin Youkilis - mostly about his fiance, who used to date Ben Affleck.

Golden Soufflé

You've gotta love Grant Wahl's annual Golden Soufflé award; former UC coach Andy Kennedy is this year's proud winner. Helps remind college hoops fans not to be fooled by a 10-0 record.

So how bad is it ...

... for UK? Four losses in a row for the first time since 1989-90. That's pretty bad, especially since it wasn't even in SEC play (that'd be one thing) and the last two were against Conference USA teams (although apparently good CUSA teams). They're 4-5 (you'll recall their other loss before the streak was against Gardner Webb). Anyway, UK fans aren't going to be patient ... they're not willing to give Billy Gillispie the couple of years he needs to build a winner like he did at A&M. But as long as he's not that worried about them or this year, he should be fine. The way they could still salvage this season is not only to get healthy (the injury talk always sounds like an excuse, but I do think they will be more competitive with everyone available) but to develop an identity (as they say they need to do) in a hurry. After last night's game, Joe Crawford said, "We've been trying to find our identity, it's a tough time right now. Every day another person is injured. ... It's hard to build off that." Well, it would help if every night they got the same Joe Crawford who scored 14 of UK's final 19 points like he did last night. Especially as long as Patterson's hurt. And getting a couple of points from Ramel Bradley wouldn't hurt (he had 0 in 26 minutes last night).

So, will they still make the tournament? Well, let's look at the rest of their schedule ...

Tennessee Tech W
San Diego W
Fla. Int'l W
Louisville W
Vandy W
at Miss. St. L
at Florida L
Tennessee W
South Carolina W
at Georgia L
at Auburn W
Alabama L
at Vandy L
at LSU W
Georgia W
Arkansas L
Ole Miss W
at Tennessee L
at So. Carolina L
Florida W

Note: I don't really think they'll lose all of their road games and win all of their home games. I just figured they'll balance each other out.

I've got 16-13 going into the SEC tournament. In which case they'd probably at least need to get into the final. I hate to even do something like this so far in advance ... I was just thinking about how bad a predicament their 4-5 start puts them in. I guess the bottom line is they're going to need to go about 9-7 or 10-6 in the SEC to have a shot at an at-large. They've been to 16 consecutive NCAA Tournaments.

What'd Pete say now?

Great, so the Hit King just had to weigh in on the Mitchell Report in an interview with Dennis Miller. Thank God ... I really wanted to hear what he had to say about it.

Said players who use steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs are "making a mockery" of baseball. Fine. Maybe pot calling the kettle black though.

Said "I never thought anybody would make me look like an altar boy." Nope, not sure you need to worry about that. I just don't think the Mitchell Report really does anything to improve public perception of a guy banished for life for betting on games.

"If you're going to put these guys that supposedly did steroids into the Hall of Fame, I mean I've got to get a shot somewhere," Rose added. Not sure I completely understand that logic.

Here's the one that really gets me. Rose said if steroids had been prevalent in his era, "I would have got 5,000 hits." So you're saying you would have used steroids (to get to 5,000 hits)? How does that make you any better or more worthy of HOF consideration when you're saying you would have used (like the players who allegedly did) if they would have been available? Ridiculous.

Do the Reds still get embarrassed every time Pete Rose opens his mouth, or is he just like the obnoxious uncle who's offended so many people so many times that the entire family is just desensitized by now?