Quick Hits

• There were no blockbuster deadline deals in the baseball MVRL last night. A lot of minor leaguers added to rosters and TQ traded for Smoltz, but that's about it.
• Will Pietsch keep the newly-acquired Anthony Reyes next year? Jeremy Hermida may force him to make a decision he didn't think he'd have to make.
• Is it a sign that my football team isn't going to make the playoffs when I voted myself as having the worst draft last Saturday?
• The number one question Norm Chow hates getting in Nashville-"Did you shave your beard after the trial so people wouldn't recognize you?"
• Ryan Zimmerman gets the call today. At this point, is it safe to ask why he went #4 in the June draft as opposed to #1? Let me answer that-he's hit twice as many homers with wood this summer than he did with aluminum this spring. He may need an Easton to get it out of RFK though. That place is huge (just ask Jason Marquis).
• Is ESPN aware that the United States stretches west past the Hudson River?
• Speaking of which, my used-to-be-favorite thing about Sunday morning-The Sports Reporters is now three NY sportswriters and Bob Ryan. Nothing is more sickening than listen to Mike Lupica rant and rave about the Mets, Yankees, Knicks, etc. "The Yankees have won two in a row! Let's discuss this for 15 minutes! The Cardinals? Who are they?"
• Pre-season or not, the Rams looked much better Monday night. Forget Travis Taylor, Steven Jackson may have been the steal of the draft and he went in the 2nd round.
• NL Wildcard prediction: the Phillies.
• Finally, some have asked about Rotney's whereabouts. I don't know where he's been either. I know that he likes football more than baseball though, so hopefully he'll drop by for a Q and A sometime this fall.