Day 13: Reynolds, Chip Kelly, Romo and more

HEADLINES:

1) Last night Mark Reynolds struck out three times, bringing his total to 206 for the season and breaking his own record for most strikeouts in a single season. However, he also has 43 home runs and 100 RBIs and plays a very good third base. Do the 43 home runs and 100 RBIs cancel out the 206 strikeouts?

Ben: I guess, but I'm not a huge fan of those numbers. Like all fans, I like guys who produce, and I dig the long ball too. BUT, I don't like guys that can't even get productive outs. If I were a pitcher going against Mark Reynolds I know there is a better chance of him striking out then driving in any runs, and in a game all about percentages, I like those numbers.

That being said, a guy who has that kind of power, and plays a pretty solid 3rd base, would be hard to turn away. I think they cancel each other out, but just barely.

Boz: Yes. The production has to cancel out the strikeouts. You can find guys that will strike out a lot, nut not a whole lot of guys that will put up big offensive numbers like Reynolds. Not to mention he has made about a handful of diving plays into stands this season. A lot of big home run hitters have had strike out problems. In fact, the next two spots on the strike out list for a single season belong to Ryan Howard in seasons where he hit 47 and 48 home runs respectively. There are a lot of others like Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and the list goes on and on. Obviously every team wants a hitter like Albert Pujols who has high production with low strikeouts, but that's not always the case. Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.

2) After an Oregon alumnus traveled to the blue turf of Boise State to watch the Ducks season opener against the Broncos and ended up seeing a fight caused by an Oregon player, the alumnus sent an email to head coach Chip Kelly with an invoice for his travel expenses of $439. This is what the email stated:

"The product on the field Thursday night is not something I was at all proud of, and I feel as though I'm entitled to my money back for the trip."

Kelly wrote back with one simple question: "What's your address?" A check sure enough showed up to the man's house signed by Kelly. How awesome is this?

Ben: I think that's great. I don't like alumni choosing to support their alma mater, then asking for payback when they don't perform, it just doesn't seem......loyal. I really like what Kelly did repaying the fan/alumni. What happened in that game is not a representation of what Oregon or Oregon athletics are about and obviously many people were disappointed, not only in the outcome, but in the actions after the game. It's a great way to regain the support of alumni and get recognition as a first-class insitution. Oregon will now be one of the teams I pull for every Saturday afternoon.

Boz: I think this was amazing. A disgruntled alumnus asked for his travel expenses back and a head coach actually implies with it. The article I read actually stated that the guy returned the check rather than cashing it and wrote a note that said that "as a salesman nothing usually shuts me up but when I got the check I was speechless." Obviously Kelly wasn't proud of what happened that night either and felt that the incident was not a good example of what Oregon football stands for. It's nice to see him own up for it.

3) Cowboys owner Jerry Jones remains extremely supportive of Tony Romo while Tony Dorsett has added his name to a list of Cowboys' legends, which include Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, who are critical of Romo. Which side are you taking?

Ben: I lean toward the legends, but I still think it's too early. I also don't think the expectations of Romo are self-inflicted. I think with Dallas, and their fan base, Romo has had these expectations bestowed on him, and while he deserves plenty of the blame for poor performances in big games and post-season, I do think he is in the top 7 QB's in the league.

So, while he can obviously improve and has disappointed on plenty of occassions, I think he has the ability to make up for that given the opportunity.

Boz: I'll go with the Cowboy legends on Romo. He seems to not perform to standards when it comes to playoff games or big games during the regular season. That trend stayed true against the New York Giants defense. One of Dorsett's complaints was that people are annointing Romo a great quarterback when he hasn't done enough yet. I agree with Dorsett. Romo hasn't even won a playoff game yet and last season he choked to even get the Cowboys to the playoffs. I'd like to be behind Romo since he is an Illinois boy but I have to go with my standards of what have you done for me lately? The answer with Romo...not a whole lot.

4) Chad Ochocinco got to do his Lambeau Leap on Sunday and he found a trio of Bengals fans in front row seats. Ochocinco planned the stunt, buying the tickets for the three fans. What do you make of the situation?

Ben: Great. Hilarious. Amazing. Every time I just want to say, "Chad, shutup", he comes up with something like this. I like a good show, and Ochocinco rarely disappoints. I especially like that he bought the tickets for the fans just to make sure he had friendly faces up in the crowd.

I'm sure Chad will say something dumb in the next couple weeks to make me forget this situation, but in the meantime, I like this whole thing.

Boz: Last week I stated that Ochocinco's Lambeau Leap would last less than three seconds because Packer fans would never let it happen. Well obviously I have underestimated the creativity and intelligence of Chad Ochocinco. This was actually brilliance on the part of Ochocinco on making sure that he came through on his plan. What I though was even funnier was the guy next to the Bengals fans giving the middle finger to the camera. I'm excited to see waht Ochocinco has planned for his next touchdown.

OVER/UNDER

1) Matthew Stafford has five interceptions in two games. Over or under 30 interceptions for Stafford on the season?

Ben: UNDER. He's on an amazing pace right now, but I imagine that in the middle of the season he will have calmed down, they will have a better gameplan in place, and he'll have adapted to his mistakes. I think he gets to the 20-25 range, but 30 seems almost too high.

Boz: UNDER. He's on pace for 40 but I have to assume that Stafford is going to fall below that pace eventually. He is a talented quarterback and I think he will settle down a bit throughout the season.

2) Milton Bradley's mom has stated that the right-fielder would return to the Cubs if the organization would have him back. Over or under 0.5 games next season for Bradley in a Cubs uniform?

Ben: OVER. I'm putting this on the fact that it's going to be near impossible to trade him and his contract. I like Bradley and think he could produce given he gets his head together (not likely), but I'm a little gunshy to say that he will definately play, because Tyler Colvin is looking good and could claim a spot on the roster next year. If that's the case, Bradley makes the least money per year of the corner outfielders with the Cubs (Fukudome 13 mil/Soriano 18 mil) and therefore it's easier to stomach sitting him on the bench.

Boz: OVER. This question basically just asks whether or not you think the Cubs will get rid of Bradley or not. I'm going over because it's going to be hard to move the Terrell Owens (with less talent) of baseball with two years and $20 million left on his contract. I see him in Cubbie blue next season and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he can produce right off the bat.

3) Over or under 20 plays for Michael Vick on Sunday?

Ben: OVER. The Eagles will try to get him in there to see what he can do in live game action, whether that's in the wildcat, at QB, or WR. He will play in the game and I wouldn't be surprised if they try to extend his playing time, especially if he's successful, and even moreso if Brian Westbrook can't play.

Boz: UNDER. It's already been stated by head coach Andy Reid that Vick will not play the quarterback position. He needs to appear in this game but it will most likely be in the wildcat format. The Eagles ran nine plays from the wildcat formation last week and I can't see them uping that above 20 just because Vick is back.

HAPPY HOUR

Ben: Happy 38th Birthday Eric Montross. Montross started off his career in promising fashion, but was never able to fully develop into the player the Boston Celtics thought he'd be when they used the 9th overall pick on the UNC product.

On a semi-related note, does it seem like my birthday wishes have been a who's-who of "Where are they now" characters? Thought so.

Boz: On this day in 1988 Jose Canseco became the first player in baseball history to steal 40 bases and hit 40 home runs. Once a promising player, Canseco has fallen to a baseball disgrace since he has admitted to using steroids.