The Cubs have given up on Rich Hill and sent him to the minors, but it should only be a temporary demotion.

As most of you know, the Kentucky Derby was this weekend, with odds on favorite Big Brown (real creative name fellas, maybe the next one should be called “Horse”) taking home the prize.  Truthfully, I’m not big on horse racing – and it has nothing to do with PETA or animal cruelty.  I just tend to lump it in with auto racing, and cannot work up the energy to care about driving/riding in a circle.  That being said, I have been to the Kentucky Derby, back in 2002, and in two weeks, I will be taking in the Preakness as well, as part of a bachelor party weekend.  All I need to do is make it to the Belmont at some point, and I will have my own Triple Crown of attendance at horse races (seems less impressive than actually winning the races in one year, but I will take what I can get).  As for the Preakness, Vegas odds-makers have set the early line at 2:1 that I will pass out on the infield at some point during the day, May 17.  I’m picking Big Brown, largely because I don’t know any of the other horses.

I saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall this weekend.  Provided you can handle the multiple shots of Jason Segel’s, ummmm, manhood, this is an absolute must see.  I give it seven thumbs up.  It is just the next in line of a string of hits which have involved Judd Apatow in some fashion, along with Superbad, Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin, and Anchorman.  The movie also has Jack McBrayer, who essentially plays the same character he does on 30 Rock, which is always enjoyable.

And speaking of 30 Rock, a few notes on current TV.  Zach Braff, if you are reading (which I am sure you are), it is time to wrap up Scrubs.  Apparently, it will have its season finale next week, which will also be its finale for NBC, but next year, will take its once hilarious show over to ABC.  I am not sure where the show lost its way, but over the last year or so, I have found myself laughing less and less, and checking my watch more and more.  30 Rock and The Office are just so far beyond Scrubs at this point, that it is almost painful to watch them in the same block.  It has become like watching Willie Mays in a New York Mets uniform at this point, a show/player just hanging on, and only able to provide very limited glimpses of days gone by.

As always, my ramblings are done – time for the baseball portion of the broadcast.

Rich Hill- huh?  Granted, he has really struggled with his control out of the gate, but being optioned to AAA has wreaked havoc on many a fantasy team.  Last season, Hill showed us what he is capable of, and frankly, the Cubs current plan to have a rotation with Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly, followed by a mish-mash of retreads or prospects, including Ryan Dempster, Jason Marquis, Sean Gallagher, Sean Marshall, and Jon Lieber seems misguided.  Hill is bound to be back up in the majors before long, so do not lose the faith yet.  Although, given how the Cubs have treated Matt Murton these past few years, you never what to expect.

One of the big recent stories in New York was Billy Wagner’s public flogging of Oliver Perez last week after Perez lasted
only 1 1/3 against the Pirates one night after the Mets used virtually their whole bullpen in an extra innings game.  Although Wagner was rightfully criticized for not handling this matter in private, he makes a perfectly legitimate point.  For every flash of brilliance that Perez displays, there comes a game like last week.  Perez is still only 26 years old (27 this summer), and lefties tend to take slightly longer to develop, but there comes a time where you have to show some development.  Obviously from a fantasy perspective, you have to start him every week, despite the potential for huge explosions, since he is always a threat to strike out double digits.  From a real life perspective, I have to assume that someone will throw big bucks at him this offseason, and I am somewhat okay with him not being a New York Met next year (which is my expectation).

Homer Bailey of the Cincinnati Reds continues to tear it up in AAA.  Some of the luster came off of Bailey in 2007, and in spring training he was seriously upstaged by Johnny Cueto, but through 6 starts, Bailey is 4-2, with a 2.29 ERA and a WHIP just about 1.00.  His K/BB ratio of 32/9 is strong, and Bailey looks like he may have figured “it” out, whatever “it” may be (one thing is for sure, everyone knows Derek Jeter has “it”).  He just turned 22 this weekend, and with the Reds actually starting Matt Belisle right now, it is only a matter of time before this youngster gets the call.

And finally, Roger Clemens has apologized for mistakes in his personal life.  I believe the direct quote went something like this:  "I have apologized to my family and apologize to my fans for taking steroids.  Like everyone, I have flaws, such as a pathological desire to lie about taking steroids.  I have sometimes made choices which have not been right, such as allowing Brian McNamee to inject my butt with steroids.”  Okay, there was a little bit of editorializing there, but you have to read between the lines sometimes.

That’s all for this week.  See you next time.