Quick Hits...

• Orioles.com beat writer Spencer Fordin in his latest article writes about the Aubrey Huff impact with the Jay Payton signing and the expectations for him with the team. Also the article looks at the situation with Rodrigo Lopez, Hayden Penn’s status for ’07 and where’s former O’s catcher Javy Lopez?

• Baltimore Sun writer Dan Connolly believes that Ripken’s numbers were Hall of Fame worthy even without the streak, and I think that’s the case.
  
  
• Baltimore talk radio station WBAL has an article up about Cal titled Cal Waiting for the Call from the Hall.
  

• Washington Post Dave Shenin opines about Cal Ripken’s career and his legacy.

• Here’s a video of Cal Ripken chatting about his expected induction to the Hall of Fame.

• J.D. Drew is still waiting to become a member of the Red Sox. Take a look at Murray Chass’s article. Ridiculous.
  
  
• The University of Florida whooped on Ohio State 41-14 to win the National Championship in college football. Whoa. I thought there would have been much more of a challenge from OSU and that game would have been closer.

Honorable Mention: I found this website, The Road Less Traveled, the other day and found what the creator did with the site to be wonderful. Although I am not from the Boston area, I know quite a bit of people from there who live in the Mid-Atlantic region and I can relate to a lot of what’s on the site. The insight is great, you can have a few laughs on it and he’s got some cool photographs on it as well. Check it out!

Quick Hits...

• Baseball Show in Baltimore: Ironclad Authentics, in a partnership with MAB Celebrity Services, today announced they will be co-promoting & hosting “Baseball’s Best” at the Baltimore Convention Center January 26-28, 2007. The weekend long event will include a memorabilia show, the third annual Aspire: A Tribute to Life’s Coaches gala, the Ripken Coaching Experience and an auction run by Geppi's Memorabilia Road Show. Baseball's Best 2007 will feature many former baseball greats, such as Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn, Don Mattingly, Hall of Famer Stan Musial, Steve Carlton, Carlton Fisk, Tom Seaver, Baltimore Oriole greats Jim Palmer and Eddie Murray, current Baltimore Orioles Hayden Penn, Nick Markakis, and many more. More info can be found at: http://www.baseballsbest2007.com/
• Pete Rose wants McGwire in Cooperstown: Article can be found here: ( http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.bbnotes20dec20,0,4872887.story?coll=bal-sports-baseball ). For what it's worth, I think McGwire should get into the Hall Fame, only because of his numbers and accomplishments along with the assumption that many of his peers were involved in using performance enhancing drugs. Although the use of such drugs are against the law without a prescription, baseball and the powers that be did nothing to discourage the use of steroids until 2004. I can respect Pete Rose's opinion, but what he did to the game and how he handled his life afterwards was far worse than has transpired with Mark McGwire.