If I were to catch a milestone home run ball like Ken Griffey Jr.'s 600th, I'd hope I'd give it to the player, no questions asked, like the guy who caught Junior's 500th.

But "Joe" the Marlins season ticket holder who caught No. 600 isn't going that route. And, really, I can't blame him. I don't know his financial situation, but if that ball can be worth $50,000 to $100,000 -- that's a ton of money.

One Marlin, Cody Ross, criticized "Joe" for not just giving the ball over. Well, to Cody Ross $50,000 to $100,000 may not be a lot of money, but to an -- excuse the pun here -- average Joe, that's a ton of money. Perhaps he has kids to put through college. That could go a long way toward doing that. Perhaps he has debtors and that one ball will provide him the means to give those people their money back.

Really, all I'm saying is I hope I'd give the ball back, but I can't say I wouldn't be tempted. I'm not going to judge "Joe" because I don't know the whole story.

Although, I will say, Griffey would have been more likely to help the guy out if he just gave the ball over instead of holding it ransom.

Now, if it were Barry Bonds' or Sammy Sosa's 600th home run ball? You better believe that badboy would be on eBay.

* I laugh at all those who said the Reds should "blow it up and rebuild" and that they'd support a youth movement. But when the young players come up and struggle, they want to throw them out of town right away. Amazing, really. Homer Bailey is still very, very young for a pitcher. His struggles are nothing compared to those that Edinson Volquez went through as recently as last season. It's too bad the NFL model has changed everything and people who aren't really baseball fans don't understand that it doesn't work the same way.

* Yesterday before the game, my colleague and friend Scott Priestle of the Columbus Dispatch went up to Adam Dunn and asked him if he had a second to talk. Dunn, without missing a beat responded, "Jay's really good and I knew it all along. And it was really cool to see Junior's 600th home run. Which do you want to talk about." Without missing a beat, Scott said, "the second one."

It was a funny exchange, because, well, the storylines are pretty obvious right now and Dunn went on to give great answers about Griffey's feat and putting it in perspective.

I know everyone looks at Dunn and with his size and sometimes awkwardness and think he's stupid, but it couldn't be further from the truth. The guy is pretty bright.

* Ken Rosenthal says the Dodgers have Matt Kemp on the trading block to win now, but won't do it for a rent-a-player like Adam Dunn. If the Reds could give up Dunn and someone else, well, that would be a really nice move. I could see Kemp and Bruce in center and right for a long, long time. The Dodgers would likely need Dunn, another starting type player and a prospect. That's a lot to give up, but for Kemp, it'd be worth it. That's where for all the bellyaching about Yonder Alonso playing the same position as Joey Votto, having depth could really come into play in the future. It may not be for Kemp, but Walt Jocketty has certainly shown he has the ability to turn prospects into players ready to produce.

* This spring training someone asked Dusty Baker about being part of the first high five, which some claim he is. Then he went on a tangent about the first bump being better because it's more sanitary. And my first thought was, "Wow, there's a man that managed Moises Alou."

* Haven't we heard this before? Is Josh Hamilton getting favorable coverage because he's white? I think it's because he's leading the free world in everything. But, I won't dismiss that race has some very small part to do with it. However, the part many of these people miss in these discussions are these two points: 1. Hamilton has owned up to his mistakes and refused to blame anyone but himself. 2. His crimes didn't hurt anyone but himself. But if Scoop Jackson says so...

* Wow, how about what Doug Mientkiewicz said about Randy Johnson? "I know how mentally weak he is. I try to take the high road, but not anymore."

* I really enjoy Royals beat writer Sam Mellinger's blog. Today he writes about changes in the relationships between athletes and reporters, and actually looks at it from a broader perspective than an old guy grumbling that it's not like it used to be. And Mellinger's right -- there are guys I could probably get long, interesting sit-down interviews with and guys I couldn't. Like I tell people all the time, it's like any other business -- there are people you get along with, people you don't and people you deal with just because it's for your job. It's just that when I bitch about someone at work, it's not just another generic name, it's somebody with their own bubble gum card.

* Over at MLBTradeRumors.com there's an interesting look at a Tigers firesale and the harsh reality that it may not bring much in return. The odds of JIm Leyland still being around at the end of the season are pretty slim, if you ask me. Look for him to announce his "retirement" before October.

* NBA haters always talk about a fix -- like Patrick Ewing going ot the Knicks in the lottery, the Cavs just happening to win the lottery when LeBron James is coming out and keeping the team in Cleveland... And then there's the playoffs. Just when it seems like the NBA is getting the matchup it wanted in the Lakers and Celtics and giving us entertaining basketball to boot, we're all reminded why people believe in these conspiracy theories. From what I'd seen this year, the Celtics and Lakers were clearly the two best teams. However, did they get a little help getting that way? The Lakers got Pau Gasol for nearly nothing. Two late first-round picks and Kwame Brown? How about the Kevin Garnett trade to Boston? Beyond that, how about the no-call on Derek Fisher's foul of Brent Barry in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals? Isn't that not under suspicion?

David Stern dismisses Donaghy's allegations, but what else would you expect?

If anyone can wiggle out of this, it's David Stern, the greatest executive in the history of American sports.

* Woo hoo! When I get my shiny new iPhone next month, Cincinnati is in AT&T's 3G network. I was worried it'd be a smaller zone, but, well, let's see how it does when I'm in Milan, Ga.

* Sub Pop is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Wow, I'm old.

* A live-action Smurfs movie? Really?

* And on that tip, why didn't I know about the live-action G.I. Joe movie before today?

Has Hollywood really run out of ideas? Are we going to get Masters of the Universe II -- Dolph's Back soon?

* Thank god for DVR, as it'll be recording the Top Chef finale tonight while I'm at the game. Stephanie, many people's favorite, does a Q&A with the Chicago Tribune. I'm still sticking with Richard. ATL represent. (I'm sure that's the first time in world history that's been uttered about Top Chef.)