as if on cue with my speculation that allan simpson will be the reds closer next year, mlb.com has a bit on him featuring the following dialogue:
MLB.com: Have you ever thought about what career you might have if you weren't a pro ballplayer?
Simpson: I'd probably join the military or something. Something with rules (laughs).
MLB.com: Interesting. Do you come from a family with a military background?
Simpson: One of my sisters and my best friend's dad were in the military.
MLB.com: The question is, could you handle the disciplined lifestyle?
Simpson: I need it (laughs). I don't know if I could handle it, though.
MLB.com: What do you remember about your first car?
Simpson: The car I learned to drive in was an '83 Oldsmobile. It was always dying on me. I didn't get my own car until after I got drafted.
MLB.com: How about your first job? Did you work anywhere during high school?
Simpson: I worked at a drive-in movie theater. I was always picking up people's trash after a night at the movies.
MLB.com: If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring one CD and one DVD with you, what would you bring and why?
Simpson: The CD would be Beastie Boys, "License to Ill." I grew up listening to that. The DVD would have to be the original "Star Wars." I grew up watching that, too.
MLB.com: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Simpson: Rome. I'm a gladiator fan. There's so much history, and it's all still there, you know?
MLB.com: What's your biggest pet peeve?
Simpson: Traffic. I hate it.
MLB.com: If you could face any player in baseball history, who would you like to pitch to and why?
Simpson: Ty Cobb. I just want to see if he was as mean as people say he was. I want to see how fired up he gets.
MLB.com: What sort of hobbies do you have away from the game?
Simpson: I go to the movies all the time. Like, constantly. Probably twice a week or more. I'll even go to bad ones, knowing they're bad, just to see a movie.
MLB.com: So were you able to watch them for free when you were working at the drive-in?
Simpson: Before I started cleaning, I worked in the booth, and you could see most of the screens from there.
MLB.com: That's a nice perk. Speaking of which, what's the best perk about being in the big leagues?
Simpson: The travel's a lot easier. In Triple-A, you've got to go through the airport. I think that's the best thing. You leave right after the game. You don't have to wake up at 4 in the morning for a 6 a.m. flight.