NFL Picks Week 14: Hill gets call from bullpen - OCRegister

A tie normally isn't anything to brag about, which is why it often has been likened to kissing your sister.

But after getting shellacked the previous two weeks, the So-Called Expert isn't too proud to concede that escaping Week 13 without losing to maintain a four-game lead with four weeks remaining in the NFL regular season -- felt like kissing Sports Illustrated model Brooklyn Decker.

This week's guest prognosticator also knows how to appreciate small accomplishments.

Ken Hill of Aliso Viejo still likes to reminisce fondly about his career as a UC Irvine pitcher nearly 30 years ago.

His career on the mound consisted of one inning.

The last inning of the last game of the 1981 season.

"And it was an ugly inning," Hill said, laughing.

For the record, Hill was a walk-on at UCI, a non-scholarship player who didn't even think he would get into a game.

"I hadn't had a sniff that year justifiably so," he said. "I was terrible."

But after the Anteaters had a big inning to build a commanding lead against Cal State LA, first-year UCI coach Mike Gerakos told Hill to warm up in the bullpen.

And he got the call.

"It was 25-5 in the ninth inning," Hill said, laughing again. "True to form, I came in and walked a couple of guys, hit a couple of guys, gave up a couple of runs and closed out a 25-7 victory."

Move over, Mariano Rivera.

"I think I now hold the school record for fewest innings pitched in a career where injury was not part of the equation," Hill said. "My final career ERA is 18.00."

Suffice to say, Hill's career after baseball has been more noteworthy. He was sports information director at Golden West College for five years, SID at Fullerton College for five years, and briefly was PR director for the now-defunct Orange County Sports Association. (Remember the Freedom Bowl and Disneyland Pigskin Classic, everyone?) Now 51, he's a senior business consultant for Cox Business.

Like Hill, the So-Called Expert is a former college pitcher. The older we get, the better we were. Right, Ken?

Ready or not, it's time to commence pickin' and grinnin'. Click on PHOTOS for my picks and comments, noting the five games on which Hill and I disagree.

(ALSO: You can also sign up to compete against me and Register colleague Earl Bloom in the OC Register Weekly Fantasy Football League, simply by clicking here.)

Contact the writer: ryoungman@ocregister.com