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Some people tell me if I can't get a column called "SciFriday" out by Friday, then I should probably change the name.

Well, it's Saturday, and I am giving you SciFriday today. And I think I have a good excuse today. Late last night, my favorite baseball team, the defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays, traded away one of my favorite players, pitcher Scott Kazmir.

Yes, I know, sports and geekdom don't really mix well. But Tropicana Field hosts Sci-Fi Day once a year so that's enough of a connection, right? OK, maybe not. However, I like Scott Kazmir. Hell, one of my two expensive jerseys I own is a Kazmir one (the other one is for Evan Longoria). So you can say that today I'm probably not in the happiest of moods.

In any event, if you like anything about sports, then you're with me that losing a popular player -- even if he's having a bad season -- is not the ideal way to wake up first thing on a Saturday morning.

So it got me wondering. What if Hollywood worked liked sports. What if networks, in an effort to rescue shows from declining ratings, were able to make trades of top talent on shows?

I couldn't even describe the amount of work I would have to do on this site if I had to maintain a transaction wire. Something like "Warner Bros. Television traded Tom Welling from 'Smallville' for Tahmoh Penikett and a producer to be named from Twentieth Century Fox Television's 'Dollhouse' today. Officials from Warner Bros. said they were looking to take a different direction for 'Smallville' now that it's officially out of the Emmy race, while Joss Whedon said he's excited that he has someone willing to take his shirt off for every scene."

What kind of trades would we do if we were network executives living in a sports environment? I know that Edward James Olmos from "Battlestar Galactica" and Avery Brooks from "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" would've been franchise players for me, but it might have been fun to see America Ferrera from "Ugly Betty" take on the role of the Cylon Number Six.

Even better, what if we were able to trade Michael Hogan from "Battlestar" for Tony Shalhoub from "Monk."

"Yes, Admiral, I know you think I might be drinking again, but to be honest with you, I don't know where that flask has been."

Another fun trade would be Summer Glau coming in to replace Evangeline Lilly on "Lost."

"I don't know, Jack. The Others are kind of freaky, but if you were to punch me in the head, my one eye would turn red like the California governor."

Maybe that isn't such a good idea. But what a great way to solve miscasting problems early on. Or down the road. Sometimes it might work, like Nathan Fillion suddenly becoming the star of "Doctor Who." Other times, it might not, like adding Elisabeth Hasselbeck to "The L Word."

Now if only the sporting world would take some cues from television. Then we could see Major League Baseball canceling the Washington Nationals after just two games.