Drunk Rhino Sports Blog

The college football season starts today and we will be answering your questions during all of the games. Email us all of your questions and we will answer them live. We also have a special guest, a 4 year college player from Auburn. Give us a call and you can talk to him about anything. Also, find out what he will be up to next year.

Also, Who are your heisman picks? Check out this preview of running backs for this year.

CORVALLIS — The superstar tailback saunters into Oregon State’s football headquarters wearing a “Mustang Football” T-shirt, paying homage to his roots at Lamar Consolidated High School in the suburbs of Houston.

Three weeks into preseason camp, it is just another workday for Jacquizz Rodgers, the Beavers’ Heisman Trophy candidate.

The headphones are on, Lil Wayne blasting away.

Rodgers acknowledges his teammates with a nod.

But he keeps moving.

He’s all business as he heads for a meeting with his position coach, Reggie Davis.

In fact, he can’t stop.

The little man who casts the biggest shadow on this campus hasn’t taken his team to the Rose Bowl, yet.

After emerging on the national scene as a freshman and establishing himself as a bona fide star as a sophomore, the 20-year-old junior is motivated by a tireless pursuit of perfection that — if achieved — would finally put the Beavers in Pasadena on New Year’s Day for the first time in 46 years. That goal motivates him more than any of the individual accolades he might garner this season, even the famed Heisman Trophy, which only one player in the state of Oregon has ever captured — Terry Baker, another Beaver, 48 years ago.

It is that drive that’s left an indelible mark on everyone in the Oregon State program, from head coach Mike Riley to assistant coaches to the strength and conditioning supervisors in the Sports Performance Center weight room.

“His work ethic,” Davis says, “is second to none. … And as a competitor, he’s at the top of the charts. He absolutely hates to lose. He hates it when the other guys mess up. He wants things done the right way. He wants everybody to work as hard as he does.”

How much of a perfectionist is Rodgers? Eight months later he’s still upset about his fumble — his first and only one in 656 career carries as a Beaver — against BYU in last season’s Maaco Bowl.

The perfectionist mentality carries over into practice, too.

When practice ends, be it sweltering two-a-days in August or rain-soaked workouts in November — Rodgers does not stop for another 30 to 45 minutes.

“It’s something I’ve been doing since high school,” the 5-foot-7, 191-pounder says. “I always try to do something extra after practice, whether it’s lifting weights, doing extra running, just so I can just get better.

“I’m not one of those guys who’s just going to go into the locker room because you’re gonna sit in there and talk and waste time.

“Why not waste time doing work and perfecting your craft?”

Ready to reap rewards
The work appears to be on the verge of paying off.

Four other great running backs in Beavers history
Ken Simonton (1998-2001): Ranks No. 1 on school’s career rushing list with 5,044 yards. When he graduated, was one of only six players in Pac-10 history to rush for 1,000-plus yards in three seasons. Left OSU with 11 school rushing records. Rushed for more than 100 yards 26 times in 46-game OSU career, including three games topping 200 yards. Holds OSU career mark for touchdowns, with 59. Claim to fame — besides brief Heisman run in 2001 — might be scoring winning touchdown in 1998 triple-overtime victory over Oregon.
Steven Jackson (2001-03): The workhorse. A third-team AP All-American in his senior year, unanimous all-Pac-10 pick after rushing for 1,545 yards in 2003. Announced after MVP performance in Las Vegas Bowl that he was jumping to NFL. Taken by St. Louis Rams in first round (24th overall pick) of 2004 draft.
Yvenson Bernard (2004-07): Developed into all-Pac-10 player who is No. 2 on OSU’s career rushing list with 3,862 yards and 38 touchdowns. Bernard’s 299 rushing attempts in 2005 ranks No.3 all-time at OSU behind Jackson’s 319 carries in 2002 and Jackson’s 350 carries in 2003.
Bill “Earthquake” Enyart (1966-68): Ground-pounding big back in the Dee Andros era who holds OSU’s single-game rushing mark — 299 yards on 50 carries vs. Utah in 1968. Ranks No. 7 on OSU career rushing list (2,155 yards). Inducted into OSU sports Hall of Fame in 1991. Was first-team All-American in 1968 and was twice named all-Pac-8. Drafted in second round by Buffalo and later played for Oakland Raiders.
– Paul Buker
Since spring football, Rodgers says he feels stronger, faster and even more aware of what’s happening on the field.

The game is slowing down for him — as it always does for more experienced players who play at the highest level — and that portends a huge season.

“I’m more confident in what I’m doing because I understand the system better,” Rodgers says. “I feel like I put in the work. I feel like I’m better than last year.”

Which is saying a lot.

In 2009, Rodgers ran for 1,440 yards and 21 touchdowns, caught 78 passes (school record for a back) for 522 yards and a touchdown, and even managed to throw a touchdown pass.

To say that Oregon State took advantage of Rodgers’ durability and all-around talents would be an understatement.

His picture should be next to the word “workhorse” in the dictionary.

If Rodgers stays for his senior year he’s on pace for 5,498 career rushing yards, which would put him No. 2 on the Pacific-10 Conference’s all-time list behind USC’s Charles White (6,245).

Rodgers enters this season No. 5 all-time at Oregon State with 2,693 rushing yards, No. 5 in career touchdowns (32) and with 14 career 100-yard rushing games as he continues to dart and dance his way into the career rushing neighborhood of Beavers greats Ken Simonton (5,044 yards), Yvenson Bernard (3,862) and Steven Jackson (3,625).

Nonetheless, Rodgers has set some lofty goals for this season. He doesn’t think 2,000 yards are possible — “That means you’ve been worked to death” — but nothing’s wrong with wanting 1,800, which would be 110 more than Jackson’s single-season Beavers record of 1,690 in 2002.

Of course, Rodgers is also on practically every watch list.

He is a preseason all-American, and a sure-bet finalist for the Doak Walker Award that goes to the nation’s top back. He’s in preseason Heisman discussions — with Oregon State producing videos framed around an “I believe” slogan that show Rodgers eyeing Baker’s trophy from 1962.

Some have also declared him the Pac-10′s best player, which of course brings howls of protest in Eugene, where Oregon fans are convinced that Rodgers isn’t even the best running back in the state.

Ducks fans give that honor to lightning-fast LaMichael James, whose 52-yard run late in the third quarter of the 2009 Civil War snatched another Rose Bowl opportunity from the Beavers.

Quizz vs. LaMike, as the fans say?

Although that argument will rage all season, Rodgers isn’t the sort to make it a me versus him thing, even if Ducks versus Beavers is 24-7 on the message boards.

The two players — both terrific talents — sometimes text message each other.

“Quizz is a 4.4 guy but he doesn’t have the burst of (James),” says Davis, the Beavers’ running backs coach. “Quizz isn’t one of those guys where you say, ‘This guy is faster than everybody on the field.’ I think Quizz is more explosive but LaMike has that ‘nobody’s catching him’ type of gear.

“But,” Davis adds, “I don’t know if that guy (James) is as tough as Quizz.”

On that point, Rodgers agrees.

“I am tough,” he says. “Not taking anything away from him, but I’m willing to get down there and block, run between the tackles, get those tough yards.”

At Oregon State there is no debate: Rodgers is No. 1.

Is there anything more frightening for a defender than being one-on-one in space against Rodgers, who has one of the best change-of-direction moves since former Oklahoma State and Detroit Lions star Barry Sanders?

Jordan Jenkins, the Beavers’ backup tailback, has what is possibly the perfect nickname for Rodgers: “The human joystick.”

Linebacker Dwight Roberson goes further, saying Rodgers is like the “juke” button on the popular “Madden NFL” video game.

“You hit the ‘juke’ button, and first he’s here, and now he’s there, know what I mean? You just never know what he’s going to do,” says Roberson, who should know. “He can do something different every play. You think you have him figured out but you don’t because he’s just that elusive and that quick.”

Roberson says in those situations, when everybody is watching and the video cameras are whirring above Prothro Field, “You just hope it doesn’t get on YouTube.”

While Rodgers makes the moves look like they come naturally, he explains they are a constant work in progress.

Perfecting them, if you will.

“I work on my agility in the offseason so I can be able to make guys miss,” he says. “I’m not big like the other running backs who can lower their head and take all the pounding. You make guys miss, you take less hits.”

Heisman hype and hopes
Weeks into fall camp, the perpetual-motion running back comes to a rare grinding halt, sitting down to talk hits and misses of a different sort.

Rodgers has done dozens of interviews with national media and opined about the Heisman and the Beavers and rookie quarterback Ryan Katz until he’s practically hoarse.

The requests are endless.

“If it’s helping Oregon State get more recognition,” Rodgers says without hesitation. “I’m cool with it.”

The Heisman hype is flattering, but Rodgers is realistic.

If Oregon State doesn’t jump off to a big start — meaning, upsetting No. 6 TCU this Saturday and No. 3 Boise State on Sept. 25 — and he doesn’t roll up lottery numbers in those games, he’s liable to go from dark horse to also-ran before September ends.

Plus, there’s a sobering thought about Oregon State’s killer early schedule. “We’ve got a history of starting out slow,” Rodgers says.

Previous Beavers’ Heisman campaigns — aside from Baker’s — have not gone according to plan.

More
» See more of our college football preview
In 2001, Simonton’s Heisman bid barely got off the ground even though Oregon State sent out 2,000 DVDs to media members touting his chances and the Beavers had the momentum of a No. 1 preseason ranking in Sports Illustrated, not to mention the services of an outside public relations firm.

Then the season started, Fresno State boxed the Beavers’ ears 44-24, and those Simonton notebooks became scrap paper.

In 2003, Jackson had production, but no DVD and no prayer up against the likes of Jason White, Larry Fitzgerald, Eli Manning and Matt Leinart. Jackson was an afterthought, even though he would become a top-tier NFL back.

So far, Oregon State’s “campaign” for Rodgers has been understated, which fits the player.

Not that it won’t ramp up if the Beavers rise in the rankings and The Human Joystick starts tearing up the Pac-10.

And, although a lot would have to go right between now and Dec. 4, Rodgers is on record saying if he has a legitimate Heisman shot going into the Civil War he’ll hit the “juke” button and reach for the hardware.

“I never thought of myself as a Heisman winner,” Rodgers says. “I look at it now like it’s possible and that’s a great deal to accomplish in life, so if I’m in a race and it’s close toward the end of the season, yes, I’m going to go for it. But that’s not my focus right now. My focus is winning games.”

He means it.

Rodgers is a self-described “humble guy” who respects his opponents and lets others throw around the superlatives.

Is he the best player in the Pac-10?

“I wouldn’t even take that to heart — all that is on paper, and all that really don’t matter because everybody’s got one goal and that’s to make it to the Rose Bowl,” he says.

For emphasis, he rephrases it.

“Being the best player in the Pac-10, if you don’t take your team to the Rose Bowl, all that don’t matter.”

Don’t get the impression, however, that Rodgers is looking too far down the road — this season or next.

Oregon State fans would love to see him rush for 2,000 yards, score 30 touchdowns and lead the Beavers to Pasadena, but they don’t want him getting carried away and jumping to the NFL a year early.

“Haven’t even thought about it,” Rodgers says, breaking into a grin. “My plan is to be here for four years.”

This year’s football season starts Saturday, back in his home state of Texas, in what’s being promoted as a homecoming for Rodgers and his brother, James, a star in his own right as a preseason all-American flanker for the Beavers.

Rodney Williams, the uncle who helped raise the boys, says there is a “huge buzz” in the Richmond area, with dozens of friends and family members planning on attending the game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Rodgers is famous for saving some of his best performances for prime time on ESPN, but he’s not turning handstands — at least, not outwardly — at this chance to play close to home.

“I don’t really get excited about games,” he says. “I just try to stay, you know, grounded.

“But … when I get on that field, that’s when I express myself.” – From Oregonlive.com

Is the MLB looking to expand to other countries like NBA. Lets discuss as we follow todays action.

Major League Baseball and YouTube are aiming for the fences by offering full games on demand for free to fans in Japan within 36 hours of being broadcast live.

The deal to show games, supported by advertising revenue, represents the largest partnership for premium sports content in the history of the Google Inc. video site, according to a joint press release. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Viewers in Japan can watch full games from the current season and last season, as well as get highlights of Japan-born stars such as Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Live games featuring Japanese-language commentary are currently available on MLB.JP, or in high-definition with a monthly subscription on MLB.TV.

The deal also gives fans in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand and Russia access to highlight clips and archives on YouTube. -from businessweek,com

Today we have some great matchups. Fantasy football drafts are taking place all over the country as well. We have your sleeper picks. Just leave us a note and we will answer all of your fantasy questions as we discuss todays MLB actions.

Lots of great match-ups tonight. we will be discussing everytihng going on the entire day. on eone break. catch us live and we will be talking mainly about the upcoming nfl season and mlb playoff hopefuls.

As Major League Baseball tries to uncover the party responsible for leaking the financial documents of six teams to Deadspin, the Marlins fight the backlash.

The documents show the team made a profit of $49 million from 2008 to 2009 as it was negotiating with Miami-Dade County to have the public pay $500 million for a new stadium.

“I firmly believe it is apparent that the Florida Marlins should have contributed more, and the public less, to keep baseball in South Florida,” county commissioner Rebeca Sosa wrote in a memo to Mayor Carlos Alvarez, according to the Miami Herlad. “So that the financial burden to the county may be reduced, I hereby request you explore alternatives to the possibility of securing a greater financial contribution from the Marlins towards the stadium construction.”

To nobody’s surprise, the Marlins said no thank you to that suggestion.

“I’ve spoken with Rebeca,” Marlins president David Samson said. “I think she understands a contract is a contract. She understands the significant burden that both the county and the team are taking on.”

Meanwhile, Deadspin’s A.J. Daulerio has an update on MLB’s investigation after talking with Pat Courtney, MLB senior vice president of public relations, and here is how it goes:

Daulerio: “So, are you guys still looking into who leaked the documents to us?”

Courtney: “Yes.”

Daulerio: “Do you have a lot of people working on it? How many?”

Courtney: “I don’t have a number for you on that. But we’re working on it.”

Daulerio: “Are you going to release an update when you find the individual?”

Courtney: “Yes. Keep checking in. I’ll let you know if we have something for you.”

By Peter Barzilai

A lot of movement in the playoff race is hitting major league baseball.

We will have some minor league guests in the studio discussing what to expect with next years rookies.

Post or email your questions and we will answer some of them!

There is a lot going on in the world of baseball including Straburg injury. Tune in tonight or post your questions and we will answer them on air.

Also preseason football is nearing a close, who are the super bowl favorites.?

“(08-27) 21:10 PDT — ARLINGTON, Texas – The day it was announced that Stephen Strasburg will probably need Tommy John surgery, Ben Sheets visited the A’s clubhouse and said, “I wish that’s all I had.”

Sheets, 32, actually had three procedures performed during his Aug. 9 surgery. Along with the Tommy John surgery – in which a tendon from his hamstring was inserted into his elbow to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament – he also had had the flexor and pronator tendons in his elbow repaired.

Strasburg’s surgery isn’t expected to be so complex.

“They fixed it all,” Sheets said. “It doesn’t add more time to the rehab. It makes it a little tougher to come back from, the more stuff you have.”

Oddly, Sheets has hamstring pain from the surgery. Usually when a UCL is repaired, a ligament is used from the non-pitching arm. But Sheets said, “It was too small. Then (the doctor) tried to take something out of my leg, and that was too small. So he ended up taking a hamstring tendon. … It feels like I have a bad hamstring pull.”

Sheets doesn’t expect to pitch in 2011, and his future in baseball is questionable.

“My arm’s going to tell me,” Sheets said. “I’m not going to pitch like I did this year – not results-oriented, I’m talking about the way I felt – but if the arm heals and feels great, I’m sure I’ll give it a shot. That’s up in the air.”

Sheets, who signed a one-year, $10 million contract and went 4-9 with a 4.53 ERA in 20 starts, said he’ll be with the team most of September. Management wanted him to be a positive influence on the young starters, and Sheets said, “Sometimes they have a question here or there, and I try to confidently reinforce how good they were.”

Briefly: Kurt Suzuki was 0-for-22 before hitting a single and a double in his first two at-bats off Tommy Hunter. … The Rangers’ six infield hits gave them 147 on the season, tops in the majors. The club record is 155.

from sfgate.com

MLB fantasy is coming to a wrap and NFL is coming into its own. Send your questions to us at sportstalk@drunkrhino.com and we will answer them for you!!!!

“NFL Preseason Preview – San Diego (1-1) at New Orleans (1-1)

BY TONY MOSS, SPORTS NETWORK

THE SPORTS NETWORK

Quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers will be reunited on Friday night, when Brees’ Saints meet Rivers’ Chargers in the third preseason outing for each team from the Louisiana Superdome.
Brees and Rivers were teammates with the Chargers in 2004-05, with Brees’ ascendancy after a formerly mediocre run as San Diego starter, coupled with a rookie holdout that diminished Rivers’ chance at winning the starting job, defining an interesting two-year era for the Chargers.
Brees was 20-11 with a Pro Bowl appearance in 2004-05, winning NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors when Rivers was a rookie, but an injured shoulder suffered in the final game of the 2005 regular season impacted the Chargers’ decision not to give Brees a serious contract offer heading into 2006.
Rivers took over from there, and has gone 46-18 with a pair of Pro Bowl appearances in the four seasons Brees has been in New Orleans.
Brees has an inferior 38-25 record since signing with the Saints in 2006, but leads Rivers in Pro Bowl appearances (3) and Super Bowl victories (1).
Friday will mark the second time Rivers and Brees have squared off since the latter left San Diego, with the other occurring in a regular season game at London’s Wembley Stadium during the 2008 season. The Saints won that game, 37-32.
Not surprisingly, both players have looked sharp during the 2010 preseason. Rivers is 15-of-21 passing (71.4 percent) for 187 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Brees is 14-of-23 for 91 yards without a TD or turnover.
The QBs are expected to receive their most extensive time of the tune-up period on Friday.
On the injury front, linebacker Shawne Merriman (Achilles’) is among the notable Chargers not expected to be in uniform on Friday, while the Saints’ Darren Sharper (knee) is also unlikely to appear.
The Chargers hold a 4-1 edge in their all-time preseason series with the Saints, including a 21-20 home victory in the last such meeting, prior to the 1985 campaign.
As mentioned, the teams last met in meaningful play during the 2008 season.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/25/1791976/nfl-preseason-preview-san-diego.html#ixzz0xhyQB4ei” — from miami herald

MLB Fantasy playoffs are right around the corner. This is usually when we heat up every year. Give us a call and we will see what roster moves you can make to secure your position and win your league.

from espn:

“OK, Bumgarner allows fewer walks, but Bailey also strikes out more batters. Bumgarner pitches in a more favorable home park, but Bailey pitches for a first-place team in front of a slightly better defense. Is it talent? Entering the season, Bumgarner was universally thought of as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. But just a few years ago, Bailey was thought of as a top, if not the top, prospect in all of baseball. If you’re going to gamble on unproven talent, how much difference is there between the two when you come right down to it?

For starters
Starting pitcher rankings for Aug. 25
2010 Statistics
Past 21 Days
Rk
Team
Name
T
Opp
Rating
W-L
ERA
WHIP
W-L
ERA
WHIP
1 Roy Halladay R HOU 10 16-8 2.16 1.03 4-0 1.86 1.07
2 Jon Lester L SEA 8 13-8 3.26 1.18 2-2 4.64 1.50
3 Felix Hernandez R @BOS 8 9-10 2.51 1.13 2-2 0.92 1.09
4 Jake Westbrook R @PIT 6 7-8 4.48 1.34 1-1 3.60 1.08
5 Trevor Cahill R @CLE 7 13-5 2.54 0.99 3-1 1.13 0.91
6 Dan Haren R TB 6 8-12 4.55 1.33 1-2 5.27 1.39
7 Ryan Dempster R @WAS 7 11-8 3.56 1.28 3-0 1.65 1.06
8 C.J. Wilson L MIN 7 12-5 3.02 1.20 2-0 2.55 1.09
9 Phil Hughes R @TOR 6 15-5 3.90 1.21 3-1 3.09 1.16
10 Jeff Niemann R @LAA 5 10-3 3.12 1.17 1-0 3.86 1.43
11 Homer Bailey R @SF 4 3-2 4.52 1.32 2-0 0.69 0.69
12 Hiroki Kuroda R @MIL 8 8-11 3.48 1.24 0-2 3.24 1.00
13 Madison Bumgarner L CIN 6 5-4 3.20 1.34 1-1 4.18 1.73
14 Wade LeBlanc L ARI 4 7-11 3.85 1.40 2-2 5.64 1.34
15 Randy Wolf L LAD 6 10-9 4.67 1.46 3-0 3.00 1.19
16 Mark Buehrle L BAL 5 12-9 3.87 1.33 3-1 2.57 1.14
17 Joe Saunders L @SD 5 7-13 4.54 1.47 1-3 4.67 1.41
18 Jair Jurrjens R @COL 6 5-4 3.91 1.25 2-0 2.30 1.24
19 Brian Duensing L @TEX 9 7-1 1.92 1.03 3-0 2.08 0.96
20 Brian Matusz L @CHW 5 5-12 4.97 1.46 2-1 2.63 1.21
21 Esmil Rogers R ATL 5 2-2 4.53 1.51 1-0 4.00 1.44
22 Brett Cecil L NYY 2 10-6 3.90 1.24 2-1 4.66 1.50
23 J.A. Happ L @PHI 7 3-2 3.54 1.48 1-2 6.05 1.50
24 Armando Galarraga R KC 5 4-5 4.21 1.31 1-2 4.01 1.38
25 Mitch Talbot R OAK 4 8-10 4.23 1.50 0-1 6.23 2.65
26 Pat Misch L FLA 4 0-2 3.00 1.17 0-2 3.00 1.17
27 Alex Sanabia R @NYM 4 2-1 3.77 1.48 1-0 1.17 0.52
28 Sean O’Sullivan R @DET 1 2-4 5.14 1.29 1-3 6.50 1.67
29 Jeff Karstens R STL 2 2-10 4.98 1.44 0-4 7.65 1.65
30 Jason Marquis R CHC 4 0-6 11.39 2.25 0-3 5.54 1.85
Rk.: The author’s ranking of that pitcher for that day only. T: Pitcher throws left-handed or right-handed. Opp: The pitcher’s opponent for the day. Rating: The starting pitcher’s matchup rating — separate from the author’s ranking — which accounts for past history (three years’ worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst. W-L: Pitcher’s win-loss record. ERA: Pitcher’s earned run average. WHIP: Pitcher’s average number of walks plus hits surrendered per inning.
Selected notes:

• So it appears 1.6 percent of Dan Haren’s owners in ESPN standard leagues had a knee-jerk reaction and dropped him following his most recent start, a seven-inning, 11-hit, seven-run stinker. But as we continually preach in this space, you have to look at his opponent. Who was it? The Twins! No team in baseball has scored more runs (or comes within 20 points of their OPS) since the All-Star break. Indeed, Haren has faced the Red Sox, Rangers, Blue Jays and Twins in four of his six starts since returning to the AL, so once you adjust for the competition, he has been fine. Start him with confidence versus the Rays.

>• C.J. Wilson is proving that when every left-hander you face is a free out, you can walk four batters per nine innings and still be a strong No. 2 starter. Wilson has struck out 25 AL East batters in his past 21 2/3 innings, so he’s in quite the groove. I’m going to play with fire and recommend him against those mighty Twins, primarily because they feature four left-handers in their lineup.

• Am I really going to recommend Phil Hughes against the Blue Jays? What has gotten into me?! Another matchup that is normally in your best interest to avoid at all times, I feel it’s OK to take a calculated risk here with Hughes. For the most part, he has proved he is a capable No. 2 starter, and here’s the kicker: He sports a 2.81 ERA and 1.13 WHIP on the road, primarily because only two of the 18 home runs he has allowed this season have been hit away from Yankee Stadium.

• Homer Bailey has pitched well since returning from the disabled list, allowing just nine baserunners and one run in 13 innings, with 10 strikeouts. He’s still just 24 and seems to be gradually figuring out how to pitch at the major league level. Throw him out there against the Giants and see if it sticks.

• What is it I’m missing about Mark Buehrle? Someone help me out here. He doesn’t strike out many or induce an above-average rate of ground balls. Instead, he allows a fair share of fly balls, plays in a home park conducive to home runs and isn’t even backed by a good defense! How does he continue to get by? I’m still not buying this smoke-and-mirrors act of his, and if I continually end up with egg on my face, so be it. If I am missing something, however, feel free to post something in Conversation.

• Brian Duensing is the hot new thing, and he even has a superb rating. But be honest with yourself: Do you trust him against an elite offense? The Rangers rank fourth in baseball in home OPS. If you do, by all means, play him! But personally speaking, I want to see him conquer a good offense under harsh circumstances before I even think about starting him in such a circumstance.”

We keep the baseball going with another gret Friday show. catch us as we will answer mostly your questions.

Who do you think will make the playoffs? Is your team included? Also, since draft talk was some heated yesterday, we will continue with that topic.

“MLB draft filled with plenty of surprises

By Kendall Rogers, Yahoo! Sports
Aug 18, 2:08 pm EDT

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You can hear the collective sighs of relief from college coaches and MLB executives.

The MLB draft signing deadline is history. Some college teams were devastated by the draft. Others escaped the draft with minimal losses. On the MLB side, the Padres and Brewers are reeling over their inability to sign first-rounders Karsten Whitson and Dylan Covey, respectively.

Whitson turned down an opportunity to sign to attend college at Florida, where the Gators already were entering fall workouts with a talent-rich pitching staff. Covey, meanwhile, has a complicated medical situation and chose to attend San Diego for many reasons.

More From Kendall Rogers
Pressure rises as signing deadline looms Aug 14, 2010
Haden’s first move makes strong impression Aug 11, 2010
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It was a frustrating draft for LSU. The Tigers lost signees Lucas LeBlanc and Garin Cecchini to the draft, and were especially crushed when two-sport star Zach Lee – whom many considered unsignable – decided to ink with the Dodgers for $5.25 million.

UCLA was on the other end of the spectrum. The Bruins were surprised when pitcher Dan Klein signed with the Orioles. However, they were ecstatic when signees Zach Weiss, Adam Plutko, Nick Vander Tuig and Brenton Allen decided to sign.

There were several surprise in this draft. More are expected in 2011.

MLB DRAFT: 10 BIGGEST SURPRISES

Karsten Whitson not signing with Padres: Perhaps Gerrit Cole’s fantastic freshman and sophomore campaigns at UCLA had something to do with Whitson deciding to go to Florida. Cole, of course, turned down first-round money from the Yankees two summers ago and is in position to get more money in the 2011 MLB draft. Whitson was drafted much higher – ninth overall – and still chose to attend college. Whitson’s father said in a report his son’s first dream was to play college baseball. The Padres should’ve known that. At the college level, though, Whitson gives Florida an even more loaded pitching staff heading into ’11.

Barret Loux getting free agency: There wasn’t a more bizarre situation this summer than Loux and the Diamondbacks. It was a surprise when the organization chose Loux sixth overall. The Diamondbacks and Loux had agreed to a $2 million deal pending a physical. The physical uncovered some arm issues and the D’backs didn’t negotiate or speak to Loux the last month before the deadline. Interestingly, MLB decided to give Loux free agency in a landmark decision aided by the MLB Player’s Association. Now the talented right-handed pitcher can sign with anyone come Sept. 1. Texas A&M no longer will have Loux, but the Aggies can take solace the righty got justice.

Dylan Covey choosing college over Brewers: Covey might’ve kept San Diego coach Rich Hill from jumping off the deep end. The Toreros were hit hard by the draft. They lost recruits Tony Wolters, Marcus Littlewood and Griffin Murphy. They also lost veteran players Sammy Solis and Kyle Blair. So, when Covey decided not to sign with the Brewers and go to college, everyone was shocked. Hill, meanwhile, was filled with excitement. Covey is going to college partly because of a recent diagnosis that he has Type I diabetes. The 19-year-old and his family would prefer to begin his post-high school career in a controlled environment. He is a huge addition for the Toreros.

Zach Lee signs with Dodgers, leaves LSU: It was just a week ago sources at LSU were extremely confident Lee would stay on campus, continue practicing with the football team and play baseball in the spring for the Tigers. That all changed in 24 hours. Lee showed up for football practice Monday morning and was absent from afternoon workouts. He met with LSU football coach Les Miles a few hours later and informed him he was signing with the Dodgers. Lee was considered unsignable the entire summer, and the Dodgers brass were heavily criticized for wasting a first-round pick on the two-sport star. The Dodgers got the last laugh by going well over slot and signing Lee for $5.25 million.

Dan Klein signing with the Orioles: Klein was a draft-eligible sophomore last season for the Bruins and entered the draft as an intriguing option because of his strong finish and impressive display in Omaha. But when Klein was drafted in the third round by the Orioles, we had little doubt he would return to the Bruins. After all, he was a power arm that coach John Savage was planning to move into the weekend rotation with likely first-round picks for 2011 Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer. Shades of the Big Three at Rice in ’03 come to mind. Klein, though, opted out of a chance to get drafted higher and likely earn more money. He signed with the Orioles for $499,900. Sources say Klein simply was ready to take the next step. We’re surprised he signed.

Some signing bonuses: Maybe some MLB organizations know stricter draft guidelines will be in store when a new collective bargaining agreement is voted on next year. It certainly seemed like it with some of the over-slot bonuses on deadline day. Nationals fourth-round pick A.J. Cole signed for $2 million and Red Sox 11th-rounder Lucas LeBlanc – an LSU signee – signed for $500,000. The over-slot signings are less of an issue for some of the early round picks. However, college coaches are furious with the practice of MLB teams swooping in and signing later-round players for higher bonuses.

Cole Green not signing, going back to Texas: The Longhorns had arguably the nation’s best pitching staff last season with Green, Taylor Jungmann, Brandon Workman and Chance Ruffin leading the charge. Ruffin and Workman were expected to sign and Jungmann will be a first-round pick in next year’s draft. Green, though, was the draft-eligible Longhorn who sources believed could return to campus this fall. He certainly values his college life, but his draft stock never will be higher than it was this summer. Green had a sensational junior campaign and was a fourth-round pick to the Tigers. With a much deeper draft and no leverage in ’11, Green won’t equal the money offered by Detroit on deadline day. He also is expected to get drafted later. Still, you must respect his decision to return to college.

Cole Cook signing with Indians: The last two years haven’t been kind to coach Steve Rodriguez and Pepperdine. Besides struggling on the field, the Waves also have had some draft surprises not go their way. Cook was that surprise this summer. The draft-eligible sophomore right-handed pitcher was a fifth-round pick to the Indians and was thought to be headed back to college for several weeks. The Indians, though, came through and signed him with a $299,000 signing bonus. Cook had a good sophomore campaign and might’ve thought he couldn’t improve his stock next summer. However, he will be a junior in the ’11 draft and would’ve had the same leverage. Cook had a chance at more money even in a deeper draft.

UCLA getting several signees on campus: The Bruins were disappointed when pitcher Dan Klein signed with the Orioles, but they were redeemed when several signees decided not to sign and go to college. Recruits who didn’t sign include sixth-rounder Adam Plutko, ninth-rounder Brenton Allen, 10th-rounder Zach Weiss and 39th-rounder Nick Vander Tuig. Plutko going to college is a surprise to some, while many expected Allen, Weiss and Vander Tuig to play for the Bruins. Vander Tuig is particularly interesting because he would’ve been a high draft pick if not for an injury his junior season of high school. The Bruins escaped in good shape.

Kyle Parker dealing with Rockies, playing two sports: It always has been a tricky draft situation when you’re dealing with a two-sport star. That was the case with Parker. Parker announced several weeks ago he was playing quarterback for Clemson this fall. He also entertained the idea of returning to the baseball team for another season. But at the deadline, Parker earned a solid signing bonus of $1.4 million and still will play football for the Tigers. We’re surprised the Rockies didn’t originally offer him something he couldn’t refuse to exclusively play baseball. We’re also surprised the Rockies still went $200,000 over the recommended slot to sign him.”