Ex-Brandon Standout Cruz Selected By Cardinals

Posted Jun 6, 2008 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jun 6, 2008 at 06:40 PM

The St. Louis Cardinals selected former Brandon High standout and current University of Tampa outfielder Paul Cruz in the 40th round (1,205th overall) in Friday’s MLB amateur draft.

Cruz hit .362 wth four homers and 45 RBI this season for the Spartans, helping UT get back to the Division II College World Series. As a junior, Cruz hit .357 in helping UT win the 2007 national title.

Cruz was the second Spartans player to be drafted Friday, joining slugging first baseman Jose Jimenez, who was selected in the 33rd round (1,009th overall) by the Los Angeles Angels. UT left-hander Kevin Ferguson was later selected in the 43rd round (1,309th overall) by the Angels.

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Athletics Tab Ex-Cowboys Hurler Thomas In 13th

Posted Jun 6, 2008 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jun 6, 2008 at 05:57 PM

Former Gaither Cowboys right-hander Daniel Thomas was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 13th round (394th overall) of the MLB amateur draft on Friday.

Thomas recently completed his junior season at the University of South Florida, where he went 2-4 with a 4.21 ERA.

In addition, Clearwater Central Catholic infielder Sam Mende, a USF signee, was selected in the 40th round (1220th overall) by the New York Yankees.

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Rays hit hard by suspensions

Posted Jun 6, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Jun 6, 2008 at 06:58 PM

ARLINGTON, Texas—MLB has determined the suspensions for yesterday’s brawl, and the Rays certainly got the worst of it.

James Shields was suspended for six games, Jonny Gomes and Edwin Jackson for five each, Carl Crawford for four games and Akinori Iwamura for three.

On the Boston side, Coco Crisp got seven games, Jon Lester five and Sean Casey three.

All eight players were also fined an undisclosed amount.

Updating: The official MLB release is out, and it details the days the suspensions are scheduled to begin assuming no appeals are filed. Any player that appeals will be able to continue playing until the appeal can be heard.

The suspensions for Shields, Gomes, Crisp and Lester are slated to begin tonight.

Crawford’s suspension is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

Jackson’s suspension is scheduled to begin next Friday.

Casey’s suspension is scheduled to begin next Saturday.

Iwamura’s suspension is scheduled to begin Tuesday the 18th.

Updating again at 6:50 p.m.: Joe Maddon said the Shields and Gomes suspensions will be appealed, so Gomes will be available tonight and Shields should make his next scheduled start in Anaheim. Appealing buys some time for the Rays to set everything up, but Maddon also admitted they appealed partially out of principle because they don’t believe they did anything wrong.

Maddon called a closed-door team meeting to reinforce that notion.

“I just wanted to reiterate to our group that I felt, actually, proud of the way we handled the situation yesterday,” said Maddon. “I thought we handled it the right way and I don’t think it can be disputed in any way, how we handled ourselves during this entire event, and for that I’m very happy with our guys. Now it’s up to us to take this negative situation and turn it into something positive.”

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Newsome’s Castellanos To Astros

Posted Jun 6, 2008 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jun 6, 2008 at 05:23 PM

The Houston Astros selected Newsome left-hander Kris Castellanos in the 38th round (1142nd overall) of Friday’s MLB amateur draft.

Castellanos went 5-2 with a 3.42 ERA in nine starts as a senior. He struck out 87 and allowed 31 hits in 49 innings pitched.

Castellanos, an All-Western Conference second team selection this season, has signed with Florida State.

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Mayweather Jr. Retires

Posted Jun 6, 2008 by Eddie Daniels

Updated Jun 6, 2008 at 05:06 PM

Although there was talk of a Floyd Mayweather Jr-Oscar De La Hoya rematch down the line, looks as if that is on the backburner. Don’t believe me, read for yourself…

Dear Media:

It is with a heavy heart that I write you this message today. I have decided to permanently retire from boxing. This decision was not an easy one for me to make as boxing is all I have done since I was a child. However, these past few years have been extremely difficult for me to find the desire and joy to continue in the sport.   

I have said numerous times and after several of my fights over the past two years that I might not fight again. At the same time, I loved competing and winning and also wanted to continue my career for the fans, knowing they were there for me and enjoyed watching me fight. However, after many sleepless nights and intense soul-searching I realized I could no longer base my decision on anything but my own personal happiness, which I no longer could find. So I have finally made up my mind, spoken to my family, particularly my mother, and made my decision. 

I am sorry I have to leave the sport at this time, knowing I still have my God-given abilities to succeed and future multi-million dollar paydays ahead, including the one right around the corner. But there comes a time when money doesn’t matter. I just can’t do it anymore. I have found a peace with my decision that I have not felt in a long time. 

Finally, I want to personally thank all of my fans for their loyalty and dedication as my career comes to a close. I always believed that their enthusiasm and support helped carry me to victory with every fight I ever had. 

It was a great joy to have fought for all of you. Now I hope you understand my decision and wish me well with the rest of my life.   

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

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USF should add Buffalo any day now

Posted Jun 6, 2008 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Jun 6, 2008 at 06:05 PM

Back in September of 2006, I asked the following question in my blog: “Should USF play home-and-home series with Buffalo, Western Kentucky and Ball State?”

That blog post - here’s the link - which included a copy of USF’s proposed future schedules generated a wide range of opinions. Now two years later, USF has signed home and home dates with two of the three powerhouses so I guess Buffalo should be added to the schedule any day now.

As I stated back in 2006, I understand Leavitt’s scheduling philosophy (and although USF provides a Woolard quote on its scheduling releases, make no mistake: Leavitt OKs the opponents) for the five nonconference games: 1 home and 1 away vs. BCS teams, 1 Division I-AA home game and 2 non-BCS teams.

As I wrote previously: “USF has done a great job scheduling home-and-home series with UNC, N.C. State, Indiana, Michigan State, Kansas and Miami. I also really do understand USF playing a Division I-AA home game every year. It’s a very real necessity to help guarantee a six-win season and bowl berth.

“However, it doesn’t make sense to schedule home-and-homes with Mid-American and Sun Belt teams when UCF appears the more attractive matchup for the fans and players - and, more importantly, from a budget standpoint.”

This isn’t meant to turn into another UCF scheduling topic, but with the series ending this year, what is the benefit of playing a home-and-home with Western Kentucky instead of UCF? You can’t use the “we have never lost to UCF so there’s no reason to play them anymore” argument because USF should never ever lose to the likes of the Western Kentuckys and Ball States.

At least a UCF home game will draw about 60,000. Heck, you’ll barely get that many fans for both home games combined against Western Kentucky and Ball State. If you’re going to play two non-BCS teams every year, UCF would seem a likely choice for one of those spots.

Think how far USF’s program has evolved since 2006 and USF can’t get a 2-for-1 deal with a Western Kentucky team that will be playing its first-year in Division I-A?

So I guess we’ll pick up from our discussion from September 2006. “Should USF play home-and-home series with Buffalo, Western Kentucky and Ball State?”

Fire away.

Also, here is USF’s future non-conference schedules:

2009
Sept. 5 Wofford
Sept. 12 at Western Kentucky
Sept. 19 Florida International
Sept. 26 Miami
Oct. 10 at Indiana

2010
Sept. 4 Samford
Sept. 11 at Florida
Sept. 25 Western Kentucky
Oct. 2 Florida Atlantic
Nov. 27 at Miami

2011
Sept. 10 Ball State
Oct. 1 at Notre Dame
Nov. 26 Miami

2012
Sept. 8 Michigan State
Sept. 22 at Ball State
Nov. 24 at Miami

2013
Sept. 7 at Michigan State
Sept. 14 Florida Atlantic
Nov. 30 Miami

2014
Sept. 13 N.C. State

2015
TBA at Florida

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USF adds series with Western Kentucky

Posted Jun 6, 2008 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Jun 6, 2008 at 04:23 PM

Nothing like coming off vacation to find out USF added a home and home football series with Division I-A newbie Western Kentucky.

Here’s the release from USF:

University of South Florida Director of Athletics Doug Woolard announced the addition of Western Kentucky to the football schedules for 2009 and 2010 on Thursday morning.

The Bulls will play in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Sept. 12, 2009 and then host the Hilltoppers in Tampa, Sept. 25, 2010.

“Western Kentucky adds another NCAA FBS team to our upcoming schedules and really brings into focus our plans for the 2009 and 2010 seasons,” said Woolard. “The best part of the two-game deal is that we add a seventh home game in 2010.  The entertainment value for our fans increases with one more home date.  For our team, it provides the competitive advantage of playing one more date in front of our home fans.  And from a revenue standpoint, it provides a significant stimulus with seven home dates against five travel dates.”

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Spoto Hires Caparaso As New Football Coach

Posted Jun 6, 2008 by Nick Williams

Updated Jun 6, 2008 at 04:27 PM

Former Pasco High football coach and Brandon defensive coordinator Dale Caparaso has been named the new football coach at Spoto.

Caparaso replaces Scott Palmer, who officially resigned after two seasons concluding this year’s spring practice. He inherits a team that went 3-7 last year.

“It’s exciting,” Caparaso said. ““There’s a lot of potential out there. Scottie did a good job over there getting those kids ready.”

Caparaso was relieved of his duties at Pasco following his fourth season in 2006, in which the Pirates went 3-7. In his first two seasons, he led the Pirates to consecutive playoff appearances. Last season, he was the defensive coordinator at Brandon and had the same position at Bloomingdale this spring.

Although he hasn’t had time to actually look at film and evaluate the current players at Spoto, Caparaso is positive they will be solid defensively.

“We will run our defense like we did at Brandon with the 4-4 (formation) and we will get at people,” he said. “I see a lot of the same athletic ability in Spoto.”

Caparaso said he will hold an open team meeting Thursday afternoon inside Spoto’s cafeteria.

“I’m happy about it,” he said. “(Coaching) is something I’ve done for a lot of years and it’s a passion of mine.”

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Cubs Take King’s Buckley In 29th Round

Posted Jun 6, 2008 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jun 6, 2008 at 09:20 PM

The Chicago Cubs selected King High’s Sean Buckley in the 29th round (881st overall) in Friday’s MLB amateur draft.

Buckley was a Tribune All-Hillsborough County first team selection this season after leading the Lions in virtually every offensive category. Buckley hit .448 with eight doubles, one triple, six home runs, 18 RBI and 16 runs scored.

Buckley also was an FACA all-star and performed well for the West team in two games in Sebring. He had a two-run double in the championship game win.

Dunedin High’s Jacob Rogers went a few picks later in the 29th round (892nd overall) to the Boston Red Sox. Rogers was one of the top performers on Dunedin’s Class 5A state championship squad this season.

Buckley said Friday that he’ll likely head to USF instead of opting to turn pro.

“I’m very honored to be chosen in the amateur draft, and I was happy my hard work paid off, but I also know there is a lot of hard work ahead of me,” Buckley said. “I’d like to go to college. I think that would be the best idea right now, to go to college and try to get a lot better and be a higher draft pick in three years.

“I’ll sit down and listen to what they have to offer. But I’ll probably be leaning toward college. I’m pretty sure I’m going to go to college right now. I’m pretty sure I have my mind made up.”

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Former Jesuit Standout Drafted By Cardinals

Posted Jun 6, 2008 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jun 6, 2008 at 03:22 PM

Former Jesuit High standout Chris Swauger was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 26h round (785th overall).

Swauger, a senior outfielder at The Citadel, was named a first team All-Southern Conference performer this season after hitting .359 and leading the team in runs scored (59), doubles (18), slugging percentage (.603), walks (51) and on base percentage (.485). He was second on the team with 10 home runs and sixth with 35 RBI. It was the third time in his collegiate career he was received all-Southern Conference honors.

Swauger also was recently named an Academic All-American by ESPN The Magazine for a second consecutive year.

Swauger, a four-year starter at The Citadel, was a Tribune All-Hillsborough County first team selection as a senior in 2004 and helped the Tigers make the state tournament in each of his final two seasons.

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