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If you like seeing ex-Beavers play on this side of the Continental Divide, then I've got good news for you: word has it that former OSU standout and current Milwaukee Brewers prospect Cole Gillespie has been traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for second baseman Felipe Lopez. Here is what the Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro reported of the deal:
Jason Vondersmith of The Portland Tribune is reporting that Wilson HS pitcher Stuart Fewel has committed to play baseball for Pat Casey & Co. at Oregon State. Check out quotes from Fewel on his commitment and watch video of him during the state playoffs after the jump.
I was at the OSAA 4A baseball state championship game last week where I had a chance to catch up with Oregon State football and baseball recruit Jordan Poyer of Astoria High School. He and his team were able to hold off Baker to win the Class 4A title, which gives Poyer state championships in both sports he is being recruited to play for the Beavers.
Frankly, I haven't paid much attention to OSU baseball this season--sorry, fellas--but my interest was piqued when the Beavs took two of three from Stanford last week to clinch a spot in the NCAA tournament. The team now heads to Fort Worth, TX for a first-round matchup with Texas A&M.; If, like me, you've got some catching up to do before the games begin, I suggest you check out some yeoman's season review work from rvm of Building the Dam.
This weekend, I had the chance to catch former OSU outfielder Cole Gillespie's return to Oregon as a professional ballplayer. Now with the Nashville Sounders--the Triple A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers--Gillespie arrived in Portland for a three-game series against the Beavers. I've posted a few notes about his performance in games 1 and 2 below. For some background on Gillespie's season, check out this story from the O's Aaron Fentress.
I used to be opposed to rankings that came out this early, but that was before I had a blog to write. Now I think they're "useful" and "informative," or at the very least harmless fun. Can anyone topple USC? Can WSU topple anybody? Where do the Beavs fit in? These are July-August questions that can just as easily be asked in May. If you think I'm alone on this, check out this column from Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury-News, who's already handicapping next season's run to the Roses. Here's what he had to say about the Beavers:
The Blog returns from Grad School Visit hiatus just in time to catch up on the spring sports scene. There's a lot going on in Corvallis right now: softball and baseball are in full swing, golf is just teeing off, and the football team is well into its spring practice schedule (with all of the ensuing hubbub surrounding a revamped secondary and wide receiving corps). Heck, there's even news on the basketball front. Here are a few choice links to get you all caught up:
By chance, I was able to make both of this week's games at Gill. In my lifetime, the Beavs have only made a handful of postseason appearances, so I figured the expense - $30 in tickets, $8 in Dippin' Dots, and gas - was justified. I ended up getting more than my money's worth. Both games were close, both featured medium-sized but enthusiastic crowds, and both included a number of memorable plays - from dunks to blocks to game-winning shots. The local beat writers have already covered most of the salient details from media row, so I thought I'd add a few observations from the bleachers.
A tip of the hat to Adam Rose for sending me this link. You can listen to the Oregon State Beavers reflect on their season after the loss to Stanford on Wednesday.
I won't lie: the end of the regular season was not good to the Beavs. While the LA sweep wasn't entirely unexpected, losing at Oregon threw a serious wrench in OSU's postseason plans. The Beavs now enter the Pac-10 Tournament with little in the way of positive momentum. More pressing is the issue of Calvin Haynes' injured hand. All things considered, I think it would be fair to say that OSU is limping into tournament play.
But the news from Gill isn't all gloom and doom. As some of the following reports suggest, coach Robinson and the Beavs seem to be viewing today's game as a fresh start. The emotional lift provided by bona fide postseason prospects appears to have counteracted whatever letdown the team experienced after last weekend's losses. As for Haynes, coach Robinson says he's been "practicing as if his hand isn't hurting.''
Just when you thought the Beavers head coach couldn't get any more positive publicity, this happens.
Chris Dufrense of the LA Times gives coach Rob some love in his list of the Pac-10 Billboard top five coaches, and look where the leader of Beaver Nation basketball ends up ...
Following OSU's 54-52 win at Washington State, this line from Paul Buker's game story caught my eye:
The mind boggles at the possibilities? ... NIT? CBI? ... or that other one I can't remember?It's Feb. 14, folks, and Oregon State is talking about possible post-season action.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. I thought all talk of tournaments was forbidden unless and until this team reaches the .500 mark. So much for the niceties of postseason etiquette, I guess. With that dam broken, we're now free to flood the web with reckless predictions and analyses - a special privilege reserved only for fans of non-cellar-dwelling teams. Click through for some premature speculation about the Beavs' postseason prospects.
Update: Be sure to check out the recap courtesy of The Oregonian's Jeff Smith who was at Gill for the event.
The Beavers wrestling team fell short against the No. 10 Boise State. Despite the fact they couldn't get the team win, there were still some individual highlights for the Beavers on Sunday. Photos after the jump >>
Be sure to leave your thoughts, comments and warm birthday wishes for Jacquizz in the comments section below.
Full disclosure: I haven't seen more than five minutes of any Ducks basketball game this season. I don't know why they're struggling, other than to speculate that their new players haven't had a chance to mesh with the old ones. They seem talented enough, and Tajuan Porter's supposed to be a pretty good player, but apparently that hasn't been enough. So, handicapped by my ignorance of the situation in Eugene, I asked MK - an old friend and Ducks fan whose basketball IQ I trust completely - to tell me why Oregon is underachieving. Here's what he had to say: