I'm Sorry. What Did You Say, Honey?

I was reading vzn's blog and the post "beautiful women of OS gallery VII" contained an article from The Telegraph that I found rather interesting.

"Men lose their minds speaking to pretty women" by Pat Hagan

So this backs up a statement I've made to a certain attractive someone more than once: "You reduce me to a gibbering idiot."

Now I've got a study to back me up. Her amazing good looks are doing it! It's really not that weird that I sound like my brain took a permanent vacation every time she looks at me.

--

She always thinks it's pure flattery but I'm dead serious. In my eyes she is as beautiful or more beautiful than Christina Ricci.

Draft Look: Lone Stars

Heading into this week, of the 32 reports available for your perusal, 17 have been on prep players and 15 have come from the university ranks. How's that for parity?

Not wanting to rock the boat, TDR this week is split right down the middle. On the college side of things, we've got four of the better bats available as we look again to the Tar Heel State for two of them, then west to Arizona and Southern California for the other two.

Then we hit the high school circuit for three bats in the Lone Star State, including two on the same team. But we didn't want to leave pitching out of the equation completely, so we made sure to include one hurler from New Jersey for good measure.

Of course, we continue the tradition of checking in on another arm. Some may call him the arm of the 2009 Draft class, Stephen Strasburg.

Strasburg Update

Last outing: March 27
Opponent: TCU
Result: 11-5 win
Game stats: 8 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 14 K
Season stats: 5-0, 42 1/3 IP, 24 H, 8 ER, 8 BB, 88 K, .161 BAA, 1.70 ERA

Now, on to the report.

The College Bats

Dustin Ackley, 1B/OF
University of North Carolina
The Tar Heels first baseman didn't have a particularly good series against Clemson in early March, going a combined 2-for-14. That's been a rarity as the junior is hitting .421 with eight homers and 23 RBIs in 28 games. He's slugging .729 and getting on base at a .530 clip. Complete Report

Grant Green, SS
University of Southern California
In a Saturday game against PAC-10 rival UCLA, Green continued his resurgence after a slow start by going 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs. He's gotten his batting average up to .366 with a pair of homers, 10 RBIs and eight steals in 22 games (he missed a doubleheader after a minor ankle injury). He has a .447 on-base percentage and .573 slugging percentage. Complete Report

Jason Kipnis, OF
Arizona State University
In a weekend series against arch rival Arizona, Kipnis went 3-for-7 with five walks, two stolen bases, five runs scored and six RBIs. Much of it came from a grand slam he hit in one game. The redshirt junior is having a huge season, hitting .469 with nine homers and 39 RBIs. He's got a .561 OBP and .919 SLG while going 11-for-13 in stolen-base attempts. Complete Report

Kyle Seager, 2B/3B
University of North Carolina
Another Tar Heel, Seager had a better overall weekend against Clemson than Ackley. The infielder went 6-for-14 with five runs scored, highlighted by a 4-for-4, four runs scored performance in the series finale. For the year, he's hitting .376 with a homer, 11 doubles and 20 RBIs in 28 games. He has a .523 SLG and .461 OBP and is a perfect 6-for-6 in stolen-base attempts. Complete Report

The High School Bats

Slade Heathcott, OF
Texas HS, Texarkana, Texas
Playing in the New Iberia Tournament earlier in March, Heathcott showed some pretty serious tools, both offensively and defensively, as well as an intense competitive nature. More recently, he sprained his left shoulder diving for a ball in the outfield but is expected to be just fine. Complete Report

Jacob Morris, OF
Coppell HS, Coppell, Texas
Seen over a two-day stretch against The Woodlands and Plano West, Morris had his best tool -- speed -- on display, especially defensively. It's a question of how he can learn to use that speed as a hitter that will help dictate the future of this Arizona State recruit. Complete Report

Jonathan Walsh, C
Coppell HS, Coppell, Texas
Also seen in those two games, Walsh didn't show his best catching tools. The switch-hitter flashed a little ability with the bat, though it remains to be seen if he'll want to sign instead of heading to the University of Texas. Complete Report

The High School Arm

Chris Jenkins, RHP
Westfield HS, Westfield, N.J.
Pitching in March in New Jersey can be challenging, but the big (6-foot-7, 230 pounds) right-hander did just that against Brearley High on St. Patrick's Day, a scrimmage that marked his first outing of the 2009 season. Even though it was early, he showed plenty of arm strength. Complete Report

Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Baker pushed from Opening Day to DL

Liriano to start Monday for Twins; Mauer, Bonser also on shelf

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Twins right-hander Scott Baker will not start on Opening Day, as originally expected, having been placed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday morning with right shoulder stiffness.

Baker threw just 58 pitches in a Minor League start against Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.

The move to put Baker on the DL was made retroactive to March 28, so Baker, who was 1-2 with a 6.85 ERA in Grapefruit League play, will be eligible to come off the DL on April 12.

Left-hander Francisco Liriano will start Opening Day against the Mariners on Monday in place of Baker, and Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey and Glen Perkins will follow Liriano.

The Twins' starter against the White Sox in Chicago on April 10 has not yet been named, but it's expected to be knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who started Wednesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Rays.

Two other players were also placed on the 15-day disabled list: Catcher Joe Mauer was added with inflammation in his right sacroiliac joint, and right-hander Boof Bonser, who had surgery to repair a torn labrum and torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

With Baker and Bonser on the DL, the Twins are now down to 12 pitchers -- the number they planned to carry on their Opening Day roster. That means Philip Humber and Brian Duensing will both likely make the team as relievers.

Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Giants NFL Odds Picks

Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Giants NFL Odds & Picks:

The Eagles are coming into this NFL Odds & Picks matchup off a wild card win last week on the road over Minnesota 26-14. Donovan McNabb was 23/34 for 300 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. RB Brian Westbrook caught a short pass out of the backfield and zigzagged for a devastating 71-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to open up the game. I'm glad the Eagles won't have to deal with Plax or Shockey, who had both been Eagle killers. I love Brian Dawkins, but Shockey always had him in the red zone.

The NFL Odds & Lines: NY Giants -4 favorites to Eagles.

A-Rod Got No Game

“Last night, he let slip his favorite Madonna song. The curious relationship between A-Rod and the pop icon makes for delicious gossip, of course. Is Rodriguez terrified that Madonna will resent the tongue-wagging? Or, better still, has he picked the wrong song as his favorite, and fears that an offended Madge might march her stilettos over his back?”

Okay, I am so tempted to mock his guy. I mean really.This guy watches his own Youtube as some kind of religion!

And he got no game when he is all lovin' on himself. A-Rod is a pansy!