What to read while stealthily adjusting the thermostat

Because what Beth in accounting doesn't know won't hurt her. 

  The 2008 MLB Draft wrapped on Friday, and several former and future(?) Cards heard their names called . In addition to first-day selection Chris Dominguez, pitcher B.J. Rosenberg (13th round - Philadelphia), pitcher Zack Pitts (24th round - St. Louis), catcher Derrick Alfonso (26th round - Milwaukee) and second baseman Justin McClanahan (33rd round - Toronto) were all selected. And in the spirit of bringing you meaningless but slightly cool tidbits, McClanahan was the 999th overall selection.

Outfielder Layton Hiller (15th round - Atlanta), pitcher Keith Landers (18th round - Baltimore) and infielder Tony Zych (46th round - Chicago Cubs) joined first round selection Jake Odirizzi as drafted members of Dan McDonnell's recruiting class of 2008. All four signees have the option of signing a pro contract sometime between now and Aug. 15, but Odirizzi figures to be the lone member of the group who will go that route.

  Eric Crawford touches on Tom Jurich's rebuilding comment as well as the current state of Louisville football in his latest blog entry. He also gets a virtual head nod of approval for his response to the post's first comment.

  Louisville ace Justin Marks will get a reprieve from the ping of the metal bat this summer, as he's been invited to play in the illustrious Cape Cod League. Marks will toe the rubber for the Chatham A's, the same team that fellow lefty Freddie Prize Jr. once spent an up-and-down summer with. I own Summer Catch and could not be more embarrassed about it.

Right Field Fog - a blog dedicated to Cape League baseball - is excited about the opportunity to watch Marks work.

Five Players I'm Excited To See

1. Grant Green
2. Alex White
3. Matt Harvey
4. Gavin Brooks
5. Justin Marks

...

Justin Marks – LHP – 6’2 180
Louisville
Sophomore

Marks had a great freshman season with the Cardinals, and after struggling through the early part of this season, he really turned it on. He finished with a 9-1 record, a 2.21 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 85.2 innings. Marks looks like a guy who’s just coming into his own, so he could make a big splash this summer.

  Chances are high that you've already seen it by now, but Brian Bennett had an awesome piece on Clay Holloway in Sunday's C-J.

  Kyle Kuric is already on campus and taking part in workouts and summer school, but he's spending this week playing for the Indiana All-Stars and chronicling (TM) the experience for the Evansville Courier & Press.

All right Kyle, it's time for me to share with you a crucial writing lesson that Kurt Vonnegut shared with me a few years ago. First Rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college.

Although I am impressed that you used it accurately. Apparently those three hours spent in a university classroom are already paying dividends.

  The Big East Basketball Report begins its summer snap shot series with offseason looks at Cincinnati and Connecticut .

  With college football previews from Lindy's, Athlon and Phil Steele all available, Stassen.com has been able to release its initial preseason consensus rankings for 2008. Louisville - picked to finish fifth, sixth and seventh in the Big East  by the mags - has received zero top 25 votes, and ranks above only Syracuse in the conference.