LSU freshman pitcher Eric Walker has been diagnosed with a tear in his right elbow, and will undergo reconstructive surgery. This means he’ll miss the 2018 season, coach Paul Mainieri announced Thursday. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says this is bad news for the Tigers as they expected him to be the starting Friday night pitcher…:
Cut 26 (10) “isn’t good”

The rivalry has taken a new step between LSU and Florida as the Gator football program announced Thursday that its 2017 homecoming opponent will be LSU. This comes on the heels of last year’s situation with Florida not wanting to give up its home game against the Tigers even though a hurricane was approaching. After much controversy the teams agreed to let Florida play in Baton Rouge last season, if LSU went to Gainesville the next two seasons. Florida will host LSU on October 7th.

New Orleans Pelicans GM Dell Demps officially announced on Thursday the signing of free agent guard Jrue Holiday to a new contract. It’s worth $126 million dollars over five years. Holiday said staying in the Big Easy is like choosing to stay with family…:
CUT 25 (23) “next five years”
He’s referring to the brain tumor suffered by his wife, who was pregnant at the time, and caused Holiday to miss training camp and the first 12 games of last season.

ULM announces its tabbed Nick Floyd to be its Athletic Director. Also in Warhawk news, Michael Federico was introduced as ULM’s new head baseball coach Thursday.

And more rough news for LSU football. Adam Anderson, one of the highest rated pledges in the Tigers 2018 recruiting class, pulled his commitment on Thursday night.

LSU has received bad news on right-handed pitcher Eric Walker. The promising hurler will miss the 2018 season as he’ll need Tommy John Surgery to repair a torn ligament in his throwing elbow.

Walker first complained of discomfort in his forearm before the College World Series. He tried to pitch in a game in Omaha, but left in the third inning, because he felt the pain reach his elbow. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says this surgery was inevitable, regardless if Walker pitched during the College World Series….
cut 10 (11) “…the fall”
Because of Walker’s injury and Jared Poche and Alex Lange moving on to professional baseball, the Tigers will have three new weekend starters. Moran says Zack Hess, Caleb Gilbert, Todd Peterson and incoming freshman Nick Storz are the most likely candidates.

Michael Federico was introduced as ULM’s new head baseball coach today. The former assistant at Southern Miss will have the difficult task of building a program that won just 12 games last season. Former Warhawk Matt Collins is joining his staff. He was the hitting coach at Stephen F Austin for the last three years and they were a very good hitting team last year. Collins played at ULM from 2008 to 2009 and hit .344 during his career.

And there are reports that Christian Ostrander is leaving Louisiana Tech to replace Federico as Southern Miss’ pitching coach.

You can add another layer to the fuming rivalry between LSU and Florida on the gridiron. The Gators have announced their homecoming game will be the LSU game on October 6th.

Many running back AJ Carter can’t make his mind on where he wants to play football in college. He originally committed to UCLA, then switched his commitment to LSU and now he’s switched back to UCLA.

LSU pitcher Eric Walker will not pitch in the 2018 as he needs Tommy John Surgery to repair a damaged ligament in his throwing elbow. Recovery time is usually one year. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says Walker’s injury means there will be three new weekend starters for the 2018 season….
cut 9 (09) “….around that”
Walker first complained of discomfort in his forearm before the College World Series. He tried to pitch in a game in Omaha, but left in the third inning, because he felt the pain reach his elbow. He was 8-2 with a 3.48 ERA during his freshman campaign.

ULM introduced Mike Federico as its new baseball coach today. He takes over a program that went 12-43 in 2017.

Joining Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron at next week’s SEC media days will be junior tailback Derrius Guice, receiver DJ Clark and senior defensive tackle Christian LaCouture. The conferences 14 teams are each represented by three players and the coach over the four day media blitz in Birmingham. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey kicks off media days Monday morning by speaking to hundreds of reporters. LSU’s delegation meets the press that afternoon.

Florida has announced that its homecoming game this season will be the LSU game. That will take place on October 7th. It will be the first of back-to-back trips to Gainesville in consecutive years, because of last year’s scheduling switcheroo because of Hurricane Matthew.

Joining Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron at this year’s SEC media days will be junior tailback Derrius Guice, receiver DJ Clark and senior defensive tackle Christian LaCouture. The conferences 14 teams are each represented by three players and the coach over the four day media blitz next week in Birmingham. The trip is considered a major reward. SEC Commissioner greg Sankey kicks off media days Monday morning. LSU is sharing the floor with Tennessee at 2:30 that afternoon.

Many running back AJ Carter has decomitted from LSU after saying last Monday that he’d decided to go with the Tigers over UCLA. But Wednesday Carter announced on Twitter that he made the decision to come to Baton Rouge for the wrong reasons. Carter is as a three-star prospect, according to 247Sports, and is the top-ranked running back in Louisiana. After decommitting from LSU, Carter then tweeted his re-commitment to UCLA.

It looks like it Darius Miller is headed back to the New Orleans Pelicans after the former second-round pick agreed to terms Wednesday afternoon, according to sources. Miller had been playing in Germany and is expected to be back with the Pels when training camp opens in September. The Pelicans summer team opens in Las Vegas against the Toronto Raptors at 3 p.m. Friday.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Damien Wilson was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Frisco, Texas according to reports. Police had not released details on the circumstances leading up to the arrest.

Cowboys quarterback and Sulphur native Dak Prescott is reportedly accused of using a machine to sign his autograph for a memorabilia company instead of by hand, according to a report from ESPN.

Lots of folks have been critical of the New Orleans minor league baseball team’s new name, Baby Cakes after being re-branded from the Zephyrs last fall. But the logo was voted by fans across the country as the best in minor league baseball by America’s Logomania competition.

The SEC announced today the three players that will join Head Coach Ed Orgeron at SEC Media Days next week. Senior defensive end Christian LaCouture, senior wide receiver D.J. Chark and junior running back Derrius Guice will be in Hoover, Alabama on Monday.

First-year LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade has made his mark on the recruiting trail already. Since he was hired in March, Wade signed a 2017 recruiting class ranked in the Top 20 and he’s received a commitment from five-star Scotlandville point guard Ja’Vonte Smart. Scotlandville Head Coach Carlos Sample says Smart should flourish at LSU…
cut 20 (16) “…another level”
Smart is listed as the sixth best point guard in the nation in the Class of 2018.

LSU pitcher Eric Walker will meet with a physician with the Texas Rangers tomorrow. Walker’s season ended during the College World Series, because of discomfort in his throwing arm. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says if the injury to Walker keeps him out of the 2018 season or forces him to miss an extended period of time, it opens another spot in the weekend rotation…
cut 18 (15) “….the draft”

In NBA news…free-agent guard Nick Young has signed a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors. The Pelicans fron office was interested in signing the 32-year-old after he averaged 13 points a game for the Lakers a season ago.

Former Saints Kicker Morten Andersen will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month. It was announced today that his son will present his Dad in the Hall.

The LSU men’s basketball program recently picked a verbal commitment from one of the top point guards in the country. Ja’Vonte Smart from Scotlandville High School in Baton Rouge has chosen to stay home and play for the Tigers. Scotlandville Head Coach Carlos Sample says Smart will give you everything he has..:
Cut 19 (20) “will compete”
Since being hired in March, first-year head coach Will Wade signed a 2017 recruiting class that’s ranked in the Top 20 and he’s brought some excitement to the program.

Former LSU star Alex Bregman of the Astros went 3-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, three runs scored an an RBI in last night’s 16-3 victory over the Braves.

LSU left fielder Antoine Duplantis has been chosen as the next Tiger to wear the number eight jersey. In a tradition started Mikie Mahtook, the player who wears number eight on the LSU baseball team is the upperclassmen who exemplifies leadership and dedication to the program. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says Duplantis is an obvious choice…:
Cut 17 (13) “he’s fast”
LSU coach Paul Mainieri said in a statement that this is an honor Duplantis has worked very hard to earn.

Meanwhile Maineri says pitcher Eric Walker will meet with a physician with the Texas Rangers tomorrow. He said Walker had an MRI done on his injured arm and the Rangers doctor will be able to provide an assessment.

WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge is reporting that sources close to the matter said police declined to pursue sexual assault charges against an LSU football player because the woman who made the claim was not credible.

LSU outfielder Antoine Duplantis will wear jersey number eight next season. The number eight jersey is given each season to the upperclassman who exemplifies the spirit of LSU Baseball through his leadership and dedication to the program. This tradition was started by outfielder Mikie Mathook, who has since handed it down to Mason Katz, Alex Bregman, Jake Fraley and then Cole Freeman last season. Duplantis is a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and during his two seasons at LSU he’s hit .321 with four homers and 100 RBIs.

Coach Paul Mianieri says pitcher Eric Walker will meet with a physician with the Texas Rangers on Thursday. Mainieri says Walker had an MRI done on his injured arm and the Rangers doctor will be able to provide an assessment. Two weeks ago, Walker left a game in the third inning, because of discomfort in his throwing arm.

Meanwhile, Zach Hess will get some starts in the Cape Cod League.

Former LSU pitcher Aaron Nola won his third straight game on Monday as he struck out eight over seven innings as the Phillies blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates 4 to 0. Nola is now 6-5 on the season. In his last three starts, he’s 3-0 with a 1.27 ERA.

It appears there will be a slight change in LSU’s uniforms this season. Based on social media posts of players wearing their jersey for the 2017 season, the stripe on the shoulder will be shorter. It’s a similar design to what the team had from 2002 to end of the 2012 season.

TMZ Sports published a report that said LSU linebacker Jacob Phillips was under investigation for allegedly raping a female student. But WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge has spoken with local authorities and it turns out the woman who made the claim was found to be not credible. No charges have been filed in the case, which was investigated in early June.

TMZ Sports reported this morning that LSU linebacker Jacob Phillips was being investigated for allegedly raping a female student. But WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge is reporting that the woman who made the claim was found to be not credible. No charges have been filed in the case, which was investigated in early June.

Former LSU Tiger DJ LeMahieu has been selected as a reserve for the National League in the 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star game, which will be played a week from tomorrow in Miami. It’s the second time LeMahieu has been named to the team. He’s hitting .303 this season, with three home runs, 38 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .361.

And former Tiger Andrew Stevenson will play in the Triple-A All-Star game as he’ll represent the International League in Tacoma, Washington. The 23-year-old was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse on May 1st and in June he hit .327. Syracuse is an affiliate of the Washington Nationals.

The NBA Free Agency began over the weekend and the Pelicans quickly re-signed starting point guard Jrue Holiday to a five-year contract worth 126-million dollars. Jake Madison with Bourbon Street Shots, says the Holiday signing assures the Pelicans will be in contention for a playoff spot…
cut 18 (11) “….Western Conference”
But the Western Conference has gotten tougher. Houston, Oklahoma City and Minnesota are three teams that have made major acquisitions and the Denver Nuggets have reportedly signed former Louisiana Tech star Paul Millsap.

LSU senior forward Duop Reath will play for the Australia Emerging Boomers which will participate next month in the World University Games in Taipei. Reath averaged 12 points and six rebounds in his first season with the Tigers last year.

The Pelicans started the free agency period by signing their starting point guard Jrue Holiday to a five-year, 126-million dollar contract. Holiday’s return gives the Pelicans three star players along with big men Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. Bourbon Street Shots writer Jake Madison says the Pelicans do not have a lot of salary cap flexibility to add more firepower, but they have enough money to sign a three-point shooter…
cut 17 (08) “…Nick Young”
But there are reports Golden State is seriously considering Young. Regardeless, Madison says the Holiday signing assures that the Pelicans will be in contention for a playoff spot in the very difficult Western Conference.

The migration of All-Star players in the Eastern Conference heading to the West continues as the Denver Nuggets have reportedly signed Paul Millsap to a three-year, 90-million dollar free agent deal. Millsap leaves Atlanta and has played in the All-Star game the last four seasons. He’s 32-years-old.

Former LSU Tiger DJ LeMahieu has been named as a reserve for the National League in the 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star game, which will take place July 11th in Miami. LeMahieu is hitting .303 this season, with 3 hoem runs, 38 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .361.

And former LSU Tiger Kevin Gausman pitched seven innings of two-hit ball as the Orioles defeated the Rays seven to one. Gausman allowed just one runner get past first base as he lowered his ERA to 5.61.

LSU’s Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake won the 200-meter dash at the British Athletics Championships and he’ll compete in the IAAF World Championships later this summer, which will take place in London. Mitchell-Blake won with a time of 20.18 seconds, which broke a 30-year-old record at the British Athletics Championships. He was a semifinalist in the 200-meters at the Rio Olympics last summer.

The Pelicans have re-signed free-agent guard Jrue Holiday to a five-year, 126-million dollar contract. Pelicans insider and Bourbon Streets Shots writer Jake Madison says it was a signing that had to happen for the Pels to compete in the difficult Western Conference…:
Cut 16 (19) “the West”
Holiday’s return gives the Pelicans three star players along with big men Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.

Former Louisiana Tech star forward Paul Millsap has reportedly agreed to a three-year, $90 million dollar contract with the Denver Nuggets. The four-time All-Star has career averages of 14.2 points and 7.5 assists.

LSU’s switch-hitting superstar catcher, Michael Papierski, will reportedly sign with the Houston Astros today. The move will reunite Papierski with fellow LSU alumni, Alex Bregman.

Also in ‘Stros news, Houston rookie pitcher David Paulino has been suspended for 80 games after testing positive for an anabolic steroid.

Former LSU star Kevin Gausman allowed just two singles in seven innings to Tampa Bay in the Orioles 7-1 win Sunday. He had a rough start to the MLB season, but in his last two starts, Gausman has pitched 12.1 scoreless innings and gave up just six hits.

LSU and Louisiana Tech led the way on the All-Louisiana baseball team with three players selected on the first team and four players named to the first and second teams. The Tigers’ first-team selections were Alex Lange, Greg Deichmann and shortstop Kramer Robertson. Tech’s first-team selections were pitcher Nate Harris, catcher Brent Diaz and outfielder Raphael Gladu.