OT: NCAA rules NU pitcher Ehlers must sit out 60% of Season

[LittleOzzy]

Logan Ehlers -- who has been ineligible while the NCAA investigated possible violations involving an adviser he retained after he'd been chosen by the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth round of last June's Major League Draft -- has been handed a suspension worth 60 percent of the regular season. That means the first game he could play in would be at Wichita State, which will be the Huskers' 35th game.

NU coach Mike Anderson said Tuesday that he was disappointed in the NCAA's ruling, and that the school already has filed an appeal.

In August, Ehlers turned down an $800,000 offer from the Blue Jays, but his adviser broke an NCAA bylaw by having contact with Toronto during the negotiating process. Nebraska was told in the past month by the NCAA that Ehlers would be penalized, but the school just received official written notification.

"You're dealing with (professional) teams that aren't thrilled their offers are turned down," noted Anderson, adding that he was encouraged by how Nebraska's administration handled the matter and now is asking that the NCAA respond to the appeal in a timely manner.

http://huskerextra.com/sports/baseball/ ... 149dc.html

[luvtheteam]

I recall an interview with AA some time after the draft when is was apparent Ehlers was going to head to Nebraska, and AA said the BJ scout who was trying to sign him was very upset about how it turned out.

I don't know why a HS'er would turn down $800k to go to college anyways. The schools will always be there.

[Avenger]

The coach seems to be blaming the Blue Jays for what happened but i highly doubt that Anthopolous and company ratted him out to the NCAA, just doesn't seem like Anthopolous' style. But then again, the same thing happened with Paxton last year but that was under JP and Beeston was in charge of those negotioations.

[satyr9]

I recall an interview with AA some time after the draft when is was apparent Ehlers was going to head to Nebraska, and AA said the BJ scout who was trying to sign him was very upset about how it turned out.

I don't know why a HS'er would turn down $800k to go to college anyways. The schools will always be there.

Yeah, take the 800k, put 4 years of tuition in a separate account and go to college if you don't make the bigs. It's not like 1st rounders make that much more than this in signing (okay top 10 I guess, but that's a pretty big risk). I'm all for schooling, but 800k in cash is worth a shitton more than a scholarship.

[luvtheteam]

I recall an interview with AA some time after the draft when is was apparent Ehlers was going to head to Nebraska, and AA said the BJ scout who was trying to sign him was very upset about how it turned out.

I don't know why a HS'er would turn down $800k to go to college anyways. The schools will always be there.

Yeah, take the 800k, put 4 years of tuition in a separate account and go to college if you don't make the bigs. It's not like 1st rounders make that much more than this in signing (okay top 10 I guess, but that's a pretty big risk). I'm all for schooling, but 800k in cash is worth a **** more than a scholarship.

satyr, the other consideration i was thinking about last night is that the 2011 is supposed to be one of the strongest and deepest drafts since 2005. In light of that, what chance does Ehlers of even being a 1st rounder for 2011 anyways? I was reading that the pitching depth is so strong for this draft that guys throwing 95/96 mph may not even get drafted in the second round! Imagine that. So if Ehlers thinks he can get into the low teens and scoop $2mm or so, it is a huge risk. Overall, i think a bad call on his part. On top of that the 60% penalty just imposed totally messes him up. I really don't see him going before the 2nd round at best, and that assumes he really impresses in the short time he has.

So overall, another 'Paxton type' bad call. JMO.


Edit: $800k is like at least 10+ years of work in the real world for most of us....

[Avenger]

Ehler's is not gonna be eligible for the 2011 draft, high school kids who forgoe the MLB and go to a 4 year college have to wait until after their 2nd year before they regain eligiblity. If he had gone to a junior or community college, he'd be aligible after his first year.

Jake Barett the high school kid we selected in the third round in 2009 is eligible to be drafted again this year

[SharoneWright]

Total gong show.

[satyr9]

What I don't understand is how the decision is reached. The kid must want to be a pro-ball player. His parents can't be sneezing at their 18 year-old kid almost becoming a millionaire and any hangers-on are gonna tell the kid to take the dough. The only people arguing the other side are the college recruiters. They must be damn good at their job.

[luvtheteam]

What I don't understand is how the decision is reached. The kid must want to be a pro-ball player. His parents can't be sneezing at their 18 year-old kid almost becoming a millionaire and any hangers-on are gonna tell the kid to take the dough. The only people arguing the other side are the college recruiters. They must be damn good at their job.

And the agent of course. You have to know that was the big problem last year with Boras and Paxton. I don't know who Ehler's agent is though.

But yeah, pro ball, 800K, and to get into the Blue Jays organization is very special as well. They really treat their players well.

Avenger...thanks for the note. Wasn't aware of that. So i guess he was expecting the 2012 draft then when he turned down the offer.

[Schad]

Jake Barett the high school kid we selected in the third round in 2009 is eligible to be drafted again this year

Not unless I'm mistaken; players at four-year colleges have to either have turned 21 by the draft or have completed their junior year. Barrett will be 19 at the time of the draft and in his sophomore season, so he shouldn't be eligible.

[Avenger]

Jake Barett the high school kid we selected in the third round in 2009 is eligible to be drafted again this year

Not unless I'm mistaken; players at four-year colleges have to either have turned 21 by the draft or have completed their junior year. Barrett will be 19 at the time of the draft and in his sophomore season, so he shouldn't be eligible.

you're right, they have wait three years, i don't know why i thought it was two?

[Schad]

you're right, they have wait three years, i don't know why i thought it was two?

It can be depending on age; you get draft-eligible sophomores like Mark Sobolewski here and there, and JUCO players can be drafted at any time.

[luvtheteam]

A little more info on this:

Ehlers was an eighth-round pick by the Blue Jays out of Nebraska City (Neb.) High last June. He reportedly turned down an $800,000 offer from the club, but his adviser broke the NCAA's "no agent" rule when he had contact with Toronto in the Cape Cod League.

"We're talking about a 30-second contact in the Cape Cod League," Anderson said. "The question was asked, 'Is the number still the same?' The answer was yes. I think Logan's honesty really hurt him with the NCAA."

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/?p=4189

[hyper316]

A little more info on this:

Ehlers was an eighth-round pick by the Blue Jays out of Nebraska City (Neb.) High last June. He reportedly turned down an $800,000 offer from the club, but his adviser broke the NCAA's "no agent" rule when he had contact with Toronto in the Cape Cod League.

"We're talking about a 30-second contact in the Cape Cod League," Anderson said. "The question was asked, 'Is the number still the same?' The answer was yes. I think Logan's honesty really hurt him with the NCAA."

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/?p=4189

truth, but that kinda hurts for doing the right thing after. the ruling is just, he did the right thing to fess up. a tough lesson for others to learn