James Paxton to return to UK

[NineOh]

UK Pitcher James Paxton who was drafted in the first round by the Blue Jays, will return to UK for his final season. Gotta love to hear that if you're Gary Henderson.

[spindoc]

UK Pitcher James Paxton who was drafted in the first round by the Blue Jays, will return to UK for his final season. Gotta love to hear that if you're Gary Henderson.

Wow. No way in the world I'd have passed on first round money. I commend him.

[2Short]

Never would have called this one. This is just great news for UK in 2010. I thought UK would be decent, but this definitely changes things in a big way! Can't wait for February...1st pitch Myrtle Beach!!:clap:

[Clyde]

Did Nidifer get drafted?

[Clyde]

Paxton uses Boras. No surprise the Jays passed.

[NineOh]

Nidiffer didn't get drafted. He's playing at Cape Cod for the summer.

[Clyde]

Nidiffer didn't get drafted. He's playing at Cape Cod for the summer.

 

Here's an article on UK players in the Cape Cod league.

 

http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/080309aaa.html

[2Short]

Nidiffer didn't get drafted. He's playing at Cape Cod for the summer.

 

The way Nidiffer started the 09 season, the talk was that he would not be back for 2010 as he was tearing it up and eligible for the 09 draft. As the season progressed, he didn't do quite as well however. I think it was more a matter of exhaustion as there appeared to be a big drop from him to the next group of catchers and the kid looked much different later in the season imo (ie: tired). Hopefully, the young kids step up a little more this year to let him rest occassionally which should translate into him having a great year! I am very excited about this group...they may be a little under the radar starting off? (though Paxton and Meyer are not under any radars). I am looking for them to compete at the top of the SEC!

[Warrior32]

WOW

[Clyde]

Paxton is suing the university.

 

http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/02/ace-pitcher-sues-kentucky/

[KY Thorobred]

Paxton is suing the university.

 

http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/02/ace-pitcher-sues-kentucky/

 

If what he is saying is true, I don't blame him at all.

[Texas Leaguer]

What does this mean for the upcoming season?

[Texas Leaguer]

A couple more articles on the pending lawsuit...

 

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/135305

 

Here is another:

http://www.kentucky.com/kentuckysports/latest/story/1044559.html

The lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday in Fayette Circuit Court, says UK officials, including UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart, have refused to inform Paxton "about the existence or nature of any allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing against him."

 

"How can you cooperate unless you know what they want?" said Richard G. Johnson, a Cleveland, Ohio attorney who represents Paxton.

 

The lawsuit says UK compliance director Sandy Bell told Paxton in October that he must submit to an interview with NCAA representative Chance Miller, assistant director of agent, gambling and amateurism activities for the NCAA. According to the lawsuit, Bell told Paxton not to tell anyone — including his parents or his attorney — about the interview or the instruction for him to participate.

 

The lawsuit says Bell's remarks indicated that Paxton would be suspended from the baseball team for some period even if he submitted to the NCAA interview.

 

The lawsuit says Barnhart told Paxton's attorney, Peter L. Ostermiller, that Paxton would not be allowed on the baseball team unless he did the interview. Paxton retained Ostermiller after UK and the NCAA requested an interview, according to court documents.

 

'James' life in his hands'

 

According to an affidavit from Ostermiller, Barnhart stopped by Ostermiller's office in Louisville unannounced on Nov. 18, while Ostermiller was in a trial and told a secretary, "The kid (referring to James), won't be able to play."

 

The deposition says Barnhart told Ostermiller in a phone conversation later that day that Paxton needed to talk to the NCAA investigator as soon as possible.

 

"Overall, Mr. Barnhart was quite insistent and animated that James had to be interviewed within the week," according to the affidavit.

 

Barnhart said the NCAA "made its own rules and could do whatever it wanted," the affidavit says.

 

Barnhart said Miller, the NCAA representative, had initially been "in James' corner," but no longer favored Paxton because the player delayed an interview with Miller on two occasions, according to the affidavit.

 

The affidavit says Barnhart told Ostermiller that Miller had "James' life in his hands" and was in a position to control his fate as a student athlete.

 

According to the affidavit, Barnhart said that if the interview was held on Dec. 3 instead of the week of Nov. 23, the UK baseball coach "would not know what to do since workouts with the baseball team were supposed to begin in January." Barnhart said the coach was concerned because if Paxton were ruled ineligible to play, the NCAA would take away any games James played in, according to the deposition.

 

Ostermiller's deposition also says Barnhart told Ostermiller that the situation with Paxton was "both similar to and not similar to" a lawsuit filed last year on behalf of another college pitcher, Andrew Oliver of Oklahoma State. Oliver filed a lawsuit against the NCAA that accused the association of breach of contract after he was ruled ineligible for using legal advisers to negotiate with the Minnesota Twins when he was drafted out of high school. Oliver received a $750,000 settlement from the NCAA.

 

 

I would love to see Paxton and Johnson take the NCAA down. Those clowns think they are above reproach and can do whatever they want. If he did something wrong, don't you have to tell him what he's done? Now we wait to see what the NCAA wants with Paxton.

[Jim Schue]

UK deserves a bit of criticism on this one as well for the way they handled this, especially for not sticking up for their guy. Guess Ms. Bell doesn't walk on water after all, despite what you hear in the hoops forum. :idunno:

[Park1221]

A couple more articles on the pending lawsuit...

 

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/135305

 

Here is another:

http://www.kentucky.com/kentuckysports/latest/story/1044559.html

The lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday in Fayette Circuit Court, says UK officials, including UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart, have refused to inform Paxton "about the existence or nature of any allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing against him."

 

"How can you cooperate unless you know what they want?" said Richard G. Johnson, a Cleveland, Ohio attorney who represents Paxton.

 

The lawsuit says UK compliance director Sandy Bell told Paxton in October that he must submit to an interview with NCAA representative Chance Miller, assistant director of agent, gambling and amateurism activities for the NCAA. According to the lawsuit, Bell told Paxton not to tell anyone — including his parents or his attorney — about the interview or the instruction for him to participate.

 

The lawsuit says Bell's remarks indicated that Paxton would be suspended from the baseball team for some period even if he submitted to the NCAA interview.

 

The lawsuit says Barnhart told Paxton's attorney, Peter L. Ostermiller, that Paxton would not be allowed on the baseball team unless he did the interview. Paxton retained Ostermiller after UK and the NCAA requested an interview, according to court documents.

 

'James' life in his hands'

 

According to an affidavit from Ostermiller, Barnhart stopped by Ostermiller's office in Louisville unannounced on Nov. 18, while Ostermiller was in a trial and told a secretary, "The kid (referring to James), won't be able to play."

 

The deposition says Barnhart told Ostermiller in a phone conversation later that day that Paxton needed to talk to the NCAA investigator as soon as possible.

 

"Overall, Mr. Barnhart was quite insistent and animated that James had to be interviewed within the week," according to the affidavit.

 

Barnhart said the NCAA "made its own rules and could do whatever it wanted," the affidavit says.

 

Barnhart said Miller, the NCAA representative, had initially been "in James' corner," but no longer favored Paxton because the player delayed an interview with Miller on two occasions, according to the affidavit.

 

The affidavit says Barnhart told Ostermiller that Miller had "James' life in his hands" and was in a position to control his fate as a student athlete.

 

According to the affidavit, Barnhart said that if the interview was held on Dec. 3 instead of the week of Nov. 23, the UK baseball coach "would not know what to do since workouts with the baseball team were supposed to begin in January." Barnhart said the coach was concerned because if Paxton were ruled ineligible to play, the NCAA would take away any games James played in, according to the deposition.

 

Ostermiller's deposition also says Barnhart told Ostermiller that the situation with Paxton was "both similar to and not similar to" a lawsuit filed last year on behalf of another college pitcher, Andrew Oliver of Oklahoma State. Oliver filed a lawsuit against the NCAA that accused the association of breach of contract after he was ruled ineligible for using legal advisers to negotiate with the Minnesota Twins when he was drafted out of high school. Oliver received a $750,000 settlement from the NCAA.

 

 

I would love to see Paxton and Johnson take the NCAA down. Those clowns think they are above reproach and can do whatever they want. If he did something wrong, don't you have to tell him what he's done? Now we wait to see what the NCAA wants with Paxton.

 

I agree...its ridiculous for the NCAA to allow kids to test the draft waters but expect them not to consult with an adviser/agent. You have George Steinbrenner and a 20 yr. old kid by himself at the bargaining table...Gee, who wins that negotiation?