True story: John Manuel and I were sitting in his office moments ago debating whether or not it was bad luck to appear on the cover of Baseball America’s College Preview issue. We had started to notice a trend developing of players getting injured or underperforming after gracing the cover, and through the first month of the season, that trend seemed to be continuing. Oregon State pitchers Mike Stutes (1-3, 7.29) and Jorge Reyes (1-1, 11.15) were off to rough starts for the Beavers after appearing on the cover of the College Preview sporting national championship rings.

As we wound up our silly conversation, an e-mail arrived in John’s inbox informing us that Reyes and OSU outfielder John Wallace had been suspended for violating team rules. Reports out of Corvallis, Ore., say that Reyes, Wallace and former Oregon State lefthander Anton Maxwell were arrested Tuesday for using a rifle to shoot soda cans on a fence in Maxwell’s backyard, allegedly hitting a nearby home and parked car. Reyes, a sophomore righthander who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2007 College World Series, and Wallace will miss this weekend’s series against Pepperdine.

"Jorge and John are very good individuals and have a history of being terrific ambassadors for Oregon State University," Beavers coach Pat Casey said in a statement. "However, in this instance, they did some things that were out of character for them and not well thought through. There are consequences from your actions and I’m hopeful this is an educational experience for both young men."