http://www.sunherald.com/sports/story/581043.html HOOVER, Ala. -- It isn't supposed to be this easy. But for the LSU Tigers, it sure looks that way. LSU rolled to its 18th consecutive victory on Thursday night, crushing Vanderbilt 8-2 in second-round play of the SEC Tournament at Regions Park. One day removed from their dramatic 5-4 victory over South Carolina, when the Tigers (41-16-1) scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth before winning it in the 10th, this one was over in the sixth. That's when Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin elected to stick with his tiring starter, right-hander Caleb Cotham, with runners on first and second with no outs. LSU outfielder Derek Helenihi crushed a Cotham pitch for a three-run home run to left-center field that put the Tigers in front 7-1. LSU left-hander Blake Martin and two relievers limited the Commodores (38-18) to five hits. "Coach (Paul) Mainieri wanted me to go the other way," Helenihi said. "I was looking for the fastball, but (Cotham) got the slider up, and I just got my barrel of the bat on the ball." Sunherald.com 5/23/08

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3408154 Major League Baseball is making tentative plans to experiment with instant replay in the Arizona Fall League, according to a baseball official with knowledge of those discussions.If that experiment proves practical and successful, MLB then is likely to continue the experiment next March during the World Baseball Classic and spring training games. If no insurmountable problems arise, baseball could begin using replay -- though only to decide home run calls -- as soon as next season. A top baseball official confirmed to The Associated Press Thursday that he will formulate a proposal for instant replay, although he wouldn't put a timetable on a replay plan. "The times are such that our fans are used to seeing all the high technology and they're used to seeing the other sports that use these systems to make determinations, and the fans are clamoring for all the sports to look at that," said Jimmie Lee Solomon, the sport's executive vice president for baseball operations. Jayson Stark ESPN.com 5/22/08

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3408450 Ross Tucker, a former offensive lineman who played for five teams in a seven-year NFL career, reiterated Thursday that he believes that New England used players on the injured reserve list in practices, which violates league rules. Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh, in a meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week, said that a Patriots player on injured reserve practiced when he wasn't allowed to in 2001. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Thursday, "The Walsh allegation is still under review." The Patriots, when contacted by ESPN Thursday, had no comment. espn.com 5/23/08