HOUSTON -- Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby says he is confident the conferences university presidents will make progress on their exploration of expansion by the time they meet in mid-October.But Bowlsby, speaking before the game between No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 15 Houston at NRG Stadium, had little to say about where the Big 12 stands as it considers adding schools to the 10-team league. Houston is among the schools being considered by the Big 12.A person with direct knowledge of the situation told the AP on Friday the Big 12 had narrowed its candidates to 11 and meetings with those schools would be held next week. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the conference is not making its work on expansion public.Bowlsby would not confirm those meetings. The Big 12 announced in July the presidents and chancellors had given Bowlsby the go-ahead to start gathering information on potential candidates for expansion. The conference has said it will consider adding two or four teams, but has not committed to expanding.I dont have a vote, Bowlsby said. Thats at the behest of the presidents and chancellors. I am confident they will make progress (by Oct. 17).Big 12 officials are expected to meet with BYU, Air Force, Central Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Colorado State, Houston, Rice, SMU, South Florida and Tulane.Houston is one of five American Athletic Conference schools on that list. The Cougars won the AAC last season and beat Florida State in the Peach Bowl to finish 13-1.Bowlsby and American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco attended a dinner held by game organizers on Friday night. Aresco and Bowlsby said they did not discuss expansion at the dinner.Prior to that he did say he would try to give me a heads up on timetable and how many teams they might be ultimately looking at, Aresco said.Aresco said he has heard from some members of his conference that are involved in the process, but that he has promised those schools confidentiality.Houston athletic director Hunter Yurachek said during halftime that he had not met with Bowlsby. He declined to say if Houston officials would be meeting with Big 12 officials.I dont know that it feels like an audition, but Im glad weve got this opportunity today, Yurachek said.Yurachek noted that when the school gave Cougars coach Tom Herman a new contract that paid him $3 million per year after last season, the deal also included a one-time $5 million bonus if Houston joins a Power Five conference while he is coach. Wholesale Custom Padres Shirts . 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Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. BOSTON -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi finally found a spot he liked for Alex Rodriguez.Two more games and he wont have to worry about it.Benched from the starting lineup once again as his finale approaches, Rodriguez pinch hit and flied out in the seventh inning of New Yorks 9-4 comeback win against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.I was looking for a three-run homer so I went to him, Girardi said of A-Rod. Just missed it.Red Sox star David Ortiz limped off in the ninth inning after fouling a pitch off his right shin. Boston said X-rays were negative.My heart sank a little bit when I saw it, but I just saw him and I feel much better, Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said.New York received another health scare when pitcher Nathan Eovaldi left after one inning because of right elbow discomfort.Chants of `We Want A-Rod! echoed around the park at the start of the seventh. He was greeted by loud boos when he stepped out of the dugout to face Matt Barnes. They were louder when he was announced and again when he trotted back to the dugout after his flyout to right field, which dropped his batting average to .203 and extended his slump to 4 for 37 (.108).Rodriguez has just one start and eight at-bats in 17 games since July 22 as New York traded veterans and turned toward a youth movement. He had not appeared in a game since Aug. 2.My job description does not entail a farewell tour, Girardi said during a pregame media session that at times was a bit testy. My job description is to try to win every game and to try to put everyone in the best possible position to do that, and thats what Im trying to do.Rookie Gary Sanchez had four hits, including his first major league home run. Didi Gregorius also homered for New York, which overcame a 4-1 deficit, and Fernando Abad (1-6) gave up Starlin Castros two-run double that capped a five-run seventh.Tyler Clippard (1-0) pitched one inning for his first victory with the Yankees since being acquired from Arizona last week. New York used seven relievers after the departure of Eovaldi, whose fastball velocity was 93-94 mph, down from 97 mph in his previous start.Eovaldi is being sent back to New York for further examination. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild noticed the velocity dip.Larry asked him again: What hurts? Girardi said. He said Im OK. He finally said he felt something in his elbow.Mookie Betts had two doubles for Boston before leaving with right calf tightness.At the beginning of his pregame media session, Girardi said Rodriguez will be in the starting lineup Thhursday despite Boston scratching knuckleballer Steven Wright.ddddddddddddNew York said Sunday that Rodriguez, a 41-year-old designated hitter with 696 home runs, will be released following Fridays homestand opener against Tampa Bay.Girardi said he made a mistake by saying on Sunday that if Rodriguez wanted to play in all remaining games before his release that he would try to get him in the games.I talked to him again on Tuesday about it and said: This is what my plans were, Girardi explained. I knew he didnt like it. But, again, I have a responsibility to the game of baseball. No one individual is ever bigger than this game. No one. No one. No one.And Im not going to forget about it -- as much as weve been through together. Its hard. Believe me, its really hard.Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (2-5) will start for Boston on Thursday because Wright jammed his right shoulder while diving into a base as pinch runner against the Los Angeles Dodgers last weekend.Its about winning the games, Girardi said when asked if he liked the matchup. Thats what its always about here. Itll continue to be that way.Girardi then answered about 12 minutes of questions why A-Rod wasnt starting the first two games of the series.You could say what you want, theres a lot of relationships involved here and it bothers me sometimes because people say one thing to do and because it becomes controversial they say another and its difficult, Girardi said. When we look at this decision, were basing it on a substantial amount of at-bats -- and its not what we want. I think our hope is hed hit 30 home runs again, but that hasnt been the case this year.Girardi said he understands some may consider him a `bad guy for not playing A-Rod.It is what it is, he said. Its part of the job, I guess.Girardi explained further that Boston was in the AL East race and Tampa Bay was out of it, justifying his decision to start Rodriguez on Friday.My job is to put out what I feel is the best lineup, and thats what Im trying to do, Girardi said. Its been difficult.TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox: OF Chris Young (strained right hamstring) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket. Farrell said hed probably have a minimum of 20, 25 at-bats.... OF/C Blake Swihart will have season-ending surgery on his left ankle Monday. Farrell said Swihart will have a three-to-four month recovery.UP NEXTRHP Michael Pineda (6-10) starts Thursday for the Yankees. ' ' '