When in Rome...

by Barca Blog - Mike Minor was impressive in his professional debut for the Rome Braves Thursday, throwing two perfect innings in a limited start against the Charleston Riverdogs.

Atlanta's first round pick talked about his performance with Carroll Rogers' of The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

“My curveball was a little off, my change-up was off,” said Minor, who was coming off an 81-day layoff since his last game as a Commodore. “It’s usually my best pitch. Didn’t really get it over for strikes today. At first I thought two innings or 30 pitches would be all right, just to get my feet wet. But once I got out there, I didn’t want to stop.”

Read the complete story... click here.

(Photo credit: Hyosub Shin / AJC.com)

Corbin talks about Minor

by Barca Blog - Head coach Tim Corbin just released a statement on junior pitcher Mike Minor, who was selected by the Atlanta Braves with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft earlier tonight.

"Mikie is as good as any of the pitchers that have been in our program," said Corbin. "Like Jeremy Sowers, Casey Weathers and David Price before him, Mikie will be another Vanderbilt pitcher that has developed in our system and under pitching coach Derek Johnson and become a first rounder. He has been a phenomenal young man to coach and I will miss what he and his family brought to our program. I am excited for him and look forward to watching him play at the next level."

Click here to read VUcommodores.com's official press release... And check out the AP story by Paul Newberry.

It's Game Day

by SID - The Commodores will take on the Blue Raiders in a few hours in the first game of the Louisville Regional.

Vanderbilt will try and have its second successful (in terms of W-L) weekend in a row for just the third time this season and for the first time since taking series from Florida and Arkansas the first two weeks of April. Since that time the Dores have spent the last six weeks alternating a winning weekend with a losing one.

So either things remain the same or VU will start a new trend. The young Commodores gained valuable postseason experience last week at the SEC tourney and one person that set the tone was junior ace Mike Minor. His complete game gem over No. 2 LSU in the opening round last Wednesday was, in my opinion, his best pitching performance as a Commodore. It was his second complete game in three starts and came against a team many are picking to win it all.

Minor has always pitched well in the postseason. He has made three appearances, two starts and one relief outing, in the last two NCAA tournaments and is 1-0 with a 3.85 ERA with 15 strikeouts and just one walk in 16.1 innings. Vanderbilt will once again need him to set the tone for the weekend against a powerful Middle Tennessee squad.

More on Middle Tennessee later in the day..

Small-town legend turned ace

by Barca Blog - Chapel Hill, Tenn., has a little more than 1,000 residents and two stoplights. It's also the hometown of junior ace Mike Minor. Check out Ryan Schulz's feature on Minor in a recent issue of Commodore Nation Magazine.
Click to Read More

Also, I thought I'd throw in this preseason video interview with "Spike" from the ItsGoodtobeGold.com website.

Friday baseball update- 6:55 p.m. CT start

By Travis Young - Here is Vanderbilt's starting lineup for Friday night's game against Tennessee at Hawkins Field. The game is about ready to get underway after a 55-minute rain delay. The Vanderbilt players and coaching staff worked diligently with the grounds crew to get the field in playing condition.

Weather Report from Hawkins Field:, Mostly Cloudy, 73 degrees. Winds blowing from south to southeast up to 7 mph.

Vanderbilt Lineup
1. Brian Harris SS
2. Riley Reynolds 2B
3. Steven Liddle RF
4. Curt Casali 1B
5. Aaron Westlake DH
6. Andrew Giobbi C
7. Joe Loftus LF
8. Jason Esposito 3B
9. Jonathan White CF
SP: Mike Minor (5-4, 3.72 ERA)

Tennessee's starting pitcher Jeff Lockwood (0-0, 4.64 ERA) has appeared in 33 games for the Vols this season. On the mound, Lockwood has pitched out of the bullpen for most of the season while making his only starts of the season against Ohio and Arkansas (4/26). The 5-11, lefthander has 11 strikeouts and 10 walks in 21.1 innings of work.

Vanderbilt is 15-6 against Tennessee under head coach Tim Corbin. The Commodores lead the series 46-41 in games played in Nashville.

The Commodores look to even the series up at one game a piece tonight as they will send staff-ace Mike Minor to the mound. Minor is coming off a sensational complete-game 12-strikeout outing against Georgia last Saturday (5/9). The southpaw leads the 'Dores in strikeouts (91) and innings pitched (82.1). Minor has struck out at least 10 batters in five of his last eight starts, including a career-high 13 against Mississippi State on April 24.

Fans can follow tonight's action on vucommodores.com, including live stats and twitter updates. For live stats click here while for twitter updates click here.

Saturday Baseball Update- 12:05 CT Start

By Travis Young - Here is Vanderbilt's starting lineup for Saturday's afternoon game against Georgia at Foley Field.

Weather Report from Athens, Ga: Cloudy, 74 degrees, with 79% humidity and little wind. The flag in center field is standing still

1. Brian Harris SS
2. Riley Reynolds 2B
3. Steven Liddle CF
4. Curt Casali 1B
5. Aaron Westlake DH
6. Andrew Giobbi C
7. Jason Esposito 3B
8. Joe Loftus LF
9. Alex McClure RF
SP: Mike Minor (4-4, 3.93 ERA)

Georgia's starting pitcher Alex McRee (4-1, 3.55 ERA) is coming off one of his best starts of his career last week as he fanned eight Florida batters while allowing two runs, one earned. The junior southpaw has 47 strikeouts and 36 walks in 45.2 innings this season.

McRee carries a 11.57 ERA against Vanderbilt in his career but his role has been limited as he has only thrown 2.1 innings against the 'Dores.

The 'Dores look to take the series today and will turn to staff ace, Mike Minor on the mound. The lefthander leads the team in strikeouts (79) and innings pitched (73.1). Minor tied a career high last weekend in a loss to South Carolina allowing seven runs and four walks while striking out one.

Fans can follow today's action on vucommodores.com, including live stats and twitter updates. For last night's recap of the series opener between the Bulldogs and Commodores click here.

Minor receives national honor

By Travis Young - Vanderbilt left-hander Mike Minor has been named to this week's National All-Star Lineup by the College Baseball Foundation and Diamond Sports. Minor was one of 20 players from across the country named to the week eight team. The Commodore was one of three SEC players that was named to the list, joining, Florida's Preston Tucker and Alabama's Brandon May.

Earlier in the week, the southpaw earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors after holding No. 1 Arkansas to just four hits (all singles) in eight innings of work with 11 strikeouts in the Commodores 9-0 win over the Razorbacks last Friday at Baum Stadium.

The preseason All-American candidate will take the mound for the Commodores Friday night as the 'Dores open a three-game homestand with Alabama at Hawkins Field. Friday night's game will start at 6:00 p.m. CT.

To view this week's College Baseball Foundation and Diamond Sports National All-Star Lineup click here.