Coin toss now looms large

By Eric Jones

In the initial meeting with both Vanderbilt and FSU team officials and administrators yesterday, there was a coin-toss initiated by a member of the NCAA Tournament committee. The coin-toss was done to determine which team would be the home team should the best-of-three series go through Sunday. FSU head coach Mike Martin was given the privilege as host to call heads or tails. He chose tails and the coin came up heads, so Tim Corbin won the right for Vanderbilt to be home team in the final game. Now that may prove to be an advantage with the Dores losing today 9-8 on a walk-off homerun.

Vanderbilt benefited at the NCAA Regional in Louisville in a similar manner as it was determined that Louisville had been the home team more than the visiting team during the tournament. The result, Vanderbilt was named as the home team for the championship game and had that last opportunity when Connor Harrell capitalized with the game-winning bunt. Now the Commodores will fight for that chance to take this series to Sunday.

Video: Super Regional Press Conference

By Travis Young

Vanderbilt head baseball coach Tim Corbin met with media this afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium in preparation for the NCAA Super Regional against Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla.

Corbin talked about winning the NCAA Louisville Regional last weekend and what his team has done to get where they're at.

See video below.

A man of his word

by Barca Blog

Nearly every player on the Commodore baseball team received a buzz cut from infielders Brian Harris and Anthony Gomez prior to the Louisville Regional last week.

Now, as a result of the Commodores' win over the Cardinals in the regional championship, head coach Tim Corbin will join the hairless club.

"I'm a man of my word," Corbin said after practice Wednesday. "I told them if they won, I'd get rid of it."

Just don't expect Coach to let his team do the honors.

"Gomez wants to cut it, but I'm not going to let a kid from New Jersey with a pair of scissors in his hand cut my hair, that's for sure."



Video of the Day: The best option for a haircut? I'd go with wrestling legend Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake.

Meet the Press Wednesday with Corbin, Westlake and Gray

by Barca Blog

Prior to departing for Tallahassee Wednesday evening, head coach Tim Corbin, first baseman Aaron Westlake, and pitcher Sonny Gray met with the media to discuss the Commodores' upcoming matchup with Florida State in the NCAA Super Regionals.

Watch the videos below to find out what the guys had to say:

Head coach Tim Corbin



First Baseman Aaron Westlake



Pitcher Sonny Gray

104.5 FM interview with Tim Corbin

Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin was a guest on the 104.5 Wake Up Zone Tuesday to discuss the latest in Commodore baseball. Download the entire interview for free on VUcommodores.com.

Audio: Listen to the Interview

Some notes about Vanderbilt's weekend so far

By David Rutz

Vanderbilt's 10-4 triumph over Illinois State kept its season alive. Now the Commodores face the daunting task of defeating top-seeded Louisville both tonight and tomorrow to advance to their first Super Regional since 2004. Here are some notes on Sunday's win and their weekend so far.

*With the win, Vanderbilt improved to 2-1 on the weekend and 17-16 in its history in NCAA Tournament play. Under Tim Corbin, the Commodores are now 14-10.

*Aaron Westlake seems to like Jim Patterson Stadium. He drove in four runs today, the big hit being his three-run homer in the ninth, and has driven in six in the past three games. He now has four home runs in this year's and last year's Regionals at Louisville.

*Jack Armstrong was wild Sunday, issuing six walks, but he only allowed one hit. Although Vanderbilt never trailed, he didn't get the win, only going four innings and allowing three earned runs. Will Clinard (4-0) pitched an inning of relief and got the victory.

*Vanderbilt pitching did a good job of containing Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Kevin Tokarski, as he went 0-8 with two runs scored and no RBIs in two games against the Commodores. He entered the NCAA Regional batting .429, which ranked him among the nation's best.

*The Commodore bullpen continues to do outstanding work. Clinard, Drew Hayes and Chase Reid pitched five innings against Illinois State, allowing one unearned run and striking out five. In three regional games, Vanderbilt relievers have allowed just one earned run in 15 1/3 innings for a microscopic 0.59 ERA.

*Illinois State committed seven errors, as many as the Redbirds had committed in the last eight games. They also walked 10 and hit three Vanderbilt hitters.

*Heading into the 9th inning against the Redbirds, Vanderbilt was 0-12 with runners in scoring position on the day and 0-15 since Jack Armstrong's game-winning hit in the 13th on Friday against Illinois State. Westlake's 3-run home run off Cam Verbeke provided a huge cushion, and the Commodores tacked on two more after an RBI double by Joe Loftus and Curt Casali's sharp grounder that was misplayed for an error to score Loftus.

For the weekend though, Vanderbilt is still only hitting .179 (7-39, 16 RBIs) with runners in scoring position. Also, with 17 men left on base Sunday, the Commodores have stranded a total of 41 runners the past three games.

Corbin sympathizes with U of L coach's plight

By David Rutz

To hear Tim Corbin tell it, being suspended is like being Tom Hanks in Cast Away.

So he feels for Louisville head coach Dan McDonnell, who was suspended for three games prior to his team’s NCAA Regional and will miss today’s pivotal contest against the Commodores at Jim Patterson Stadium.

“I just remember the game that I had to sit out against Tennessee,” Corbin said. “It’s like you’re pounding on the glass and yelling at the top of their lungs and no one can see you and no one can hear you. I hate it. It’s terrible.”

The two skippers have known each other since the 1990s, when Corbin coached at Presbyterian College and Clemson, and McDonnell was an assistant at The Citadel and Ole Miss.

McDonnell received the punishment after getting ejected for arguing and making contact with umpires during his team’s loss to St. John’s in the Big East Tournament. Unlike Hanks though, he had other things besides a volleyball to console him.

Assistant coaches Chris Lemonis and Roger Williams took the helm in the Cardinals’ Regional opener against St. Louis, an 11-2 victory. However, Louisville lost its only other game against Vanderbilt this season 11-10 in a 17-inning marathon at
Hawkins Field on May 11.

McDonnell will have to sit back and watch this game from the sidelines.

“It’s frustrating,” Corbin said. “You go through the season and you coach your kids and you’re not able to coach. That’s a tough one.”

Video: Dores discuss win over ISU

Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin, Andrew Giobbi, Jack Armstrong, and Brian Harris answer questions from the media following Vanderbilt's 8-7 win over Illinois State in 13 innings Friday at the NCAA Louisville Regional.

Part 1



Part 2

Slow Guy Revisited...at least for Giobbi.

By Eric Jones

It was a game that several people were wondering whether or not it would ever end. For the Commodores, the 13th inning was very lucky indeed, getting the 8-7 win over Illinois State. It seemed like just a day ago Andrew Giobbi was a featured player in a NCAA Regional preview video dubiously dubbed, "Slow Guys." Okay, actually it was just yesterday.

After the game, Gio was quick to point out after scoring the winning run that he didn't want to hear anymore about being slow. To his credit, Andrew did point out the nice fadeaway slide into home plate. Although admitting to having to keep up his energy (Power Bars and fruit) through tortuous heat, there is no doubt he is ready to build on this win and a 3-for-7 day at the plate with an RBI and that precious run scored at the end.

Corbs did not appear to hesitate Giobbi as he was running around the third base bag. Maybe he just knew Gio just wouldn't accept being thrown out at the plate. Slow or not, he was safe and that's all that really mattered.

Corbin undecided on starting pitcher

By Barca Blog (Photo by Jimmy Jones)

Coaches make many tough decisions during the postseason.

Determining the strategy for a starting rotation might be the toughest.

Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin faces that dilemma going into the NCAA Louisville Regional this weekend. Do you go with No. 1 ace Sonny Gray in the opener against Illinois State, or do you give Taylor Hill a chance to face the Redbirds again?

"You know what my nights have been filled with right now?" responded Corbin when asked if he'll keep the starting rotation consistent in regards to the regular season.

"The thought is, 'How do you win the tournament? You could win the battle but might lose the war, so how do you approach it that way? If you keep everything consistent, you probably sleep well right now. But do you sleep during the tournament?' Not so sure.

"If you want to pitch off, and you're thinking, 'What's the best way to win this tournament as a whole?' You might pitch Sonny in game two. But I don't know. I'm just not sure."

Corbin has traditionally kept the rotation the same in the regional format. The one time he made a change, it didn't work out. In 2008, Caleb Cotham got the call over Mike Minor in the opener against Oklahoma in Tempe, Ariz., but the Commodores lost 8-5 and never recovered from the losers' bracket.

It's not that easy of a decision when you consider Hill's successful outing against Illinois State on March 6. He held the Redbirds' offense in check in the Commodores' 9-2 win, allowing only two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in 7.1 innings. Do you give him another shot at ISU and hold Gray back for the second game?

You also can't ignore the importance of winning the first game in a regional, something the Commodores have failed to do in their last two NCAA trips. Gray has anchored the rotation all year, and was dominant in his two postseason appearances in Louisville last year. He threw eight shutout innings against Indiana in an elimination game, and pitched the final 1.2 innings in the regional championship against Louisville.

Let the debate begin.

"I'll tell you one thing: once I've made the decision, I'm going to sleep," Corbin added. "The decision will be made and we'll go forward. Right now, I'm trying to look at both sides to see what the best route is to winning this regional."

Video of the Day: How do I make a tough decision? I rely on Joey Gladstone and Jesse Katsopolis to tell me the pros and the cons. Works every time. Click to Enjoy

Corbin Call-in Show Sunday night

by Barca Blog

Just a reminder... the final baseball call-in show of the season will air tonight from 6-7 p.m. CT inside the Commodore Grille at the Holiday Inn Vanderbilt.

You can also listen to the program locally on 104.5 the Zone and online at VUcommodores.com.

If you have a question for Coach Corbin, call the following phone numbers during the show: (615) 737-1045 or Toll Free at 866-492-ZONE.

Click Here to listen online.

Video: Corbin, Gray on Thursday's victory

Head coach Tim Corbin and sophomore pitcher Sonny Gray answers questions from the media following Vanderbilt's 4-3 win over Arkansas on Thursday night at Hawkins Field.

For the complete recap, click here.

Corbin talks about thrilling win

Head baseball coach Tim Corbin answers questions from the media following Vanderbilt's 11-10 win over No. 9 Louisville in 17 innings on Tuesday night at Hawkins Field. The Commodores won the game in dramatic fashion as Jason Esposito's walk-off home run in the bottom of the 17th sealed the win.

Video: Corbin, Esposito meet the press

by Travis Young

Vanderbilt head baseball coach Tim Corbin and sophomore Jason Esposito met with the local media on Monday to discuss the upcoming Red Cross Benefit game vs. Louisville, the weekend series win over LSU, and more.

Video: Corbin on flood relief

Vanderbilt baseball head coach Tim Corbin met with the media on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the May 11th, Louisville game and how it will serve as a fundraiser for Nashville's flood relief and recovery efforts. Admission to that game will be free while monetary donations will be accepted for the Nashville Red Cross. More Information

Dores return to Hawkins Field Tuesday

by Barca Blog (Photo by SID)

The Vanderbilt baseball team practiced on Hawkins Field Tuesday afternoon, only two days after torrential rain flooded the facility and canceled the final two games of the Georgia series.

That's pretty astonishing considering the condition of the field on Sunday.

"Our damage was far less than what most had," said head coach Tim Corbin, who had to move yesterday's workout to the John Rich football practice facility. "We just had damages to the dugout and some equipment, but outside of that the field rebounded in a good way. It's just remarkable how two days of beautiful weather overcame one day of hellacious weather.

"The tarp was a boat (on Sunday). It was laying atop the water. You're talking about a tarp that's 160' x 160' that was just laying atop water. One of our coaches was up to his waste in water in left field. I think what could have been tremendous damage was really minimal when you think of about was out here in terms of the amount of water."

Corbin said Hawkins Field would be playable today if a game had been scheduled. The Commodores' next home game is Tuesday, May 11 vs. Louisville.

Corbin's Call-in Show canceled tonight

by Barca Blog

Tim Corbin's call-in show has been canceled tonight due to torrential rain and flooding in the middle Tennessee region. The program will resume next Monday, May 10, at 6:30 p.m. CT from the Commodore Grille at the Holiday Inn Vanderbilt.

Corbin's call-in show debuts tonight

by Barca Blog

The first of three call-in shows featuring baseball head coach Tim Corbin will air tonight from the Commodore Grille at the Holiday Inn Vanderbilt.

The one-hour program, which is presented by Digitec, will start at 6:30 p.m. CT.

If you can't make the show, then listen live on 104.5 the Zone and VUcommodores.com.

More Information

Video: Corbin on Friday night win

by Barca Blog

Vanderbilt's offense took out its frustrations on a struggling Georgia squad with a 17-5 rout of the Bulldogs Friday night at Hawkins Field.

It was the first time the Commodores have scored 17 runs in a Friday night conference game since they accomplished the same feat against UGA in 1992.

The offensive explosion also gave starting pitcher Taylor Hill his first conference win on the season. Hill had only given up 5 earned runs in his previous three starts, but didn't have a 'W' to show for his efforts due to a lack of run support. That wasn't the case tonight.

Head coach Tim Corbin gave his thoughts on game 1 of the series in the video below.

NCAA ruling on Corbin and Gray

by SID

Lots of questions about the official ruling and ramifications on last night's ejection of Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin and ace right-hander Sonny Gray.

Per the NCAA rule book after teams have been warned for throwing at batters (unsportsmanlike actions) and then hit or throw at them again- then at the umpires discretion- the pitcher will be ejected from that contest and serve a four game suspension. The head coach will also be ejected and suspended for the next game only. There is no appeals process to this ruling.

NCAA rule below:

A.R. 5—If a pitcher is removed from the game and receives an ejection for unsportsmanlike actions, the pitcher will receive a four-game suspension.

So this means, barring any rainouts/cancellations of games, Gray will have to sit out the final two Tennessee games, the Austin Peay game on Tuesday AND the Friday night game against Georgia. He would be eligible to pitch against Georgia next Saturday night at Hawkins Field. Editor's note: He was unlikely to pitch in any of those games anyway until next Friday night so in reality will miss one game. If this was last week, when we had two midweek games, he would have been eligible to pitch on Friday night.

By rule, Gray and Coach Corbin are not allowed to be in the dugout or in stadium while serving their suspensions.

Per NCAA:

A suspended person cannot:

a) Be dressed in game uniform;
b) Communicate with any team personnel or umpires;
c) Take part in any pregame activities at the site of competition; and
d) Be in the stadium or on the field once pregame activities have started.

Associate head coach Derek Johnson will continue to handle the pitching staff/changes, while assistant coach Josh Holliday will handle the offensive side of things. Corbin will make out the lineup as usual, while Holliday will take over coaching at third base and make in game adjustments.

If there are any questions regarding this, leave in comments and I will do my best to answer. However, per SEC rules- coaches, players and university officials are to refrain from criticizing game officials.