Practice day complete in Tallahassee

by SID

The first day in Tallahassee is done at Dick Howser Stadium. Commodore head coach Tim Corbin arrived for a pre-tournament coaches press conference at 11 a.m. CT, followed by interviews with ESPN production personnel.

Also interviewed briefly by ESPN were Jason Esposito, Andrew Giobbi, Brian Harris, Connor Harrell and Aaron Westlake. Look for those in some form or another on the broadcasts this weekend.

One interesting side note- during the production meeting the players were asked to briefly describe what Vanderbilt Baseball is all about. Andrew Giobbi simply said "pitching and defense", then noted the irony that the players interviewed were all position players. The catcher went on to describe the great performances the pitchers have had all season as well as last weekend in Louisville when they held the Cardinals potent offensive attack to two runs in the final 19 innings.

You ever go somewhere where as soon as you walk outside you start to sweat? Not just cause it is hot, but because of the humidity? Well that's Tallahassee. It was 95 degrees with 50 percent humidity during the Commodores practice session at 1:45 p.m. CT. The guys will definitely need to stay hydrated during the 11 a.m. CT game tomorrow.

After the practice the team went back to the hotel with a team meal scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT.

Travis "TYPO" Young shot some flip videos after practice with Stooche Jones. Check them out when he gets them up on the blog at TYPO standard time.

Video: Tim Corbin, Sonny Gray Interviews

By Travis Young

Vanderbilt head baseball coach Tim Corbin and staff-ace Sonny Gray talked with the media on Monday before practice. In the interviews, Corbin and Gray answer questions about starting postseason play, including its upcoming game with Arkansas in the first round of the 2010 SEC Tournament on Wednesday. Click the videos below to hear what they had to say.

Corbin, Hill talk with media

By Travis Young -

Vanderbilt head baseball coach Tim Corbin and pitcher Taylor Hill met with the media on Monday to discuss the team's recent undefeated week (4-0) as well as previewing the final home regular season series against Arkansas. The Commodores (39-13, 15-10 SEC) will host the Razorbacks (38-14, 16-11 SEC) Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m.

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.

Audio: Corbin on postseason baseball

by Barca Blog - I caught up with baseball head coach Tim Corbin at yesterday's press conference to get his thoughts on the Commodores heading into postseason play. Take a few minutes to listen - Click Here

Corbin on 560 AM Thursday morning

by Barca Blog - Just a heads up... baseball head coach Tim Corbin will be a guest on The Morning Sports Page with Greg Pogue on 560 AM Thursday morning at approximately 8:05 a.m. CT. Fans can listen to a live feed of the interview on WNSR's web site -- click here.

More numbers

by Barca Blog - South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner has led one of college baseball’s premier programs for the last 13 years since arriving in Columbia in 1997. Tanner has taken the Gamecocks to the College World Series three times and holds the second highest all-time winning percentage among SEC coaches behind legendary LSU coach Skip Bertman.

But here are some series statistics that may interest Vanderbilt fans as the Commodores travel to face the Gamecocks starting Friday at Carolina Stadium.

Under head coach Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt has won the last four regular season series against South Carolina including the last two series in Columbia (2005, 2007). Overall, the Commodores have taken 10 of the last 14 games between the clubs.

These numbers are impressive considering Tanner held a 17-1 mark against Vanderbilt in his first six seasons at USC (1997-2002). Since Corbin took the helm in 2003, the Commodores and Gamecocks have split their 22 meetings, with the ‘Dores holding the upper hand since 2005. USC did take the first two series against Corbin's squad in 2003 and 2004 and both of those Gamecock teams eventually made it to Omaha.

This weekend will be crucial for both squads as Vanderbilt (27-17, 10-10 SEC) and South Carolina (27-18, 9-12 SEC) hold the seventh and eighth spots in the conference standings with three weeks left in the regular season. The team that takes the series would be on the inside track to advance to postseason play... so here’s hoping the Commodores make it five in a row.

Corbin's final call-in show tonight

by Barca Blog - Tim Corbin's Call-In Show airs live from 7-8 p.m. CT Monday night at the Commodore Grille. Listen locally on 104.5 the Zone or online on VUcommodores.com. For more info, Click Here.

Corbin on Twitter: Cotham to start

by Barca Blog - Vanderbilt baseball head coach Tim Corbin just posted the following message on his Twitter page:

"If you are in the area, come on out to the ball park today. The boys need your support. The weather is perfect and Caleb Cotham is pitching."

Two things --

First, Cotham was scheduled to start in his usual Saturday role, but was scratched due to a tweaked knee.

Second, you couldn't pick a better day to make it out to Hawkins Field. The squad needs a packed house Sunday as they try to sweep Mississippi State. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and walkup tickets are still available. Fans that live out-of-town can follow the action on vucommodores.com.

Corbin's Call-In Show Tonight

by Barca Blog - Tim Corbin's Call-In Show airs live from 7-8 p.m. CT Monday night at the Commodore Grille. Listen locally on 104.5 the Zone or online on VUcommodores.com. For more info, Click Here.

Motivation factor

by Barca Blog - The Vanderbilt baseball team returns to action tonight with a chance to avenge one if its worst losses of the season -- an 8-0 shut out to Middle Tennessee last Tuesday at Reese Smith Field.

In that game, the Commodores were blanked for the first time this year after the offense only mustered six hits off Blue Raider starter Chad Edwards, who threw MT's first complete game in eight seasons.

You can bet the Commodores would like to even the score tonight at Hawkins Field.

"They jumped us good last Tuesday," head coach Tim Corbin told the media Monday afternoon. "We weren’t even in that game so it was a little demoralizing. As I told the kids, ‘We have a decent team but right now were not even the best team within a 60-mile radius. You’ve got to stand up for yourselves a little bit. We’re not use to losing around here and when you do, it kind of wakes you up a little bit.’”

Take nothing away from Middle Tennessee. If the season ended today, the Blue Raiders would likely earn a NCAA Tournament bid. They're currently receiving votes in the national polls with a 24-8 overall record including 13-5 in the Sun Belt Conference, good for second in the league.

And of course, every win counts as the Commodores (21-13, 7-7 SEC) continue to build their own postseason case after series victories over Florida and Arkansas in the last two weeks.

“It’s a very important game," Corbin added. "We’re not in a position where we can drop many games from an RPI standpoint. Middle Tennessee is right on our heels as far as that’s concerned. They’ve always had the respect of our kids because we know they’re good and know they can hit."

Walkup tickets are still available for tonight's game. Fans can also track the action online here starting at 6 p.m. CT.

Corbin's Call-In Show Tonight

By Barca Blog - Tim Corbin's Call-In Show airs live from 7-8 p.m. CT Monday night at the Commodore Grille. Listen locally on 104.5 the Zone or online on VUcommodores.com. For more info, Click Here.

Always ready to pitch

by Barca Blog - During last night's call-in show, Joe Fisher asked baseball head coach Tim Corbin about the Commodores' pitching situation for this coming weekend at No. 1 Arkansas. The focus of the discussion was on how freshman Sonny Gray will be utilized -- as a starter or reliever?

Corbin answered the question by elaborating on how he used Gray out of the bullpen against Florida last weekend and the scenarios that factored into that decision. He also offered some high praise for the Smyrna, Tenn., native.

Definitely take a few minutes to listen to this clip.
Audio: Corbin talks about Gray

Corbin's Call-In Show Tonight

By Barca Blog - Tim Corbin's Call-In Show airs live from 7-8 p.m. CT Monday night at the Commodore Grille. Listen locally on 104.5 the Zone or online on VUcommodores.com. For more info, Click Here.

Are you following Corbin on Twitter?

by Barca Blog - If not, then you missed his tweet from earlier this morning:

"Andrew Giobbi (broken hand) got some good news yesterday - the doctor said that he can start swinging the bat again - happy for Gio"

It's not too late to follow coach. Click here to get his updates online. You can even sync it up with your phone so you get the messages texted directly to you. Don't you just love technology?

If you'd like to keep track of more Commodore sports news and score updates (as well as my blog) on Twitter, go here.

Coach Corbin on radio this week

By SID - With Southeastern Conference play starting up in baseball this weekend, Coach Corbin will be hitting the airwaves to talk about the Ole Miss series at Hawkins Field (March 13-15). The following is the list as of Monday morning where you can listen to Coach.

Monday, March 9
4:06 p.m. on 560 AM with Bill King and Joe Biddle

Wednesday, March 11
12:20 p.m. 560 AM with Thom Abraham

Thursday, March 12
8:30 a.m. 104.5 FM (Kevin Ingram, Mark Howard, Frank Wycheck)

Friday. March 13
8:05 a.m. 560 AM (Greg Pogue, David Coleman)

Corbin adjusts gameday coaching

By Barca Blog - Over the summer, baseball head coach Tim Corbin decided to make a switch to one of his gameday managerial duties. Corbin had previously served as the Commodores’ third base coach in his first six seasons… Until now.

“I had to make a change and just knew it was the right time to do it,” Corbin said. “(Assistant Coach) Erik Bakich has been in the program for six years and felt like he could do it. Erik’s paid his dues and he’ll do well in that spot.”

Bakich’s duties will move from first to third, while first-year Volunteer Assistant Coach Larry Day will handle the responsibilities at first. Corbin will now coach exclusively from the dugout, something he also did when he managed the USA Baseball National Team to a 28-2-1 record and a FISU gold medal during the summer of 2006.

“It’s a different way to interact with the kids and it’s more of a pitch-to-pitch type thing,” Corbin added. “Hopefully I have a good impact in there. It just puts you off the field and into a situation where you can think through the offense and defense at the same time. When you’re out at third base, your mind has to be on the running game and you can’t think of everything so it’s a little bit easier.”

Another change this year, instituted by the NCAA, will be that base coaches will be required to wear a helmet on the field.

According to NCAA.com, collegiate baseball's adoption of the rule comes on the heels of Major League Baseball requiring the same of their base coaches. MLB passed the rule after Mike Coolbaugh, a coach for the Colorado Rockies’ Double-A team, was killed after being hit be a line drive while coaching first base in 2007.

“The rule was kind of a kick back from the Coolbaugh situation and professional baseball,” Corbin stated. “As sad as it was, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, and then Collegiate Baseball reacted the same way. We just have to put helmets on top of our base coaches’ heads. I guess we’ll see how it works. It can only help so much, but it’s a safety measure.”

Corbin won’t be obligated to wear the gear, though, due to his move to the dugout.

“I don’t look too good in it,” Corbin joked. “It’s probably another good reason for me to not coach third base.”

Patience is a virtue for Harris and Hilliard

By Barca Blog - After patiently waiting for their time to play, shortstop Brian Harris (R-Jr.) and centerfielder Alex Hilliard (R-So.) will now get their chance as everyday starters when the Commodores open the 2009 baseball season at Stanford this Friday.

Sure, they have big shoes to fill with the departure of All-SEC performers Ryan Flaherty and David Macias, but head coach Tim Corbin is confident in Harris’ and Hilliard’s abilities to step in and do the job.

“We know what they can do,” Corbin remarked prior to Tuesday’s practice, “but they’ve just been hidden under players who have been here for three years.”

Corbin calls Harris the “jack of all trades” due to his versatility as an infielder. Harris started 31 games at third base and second base in 2008 due to injuries to Pedro Alvarez and Alex Feinberg, and even played first base during his redshirt freshman year in 2007.

When Harris was thrust into the spotlight last season, he didn’t flinch. He contributed seven multi-RBI games and had the team’s fourth longest hitting streak at 10 games. His experience will come in handy in a lineup full of new faces.

“Brian handles the bat well and he’s just unnerved,” Corbin said. “He’s at a point now where he can just play the game of baseball and not worry about some of the other things.”

While Harris has seen some time on the diamond, Hilliard enters his third year with only three career at bats. Hilliard had a good fall season and flourished last summer in the New England College Baseball League and the Cape Cod League. He’ll now have to make the transition from role player to starter for the Commodores.

“When Alex came out this year, he had no one in front of him so his confidence just soared,” Corbin said. “I do think this summer helped him. I think there’s a part off him that says, ‘You know what, I can do this.’ Sometimes you tell a kid he can do it, but it really doesn’t happen until the kid identifies with success and understands that he can be a part of this. Alex has taken on more of a role and he’s got an edge to him that I really like.”

Corbin describes Hilliard as a player who could play any of the three outfield positions if called upon. He can also "run, hit, display gap power and has good energy for the game".

Through hard work and dedication, Harris and Hilliard are both prime examples of players that have paid their dues and earned the right to be penciled in on Friday’s starting scorecard.

“It’s very fulfilling for them and for the coaches,” Corbin added, “being able to play guys like that who have been very patient for two or three years and now their time arrives where they’re everyday players, and they’re good everyday players, too. It’s just good to see that happen because I think they’re going to blossom.”

Chat Wrap with Tim Corbin

Posted by Barca Blog

Thanks to Commodore fans for submitting your questions for the online chat with Tim Corbin earlier today on VUcommodores.com. Coach answered a lot of the burning questions during the session as the Commodores prepare for Friday's baseball opener at Stanford. Take a minute to read the complete transcript -- Click Here

Corbin radio date added

Posted by Barca Blog

Just confirmed.... Tim Corbin will also be a guest on the 104.5 Wake Up Zone Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. CT. For the complete schedule of Corbin's radio appearances, click here.