Around the Web - Tuesday, July 7

You can track Derrick Byars (Indiana Pacers) in the NBA Orlando Summer League all week long. Indiana will face Oklahoma City Tuesday night at 6 p.m. CT. Watch a free webcast of the action here. Byars didn't play in Monday's opener.

Joe Fisher gives a Cape League baseball update on Taylor Hill, Jack Armstrong, and Russell Brewer in his 104.5 morning update. Listen

Jeremy Sowers will take the hill for Cleveland tonight against the Chicago White Sox at 7:11 p.m. CT. Sowers is winless in three starts vs. Chicago this season and has never beaten them in six career tries.

Pedro Alvarez will get to play in the XM All-Star Futures Game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis this Sunday. The event will be held two days prior to the MLB All-Star game at the same venue. According to Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com, the former Commodore is looking forward to competing on big stage.

"I got to go to the All-Star Game in New York last summer," Alvarez said. "That was pretty cool, and I can't imagine what it's going to be like to be on the field. I'm really looking forward to it. I'll get to meet Ozzie Smith, that will be unreal. I'm excited to see what the atmosphere is like."

SEC's red-hot rivalries

by Barca Blog - Chris Low of ESPN.com thinks Vanderbilt/South Carolina should be on the list of hottest rivalries in the SEC entering the 2009 football season.
Read More

Snedeker British Open-bound

by Associated Press

WASHINGTON D.C. — Brandt Snedeker earned a spot in the 2009 British Open on Sunday in the AT&T National.

Snedeker got there because he was the leading player among the top five at Congressional who hadn't already qualified.

"Floored and excited," said Snedeker, whose closing round of 67 was just enough to earn him a tie for fifth at 7-under 273.

Snedeker wasn't even aware that he had qualified when he left the course at Congressional Country Club. He missed eight weeks earlier this year with a rib injury and had been planning to play the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee during the week of the British, which takes place at Turnberry in Scotland in two weeks.

"My golf game was in bad shape before I got hurt," Snedeker said. "The first time I felt healthy, I didn't know what to think about coming back out. People gave me the sympathy vote last week when I made the cut - first cut I'd made in a while, and it ticked me off. I don't want sympathy. This week, I felt like I proved to everyone and myself that I can get back to where I was."

For more information about the British Open, click here.

Around the Web - Thursday, July 2

Chris Low from ESPN.com takes a quick look at both hope and concern for the 2009 football squad.

Maurice Patton of The Tennessean gives an update on Sonny Gray's summer with Team USA. In the article, Gray receives some high praise from Elon Coach Mike Kennedy, the pitching coach for USA:

"(Sonny) has electric stuff. He pitched at 94, 95 (mph). He has a lot of life on the ball. The ball moves, cuts, runs. He's got a live arm.

"He's got great stuff, a great arm, and his makeup is such that you want that type guy around."

One of Kevin Stallings mentors, Vergil Fletcher, passed away Tuesday. Stallings played under the legendary coach at Collinsville High School in the late 1970's. Fletcher won a remarkable 747 games during his 30+ year career at Collinsville and was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2004.

"(Vergil) was easily, by far and away, the most influential nonfamily member of my life -- not only then, but still today," Stallings told the Belleville News. "I wanted to coach because of him. I thought, 'What a cool existence it would be to go through life and impact people like he impacted me.'"

Stallings reflected on Fletcher in these two articles:
Vergil Fletcher remembered
A brilliant teacher of life

Finally, an update on former Commodore Ryan Mullins, who pitches for Double-A New Britain... and Vanderbilt's Russell Brewer picked up a win for Chatham in the Cape last night.

Lott Trophy feature on Benoist

by Barca Blog - Check out this article on Vanderbilt senior linebacker Patrick Benoist, who was recently named to the 2009 Lott Trophy watchlist. At the end of each season, the Lott Trophy is awarded to the nation's top defensive player who has had the biggest impact on his team both on and off the field.

Around the Web - Tuesday, June 30

by Barca Blog - I'm on the road today for an SEC meeting in Birmingham, so here are some quick links to articles from around the web... most deal with early looks at the 2009-10 SEC basketball season.
Bakich quickly settles in
SEC basketball revives itself
SEC coaches see progress coming
SEC MBB Coaches Press Conference
Positive buzz returns to SEC preseason

Around the Web - Monday, June 29

As posted below, VU pitcher Sonny Gray threw one inning of relief in USA's 20-3 romp over Canada last night.

Vanderbilt baseball assistant coach Erik Bakich is expected to be announced as Maryland's head coach on Monday.

Professional golfers Brandt Snedeker and Luke List both made the cut at the Travelers Championship. Snedeker finished tied for 47th while List ended up tied for 63th.

Mike Organ of The Tennessean looks at Christina Wirth's transition to the Indiana Fever and the WNBA.

Colorado Rockies pitcher Casey Weathers is still recovering from Tommy John surgery, but took the time to give an update on his health in an article by the Tri-City Herald. Weathers is expected to be sidelined for all of the 2009 season after suffering the injury in October 2008.

Pitcher David Price allowed only one run in 6.1 innings to to lead Tampa past Florida 5-2 Sunday. Price was coming off the worst outing of his young career a week earlier when he surrendered 10 runs, five earned, in 4.1 innings in a loss to Philadelphia.

"I just pitched better today (against Florida)," Price said. "I got runners on and I was able to pitch out of it. That's what you have to do. You have to be able to continue to throw up zeroes and get our offense back out there."

The New York Times College Sports Blog previews the Commodores' upcoming football season.

Finally, Mike Dodd and Nate Davis of USA Today give a position-by-position breakdown of the Chicago Bears roster, which features five former 'Dores.

Around the Web - Friday, June 26

Sonny Gray had a good outing last night against Canada in his first appearance since making Team USA's final roster. Gray was able to get USA out of a bases loaded jam when he entered the game in the eighth, and then retired the final three Canadian batters in the ninth to seal the 12-4 win. An interesting note -- Gray also came up to the plate in the eighth -- something he didn't do as a freshman last year -- but struck out swinging.

Last night was just the third time in 28 years that the SEC didn't have any players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. Here's a list of SEC players that eventually went in the second round:

Jodie Meeks, Kentucky -- by Milwaukee
Marcus Thornton, LSU -- by Miami, traded to New Orleans
Nick Calathes, Florida -- by Minnesota, traded to Dallas

Other notable draftees: DeMarre Carroll (Missouri, former Vanderbilt) and Toney Douglas (Florida State, former Auburn) were chosen at the end of the first round, while Patrick Beverley (former Arkansas) went in the second round.

Pedro Alvarez homered in his second straight game for Double-A Altoona Thursday... and also received news that he will be playing in the MLB Futures Game during All-Star festivities in July.

Maurice Patton of The Tennessean reported that Chris Nickson was released by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

Duke guard Elliot Williams is transferring for family reasons, and the Memphis native has Vanderbilt listed as one of four schools he's interested in according to the Commercial Appeal.

Finally, I'll close with two videos in tribute of Michael Jackson. If you're around my age, you probably remember exactly where you were when you first saw the video/making of Thriller... or when he executed the Moonwalk during Motown's 25th Anniversary Special. Most of us have a connection with the King of Pop from our childhood that will live forever.

The first clip is of the Jackson 5 performing "Never Can Say Goodbye"



The next video features one of my favorite MJ songs called "Working Day and Night" from the Off the Wall album. Some YouTube wiz put together some of his greatest music video clips over this audio track.. good memories.

White debuts with a bang

by Barca Blog - Jonathan White got off to a quick start in his rookie league debut for the San Francisco Giants Tuesday in Arizona. The former Commodore started in left field and went 1-3 with a solo homer and a walk in the lead-off position.

"It was a surreal experience rounding the bases after the home run," White told the Shelbyville Times Gazette. "It was good to get my feet wet and show them what I can do."

Read Jimmy Jones' full feature here, and follow White's progress at this link.

Around the Web - Thursday, June 25

Two articles about Sonny Gray making the USA Baseball National team:
Gray joins Team USA
USAB announces 2009 NT roster

Around the Web - Wednesday, June 24

Women's basketball signee Stephanie Holzer is ready for college basketball. The McDonald's All-American had a decorated career at Cardinal O'Hara, but finished on a sour note after she broke her ankle in the Lions' state title game loss to Mount Lebanon in March. Holzer told the Daily Times she was cleared by doctors last week to return to the hardwood.

“The bone in my ankle is healed and I can put pressure on it. I can start running and jumping. I’m so happy to be getting back. I know I’ve got a long way to go, but I plan to be ready this fall when practice starts.”

Men's golfer Jon Curran is playing well in his first tournament as a professional at the 100th Massachusetts Open. The former Commodore is in 11th place at 1-under par going into Wednesday's final round. He will try to earn his PGA Tour card in the fall.

Pedro Alvarez, who was just promoted to Double-A Altoona, revealed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that making the jump to a higher level of baseball is never easy.

"It's funny, when you're in high school, you think you have an idea, then you get to college and realize you have no idea. It's the same thing with college. You think you have things figured out, then you get to the pros and realize there's so much more to learn."

Alvarez was hitless in his debut with the Curve last night, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

David Price had a tough outing last night against Philadelphia. The former 'Dore was handed his second straight loss, surrendering 10 runs, five earned, in 4.1 innings of work.

"I put that one on me," Price said. "They're a good-hitting team, and that's what they do when you make an average pitch. They hit it to the wall or they hit it out.

"That's the best I've felt all year. ... I thought my stuff was the best, and I got hit around. I was around the zone. It's a tough way to go out, putting up six in the first. That's ridiculous."

Finally, Chris Low had some nice things to say about football head coach Bobby Johnson in his ESPN blog yesterday.

Around the Web - Tuesday, June 23

Congrats to Bobby Johnson and Des Kitchings. The duo will be inducted into the Furman Athletics Hall of Fame in July.

Pedro Alvarez commented on his promotion to Double-A: "It's an honor and a privilege to be anticipated in such a way," he told the Associated Press. "It's very flattering. It's just my first year and I still have a long way to go, a lot to learn. I'm excited that the people in Pittsburgh are excited. All I can promise is that I'm going to work as hard as I can and do the best I can for this organization."

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall recently announced he wanted to be traded from the Broncos. Quarterback Jay Cutler talked with the Daily Press about the possibility of reuniting with Marshall in Chicago. "I played with Brandon for three years and I think he's one of the best receivers in the NFL. I think he can be one of the greatest ever to play. He's big and fast, and can do everything you want him to do, on the field and in the meeting room. I don't know what we're going to do. That's up to the guys upstairs. If we make a run at him, we make a run at him."

Around the Web - Monday, June 22

Cape Update: Brian Harris pounded a grand slam with one out in the ninth to give Chatham a 10-7 comeback victory over Orleans. Taylor Hill (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings to pick up the win. Read More

Congrats to Pedro Alvarez... The former Commodore was called up to Altoona, Pittsburgh's Double-A affiliate, late Sunday night. Alvarez hit .247 at Single-A Lynchburg with 14 homers and 55 RBIs in 66 games. He'll make his debut with the Curve Friday night. Read More

Around the Web - Saturday, June 20

VU, MTSU stars share USA tryout

Around the Web - Thursday, June 18

Links to today's articles on the Commodores from around the web.
Nashville is now 'String Music City'
He's walked in their spikes
Cutler readies for camp, critics

Around the Web - Wednesday, June 17

Links to today's articles on the Commodores from around the web.
Stability makes Vanderbilt a contender
Wide receivers impress Angelo
Thayer impressed with Bennett

Around the Web - Tuesday, June 16

Links to today's articles on the Commodores from around the web... feel free to comment below.
Giant change for White
Composite bats concern NCAA
Davis says Jordan still rules
Wise choices by Vanderbilt players
Early look at SEC basketball