Aaron Fitt of Baseball America just unleashed the worst-kept secret among Vandy fans: Sonny Gray is a freaking badass pitcher. Maybe you've heard of him?

No? The rising-Junior RHP led Team USA (USA Baseball's collegiate national team) past Japan and "Japanese sensation Yuki Saito ('The Handkerchief Prince')" to the gold-medal game of the V FISU World University Championship. That's right. How good is Sonny? He outclassed The Handkerchief Prince. That good.

Stats? Sonny went 3-0 with a 0.38 ERA. He had a 37 strikeout to 4 walk ratio spread across his 24 innings. Dominant.

The best part of the story is the profile of Sonny:

But Gray's signature outing of the summer came a week before the Japan game, in Team USA's FISU opener-a 15-0 blowout win against a severely overmatched Sri Lanka team. In a five-inning complete game, Gray needed just 69 pitches to strike out 14. He did not issue a walk and allowed just one hit.

"Forty pitches into his outing," USA pitching coach Dave Serrano said, "I turned to the dugout and said, 'Sonny Gray is taking a professional approach to this.' If he missed his spot, it may have been one pitch. It didn't matter who he was pitching against, how good or bad they were, he was pitching at a major league level. Then he started pitching in the stretch on his own just to get work pitching out of the stretch for his next outing.

"That told me everything I needed to know about Sonny Gray. It was quality work at the highest level. He was pitching like it was the gold-medal game, against a team that had no shot at all to beat him."

Sonny is the third Vanderbilt Commodore baseball player to be named the BA Summer College Player of the Year in the last 5 years (David Price, Mike Minor). Stout.

There's a lot more at the link, and I highly recommend you head over to read the full article. Video proof of the existence of The Handkerchief Prince after the break.

Continue reading this post »

Christian Petersen - Getty Images

Congratulations to the Gamecocks. Every Vanderbilt baseball player should use this picture to work themselves up into a rage before games in the 2011 season.

View full size photo »

Last night, South Carolina won the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament by virtue of a thrilling 11-inning, walk-off win against #6 UCLA, 3-2. The Gamecocks were at the top of the SEC throughout the regular season, battling with Florida for the league's top spot for most of the year, and despite being overlooked throughout the College World Series, the team bounced back from an opening game loss to earn the school's second-ever national championship. The silver lining here for Vanderbilt fans that had to watch a divisional rival culminate their season with a happy dogpile in the middle of an Omaha baseball stadium? The fact that the Commodores played South Carolina tougher than almost any other opponent the NCAA champions faced in 2010.

As is the case with the end of most Vandy athletic seasons, this one ends with a moral victory if you view it through the right lens. Throughout the season, only East Carolina, Florida, Vanderbilt and Kentucky proved they could hang with the Gamecocks during the regular season. Though the Commodores lost their series in Nashville, the young squad hung tough in their two losses - a pair of low-scoring games decided by a total of three runs - and won big in an 8-2 rout in game two. Need more inspiring news? The players that performed the best against the champs are all coming back next year - Sonny Gray, Jack Armstrong, Joe Loftus, Connor Harrell, and Anthony Gomez.

However, at the same time, South Carolina bested Vanderbilt in the SEC rankings concerning national championships. For the past three years, the two schools had been knotted at one apiece - and tied for ninth amongst all SEC schools. With the win, the formerly quasi-irrelevant Gamecock athletic department picked up the major championship the university had been aiming for, and the legitimacy the school had been craving in the Southeastern Conference. After decades of work, South Carolina has shed their bridesmaid status, leaving Vanderbilt in its dust.

Now, the Commodores reign over only the Mississippi schools due to their superiority in women's bowling, and the conference boasts just three members that lack a major national championship. But with the inspiration of South Carolina's recent run and Vanderbilt's ability to hang on to super-coach Tim Corbin, that gap is more likely to shrink than expand. The 'Dores will catch the Gamecocks in the SEC rankings again - and probably in Omaha. If you think seeing the kids they battled with over three tight games in Nashville celebrating at Rosenblatt Stadium didn't inspire this year's crop of Commodores, then you don't understand this team.

Pirates baseball: because Pittsburghers needed an excuse to get drunk on weekdays.

View full size photo »

In the midst of what will likely be a 19th straight losing season, the Pirates had to do something to keep all 25 of their fans entertained. Enter Pedro Alvarez. Alvarez, the #2 overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft is the Buccos' most highly touted prospect, earned his first MLB start on Wednesday in a home game against the White Sox. The Alvarez era started slowly - 0 for 2 with a strikeout, walk, and a run scored, but it's clear that the Pirates will be banking on the young New Yorker to be the cornerstone of their two-decade long rebuilding effort.

Of course, instead of making the six mile trip to see Pedro play AAA ball in downtown Indianapolis, I've instead decided to wait it out for the six-hour drive to Pittsburgh to watch "The Bull" rake in the major leagues. PNC Park has been home to the majority of the baseball games I've seen in my lifetime, thanks to an abundantly cheap supply of tickets and an infinite supply of boredom during summer months in the Steel City sandwiched between classwork and internships. As a result, I'll be there Saturday night, sneaking into the good seats to see Pedro Alvarez take on the position made famous in Pittsburgh by such luminaries as Jose Bautista, Freddy Sanchez, Ty Wigginton, Aramis Ramirez, Ed Sprague, Joe Randa, and Charlie Hayes.

The Buccos are currently on an 11 game skid and in need of some serious help, necessitating the call-ups of Alvarez and other prospects like Jose Tabata and Brad Lincoln. They'll be facing the 25-40 Cleveland Indians, a team whose expectations for crappiness inspired a series of films - something that the Pirates can only dream of. However, as a bonus incentive of watching these two teams battle for the 26th spot in the big leagues, PNC Park has been gracious enough to offer free ceramic beer steins to all ticket holders. Follow along with me as we'll track Pedro's quest for his first major league hit, and, god-willing, we'll also answer the question of whether he's tolerant enough to sign a visibly intoxicated grown man's D.J. Moore jersey after the game. We'll have updates here at AoG after the game, and via twitter during.

It's alright panda, I thought they were going to pull it off too. Next year, okay?

View full size photo »

In the end, Vanderbilt just couldn't match up with Florida State's firepower. The Seminoles won Sunday's game 7-6 to eliminate the Commodores and book a trip to the College World Series next weekend. For FSU, the victory marked their 20th trip to Omaha and first since 2008. For the 'Dores, it was a disappointing end to a remarkable postseason.

Florida State led from start to finish, jumping on Vandy starter Jack Armstrong for four runs in the second inning and digging a hole that the #17 Commodores couldn't break out of. Despite threatening on several occasions, Vanderbilt couldn't push across the runs they needed to take the lead, twice leaving the bases loaded and letting the Seminoles' pitchers off the hook.

However, Vandy refused to go down without a fight. Trailing 7-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the team still battled, putting their first two runners on base. After an Anthony Gomez strikeout, Aaron Westlake came up big again, ripping a line drive double to score pinch hitter Riley Reynolds. In a clutch situation, Jason Esposito struck out for the second out of the inning, but Curt Casali made it a one run game with a check swing single that snuck through the right side of the infield and drove in two. However, with the tying run on base, Joe Loftus couldn't capitalize, striking out on three straight pitches to end the game.

The loss capped off a tremendous series, with both Vandy's losses coming in one-run games that went down to the final at-bat. Despite some clutch hitting, the Commodores were unable to get it done in the highest-pressure situations they'd faced all year, dropping a pair of close, but winnable games to end their season. However, with such a young team, 2010's progress has to be considering an amazing point from which to grow, and the performances of underclassmen like Sonny Gray, Jason Esposito, Grayson Garvin, Mike Yastrezemski, and others has to make the 2011 Vanderbilt squad a favorite to win the SEC.

Can Curt Casali continue his hot streak at the plate in Dick Howser Stadium? He'll bat fifth today for the Commodores.

View full size photo »

UPDATE: WE'RE FINAL:  FSU 7, VANDY 6. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SEMINOLES, WHO ADVANCE TO OMAHA.

It's do-or-die for both teams today as the final game of the Tallahassee Super Regional today will decide who moves on to the College World Series between Vanderbilt and Florida State. Vandy will be putting their 4-0 record in elimination games on the line for a shot at their first trip to Omaha, while FSU is looking for their 20th trip to be part of college baseball's elite eight. Taking the mound for the Commodores will be enigmatic but talented sophomore righthander Jack Armstrong, while the Seminoles counter with junior righty Geoff Parker - who Vandy rocked for four runs over 2.1 innings on Friday.

Can Armstrong tap the talent that made him a preseason All-American? Will Vandy's bats continue to come up big in late-game situations? Will Florida State's experience push them back into Omaha? We'll have all the action right here for you, both in the live thread and in the comments below. Join us as the Commodores try to make a historic run at baseball glory.

Sonny Gray allowed just two runs in 6 innings against FSU, despite an extremely tight strike zone.

View full size photo »

Thanks to Vanderbilt's Grays, the Commodores are just one win from their first ever College World Series trip. Sonny Gray and Grayson Garvin shut down a strong Florida State offense to force a deciding game three in the Tallahassee Super Regional Saturday afternoon. Vanderbilt led wire-to-wire in their fourth straight win in elimination games this NCAA Tournament, defeating the Seminoles 6-2.

The 'Dores struck first, taking advantage of back-to-back errors to score a pair of runs in the first. Jason Esposito extended the team's lead in the third with a solo home run to deep center field, his second long bomb in as many games. The Seminoles got back in the game with a solo shot of their own by Jayce Boyd (his second of the series) in the fifth, and then threatened in the sixth as Sonny Gray and the Commodores couldn't catch a break from the umpires. A tight strike zone took away what looked to be a pair of strikeouts by the sophomore righthander, and a blown call at first took away an amazing series of plays by Esposito and Aaron Westlake to load the bases.

Vandy was in trouble when #9 hitter Rafael Lopez singled with the bases juiced, but Joe Loftus fired a bullet from right field to nail the runner coming from second base at the plate, limiting FSU to just one run and maintaining the Commodore lead at 3-2. Throughout the game Florida State threatened with dink singles and ground balls through the gap, but never really found a groove against Gray, who threw heats into the high 90s throughout his six inning of work. Grayson Garvin, who came on in the seventh inning, was just as effective, scattering three hits in his three innings of work.

Leading 3-2, the Commodores struggled to add insurance runs until the eighth inning. After stranding batters in the sixth and seventh innings, the team broke through with three runs to push the lead to 6-2 and put the final nails in FSU's coffin. After Anthony Gomez led off with a double, a strikeout and intentional walk brought up Curt Casali, who has been arguably the team's hottest hitter in Tallahassee. Casali ripped a double that was inches away from clearing the fence to score Gomez, making the score 4-2. Cas's heroics were followed by a successful safety squeeze by Andrew Giobbi and a two-out single from Mike Yastrzemski to push the lead to 6-2.

The lead was all Garvin needed, as he cut through the top of the Seminoles' lineup without much drama. The Commodores finally recorded their first ever Super Regional victory and got one step closer to a trip to Omaha. With the win, the team will battle Florida State once again in a winner-moves-on rubber match tomorrow at 1 pm Eastern time. All signs point to fireballer Jack Armstrong taking the mound for the 'Dores, but Coach Tim Corbin may still have some tricks up his sleeve yet.

Sonny Gray will look to be Vanderbilt's savior against the Seminoles, but which ace will show up? The one that shut out Arkansas in a first round win during the SEC Tournament, or the one who got rocked early and late against Louisville in the NCAA Tournament?

View full size photo »

UPDATE: WE ARE FINAL: VANDY 6, FSU 2 - SEE YOU SUNDAY!

Join us here for all the action at 1 PM Eastern time as the Commodores face yet another elimination game in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. Vanderbilt will have to win today and tomorrow in order to punch their ticket to the College World Series, while Florida State just needs one more win to make their 20th trip to Omaha. Taking the hill for the 'Dores will be righthanded ace Sonny Gray, while the Seminoles will start lefty Brian Busch.

The pitching match-up favors the Commodores, but as we saw in Louisville, that doesn't always lead to a win. Can Sonny Gray return to his mid-season form against a top lineup? Will the Vanderbilt bats break out like they did Friday? Stick around and find out, as we wait to see if Vandy can prolong their season for another day.

Freshman Mike Yastrzemski had a great day at the plate against FSU, hitting a solo home run and adding a double in four at-bats in the Commodore loss.

View full size photo »

After trailing 6-0 after less than two innings, it seemed easy to write Vanderbilt off. But the 'Dores didn't quit, got back into the game, and even twice took the leads in what looked like would be the team's first Super Regional victory - but it wasn't to be. All-American Mike McGee's two-out walk-off home run scored the game's deciding run to deliver a win for Florida State Friday afternoon, giving the team a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Vanderbilt showed an offensive prowess that had been largely absent in the team's postseason play, belting four home runs and coming up with nine two-out hits for the day. Twice the team took the lead on solo home runs by Jason Esposito and Mike Yastrzemski, only to have FSU answer in the bottom of the inning. Curt Casali led the Commodore offense with a 4-for-5 showing, including a home run and a double.

The Commodores looked as though they'd be in big trouble early on, as starting pitcher Taylor Hill was mostly ineffective in the first two innings, allowing six hits and six runs through just 1.1 frames. However, the junior righty soon calmed down and held the FSU bats scoreless for the next three innings that followed, allowing Vandy to climb back into the game. Casali's home run started the scoring, followed by a two-out rally in the fifth inning that featured four straight hits - singles from Anthony Gomez and Aaron Westlake and RBI doubles from Jason Esposito and Curt Casali - to pull the FSU lead to 6-4.

Vandy tied the game for the first time since it was 0-0 in the sixth, plating two runners on a Joe Loftus home run and an Anthony Gomez single which scored Yastrzemski. The team then took the lead in the seventh on Espo's home run, only to have the Seminoles answer; after a wild pitch moved runners into scoring position, James Ramsey's sacrifice fly knotted the game at 7-7. Yaz responded in the eighth with a solo shot to reclaim the lead, but his efforts were matched by Jayce Boyd, who hit a towering fly ball out of the park off Chase Reid to even the score again.

The Commodore bats were finally silenced in the ninth inning, and the Seminole hitters showed signs of figuring out Reid. After two hard hit fly balls were chased down by Connor Harrell at the warning track, left fielder McGee left no doubt about the inning's third well-hit ball, depositing it over the fence for a walk off home run. Reid, for his efforts, picked up the loss, while FSU's sidewinding reliever Daniel Bennett took home the victory after two innings of effective pitching.

Vanderbilt will have their backs against the wall in tomorrow's game, where it will be win-or-go-home for the 'Dores.  However, this may be a blessing for VU, as they've played their best ball in elimination games this tournament (3-0). The team should be counting on number one starter Sonny Gray to come up big in the season's biggest game, while Florida State will likely counter with lefty John Gast Brian Busch. First pitch will be at 1:00 PM Eastern, and since the USA's World Cup game will be on ABC, the Commodore/Seminole showdown will be broadcast on ESPN.