Commodore Banter (5/28)

A few links to pass along as we wait for Vanderbilt to take on Oklahoma Friday at 4 p.m. CT. Life sure is boring without sports...

The Commodores received a pep talk from Terry Crisp, the Nashville Predators’ radio and television color analyst, about winning championships and teamwork before heading for Tempe, Ariz. Within that notebook, Brett Hait mentions an interesting wager between Shea Robin and baseball media relations director Thomas Samuel.

The Tulsa World has a preview of the Tempe Regional.

Baseball America's Aaron Fitt wonders how Oklahoma even got into the tournament. Even the Sooners' coach didn't expect his team, which went 9-17 in the Big 12 and finished in eighth place during the regular season, to be playing.

Here's a cool story: Tonight David Price will take on a future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez when the St. Lucie Mets host the Vero Beach Rays. Martinez is expected to make one rehab start before rejoining the Mets.

The Pirates are considering Georgia High School shortstop, Tim Beckham, Florida State catcher Buster Posey or Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez with their No. 2 pick, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

And in this notebook, the Pirates say that Alvarez's agent (Scott Boras) and high contract demands will not deter them from drafting him. Pittsburgh maintains it has increased its signing budget by 50 percent, and said they will go over it if necessary.

Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith loves the SEC, especially the Commodores.

Bobby Johnson is the 11th best (or second worst) coach in the SEC, according to this list. Back in April, I put together my own rankings and had Johnson 10th.