I wouldn't be very happy with myself if I forgot this one. With 4 days until Opening Day here is Ocala's own Jud Fabian.... Jud Fabian - Baseball - Florida Gators Did I say he's from Ocala?
I caught 4 innings of Monday's scrimmage... interesting developments. Hartman started for Orange vs the A team (blue). (Riopelle C) Finnvold for Blue (Lastres C) Note: Rivera not throwing and not playing the field today, D. Fabian at short for A Team. A team lineup (Blue) Halter Jud Thompson Calilao Rivera Armstrong Langford D. Fabian Lastres Hartman looked great starting. Full 3 innings - throwing strikes, hard and mixing up his various pitches-- only well struck ball a Thompson single to left. The A team guys seemed to be trying to upset Hartman -- stepping out regularly as he was ready to throw as soon as he got the ball... and he held it together and threw strikes despite some funny calls against him- HS ump? Not sure what the plan is for Hartman but the guy is gritty- intense. Finnfold went a full 4- gave up one run and a couple hits but nothing serious but he was pitching against the B team. Observations: Looks like season may start without Rivera in the field and Deric is fine in the field but not getting on base. Langford still in left but I noticed that his arm is not that great-- on a throw to plate it drifted right well off line. Riopelle behind the plate is not as good as Mac or Lastres for that matter. Hartman is an intense dude and seems his star may be rising. Prevesk slapped a tough outside pitch for single against LHP Finnvold to drive in the only run that I witnessed. Good piece of hitting ala Sterlin.
Rivera played Sunday and was throwing. Wondering if they are just taking precautions or if he had a minor setback.
Twice now this batting order is lite in scoring runs compared to some of the other days. Sure its probably more about pitching, but not stacking the top 5 with Sterlin, Jud, Rivera, Langford, and Armstrong seems like Sully is pulling the reigns back a bit.
Below is a complete list of honorary first pitches scheduled for opening weekend. Friday, Feb. 18 @ 7 p.m. – Florida Head Football Coach Billy Napier Saturday, Feb. 19 @ 4 p.m. – Kansas City Royals RHP Brady Singer Sunday, Feb. 20 @ 12 p.m. – Tampa Bay Rays C Mike Zunino Napier, Singer and Zunino Primed for First-Pitch Honors Opening Weekend - Florida Gators
Better view will be at Fla Ballpark. Worth the effort to get there, if possible. Good weather in Gvl this week- 83 and sunny on Thursday- hope it stays good for the weekend.
Friday will be cloudy with some showers expected between about 10 am - 3 pm, with another chance for drizzles around 7 pm. Should be in the high 60's for the game. Saturday will be sunny and mid-60's for the 4 pm start, cooling into the 50's as it gets dark. Sunny and mid-70's for the Sunday game. Overall, very good weather for mid February.
Notebook: Liberty a tough challenge, rotation to be decided soon, more tidbits | GatorCountry.com 2022 Baseball Season Preview: Position players | GatorCountry.com
My husband was able to make it out to the scrimmage on Monday 2/14 and took a few notes on hitter stats. Blue team (A team) won 2-1 Blue stats: Halter: 1-3 Fabian: 0-2 Thompson: 1-2 Calilao: 1-3 & 2 RBI Rivera: 0-2 Armstrong: 0-3 Langford: 2-2 Fabian: 0-3 Lastres: 0-2 Orange stats: Talbott: 1-3 Evans: 1-2 Guscette: 0-3 Riopelle: 0-2 Prevesk: 1-3 & 1 RBI Robinson: 0-3 De Goti: 0-2
Sully mentioned in his presser today that Langford “has always hit. He just didn’t have a position last year.” Based on what I have read this off-season, he has looked really good at the plate.
Sully also mentioned Deric Fabian has locked up 3B and “it isn’t because his name is Fabian.” Kind of a strange comment in my view. I don’t think anyone has asked that but maybe I missed that question.
News on Tuesday's scrimmage. Rivera throwing lightly on the side line and played and hit but had no plays- so not sure if he's throwing full on.. my take- he's not he was just above a lob throw on sideline. Coppola pitched for Orange- (Guscette C)- against A team with a strange lineup as Sully mixed it up a little. A team lineup (Blue) Langford Jud Thompson Calilao Rivera Armstrong Riopelle Talbot D Fabian. Coppola looked very good again with only one mistake against Calilao - who took it out into visitors bullpen- no doubter. NOTE- that was the only hit the A team had in 5 innings. one hit in five innings and with some generous calls from ump. Lots of Ks. (Coppola pitched just 3) Observations. Deric Fabian looked overmatched again vs Copolla and vs Purnell but got calls vs Purnell with ump squeezing the zone. Purnell has a serious breaking ball from side arm and Sully was encouraging ground balls and he got em- as well as Ks. Good outing. Purnell a one or two batter guy to get a DP? Neely started for Blue and pitched two solid innings vs B team. Hitting all around seems to have fallen off and Armstrong has done nothing in the last scrimmages I've attended. Same for others. Guscette some issues behind the plate- dropping two transfer throws on steals of second- no throw. NOTE: there is no sign of Abner or Manning in last two days so wonder if they are in the protocol? Hope not Also saw Milchin on the turf field with elastic bands PT on the mound but not throwing- can't be a sign he's pitching anytime soon.
Halter led off for Orange (B team- but we know he's starting 2b) and hit well.. Sully has to mix it up.
Thanks 77, really nice to have someone local to keep this thing going. You always seem to offer a different take which can be very inciteful.
Here is Sproat's numbers from last year. Year ERA W L App GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR BF B/Avg WP HBP BK SFA SHA 2021 6.65 2 1 16 2 0 0 0 21.2 29 19 16 15 18 5 0 5 107 .330 4 2 0 1 1 His .330 Batting Average for batters faced was second worst on the team. It will be very important to track that number this year and see how close to .250 or lower he can get. As comparison Barco's was .239 last year. This stat was compounded by our pitching staff allowing baserunners inherited to score more often than not. Its simple for most any pitcher, to be successful you gotta keep runners off the bases. I think I learned that my first year in Little League or maybe it was 74nole.
And for you fans of WHIP stats.... Sproat was last on the team with a 2.03 WHIP rating. Barco and Mace were both 1.24. I wonder how some of our freshmen will compare a month from now.