Offense is more versatile and more dangerous top to bottom, pitching is deeper than it has been in years and the defense seems to be back to the level we are all accustomed under O'Sullivan. Time will tell if the Saturday/Sunday starters can and will hold up under the pressure cooker that is the SEC. But at least he's got some options if a starter or two starts struggling. Overall, a very positive start to 2022.
Hot off the presses, here's the hitting stats (min 20 ABs) 2022 Baseball Cumulative Statistics - Florida Gators # ----Player ---------------AVG OPS OB% -5 Halter, Colby---------- .407 1.206 .484 26 Thompson, Sterlin--- .396 1.167 .450 15 Riopelle, BT---------- .333 1.029 .429 36 Langford, Wyatt----- .326 .969 .426 23 Fabian, Deric--------- .326 .884 .442 -4 Fabian, Jud----------- .283 1.068 .459 24 Rivera, Josh---------- .250 .776 .326 -6 Calilao, Kendrick----- .216 .725 .293 34 Armstrong, Kris------ .156 .469 .156 -9 Guscette, Mac--------- .150 .382 .182 Totals--------------------- .300 .918 .387 Langford, Jud, and Calilao all improved their numbers against a quality opponent and helps you see who is going to be ready for SEC play. Thompson and Halter nothing to take away from their gaudy numbers already. The next 5 games should help them improve as well. I keep asking myself, don't opposing coaches know Halter has a better average verses LHP? Now that Wyatt's numbers have come back up Sterlin will see better pitches. If Calilao keeps up the good production he will be back batting in the 6 spot soon.
Deeper pitching- I think still remains to be seen as: Coppola- will be needed at some point. Glad Sully being careful as always but if he can’t go that’s a big loss. Pogue- we all expect a dude when he pitches, should be against JU, but nobody knows. Nesbit- not mentioned nearly as much as Pogue but equally as important as gives a little older guy, still not much experience, out of the pen.
Question for those interested.... Would you rather have Deric batting in the 9th spot to help with the top of the order with the DH in the 8th spot or vise versa? I have my choice but will not try to persuade anyone.
Oh forgot... 11. I loved loved loved seeing our hitters going the other away against the shift over and over again this weekend. It used to infuriate me last year when we just kept doing the same wrong thing over and over again. Sure Sterlin got a few bunts down late last year but that was it. Now everybody has it figured out. Shoot even Armstrong batting less than .150 hit a slow roller thru the second base side, like 74 said looked like a sharp line drive. And I agree because it makes the defense look awfully stupid and our hitters are attacking their defense. Miami for years has been notorious using the shift and this time it looked like we were ready for it. Bravo Coach Sully!
And 74 would not be happy with me if I forgot the pitchers..... Individual Overall Pitching Statistics # ------Player -----------ERA WHIP B/AVG 49 Finnvold, Carsten-- 0.00 1.00---- .100 41 Purnell, Blake------- 0.00 .64----- .160 -3 Milchin, Garrett----- 1.13 1.13---- .207 13 Slater, Ryan--------- 1.13 1.25--- .179 -8 Sproat, Brandon----- 1.17 .98---- .182 46 Ficarrotta, Nick------ 1.32 .51--- .136 28 Hartman, Karl------- 1.42 1.11--- .143 22 Neely, Brandon------ 1.42 .79---- .136 12 Barco, Hunter-------- 2.65 .76---- .180 18 Coppola, Pierce------ 4.15 1.62--- .278 44 Manning, Timmy----- 4.38 1.62--- .286 Totals-------------------- 2.33 1.08--- .200 I think just about everybody's ERA on here went down this week other than Barco and Abner. I left off Ursitti and Abner because their numbers are a mess until they get it figured out more. What is amazing is our starters, other than Sproat, are at the bottom and the relievers are all better. Last year was much different. I mean we are 12 games in and still have 8 arms at less than a 1.5 ERA. Credit to Barco for still having a .76 WHIP. Don't forget it wasn't long ago that Manning had a +10 ERA so good work getting that back down.
Stat comparison... Last year thru 13 games the Gators had hit 12 homeruns. This year thru 13 games the Gators have hit 27 homeruns. Both years the Gators were batting .300 after 13 games. Jud has the same 4 homeruns this year as last year after 13 games. This tells you the Gators are getting more homeruns from many different players. That's how you get production with efficiency. On top of that we are waiting on better pitches, we are bunting and moving runners, we are hitting more to the opposite field, and we are developing talent.
Pitchers I hope to see take the mound on Tuesday... Milchin as starter Finnvold in relief Nick Fic if needed Neely if needed
So now we add Tyler Nesbitt to this list. My guess he will start based on the photo tweeted out and I'm told he will pitch Tuesday night. Supposedly Pogue will wait until next week to pitch.
Here's Nesbitt's numbers from 2020. Let's hope he picks up where he left off. Year ERA W L App GS IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR BF B/Avg 2020 0.00 1- 0 --5 --1 11.2 7 -0 -0 -3 -17 --1 --0 --0 47 ---.167