Gator Baseball 2022 Roster/Lineup/Batting Order

Agreed there is talent with many of the reserves. When I post a list of numbers I try to narrow it down, in this case the more day to day players, to keep the focus on those that contribute the most. Its amazing some of these are not getting more opportunity but each time they do somebody has to sit. Sure DH is always available but some of these names are better fielders than hitters. I expect Talbott and Prevost to get hot at the plate before the end of season which is good to keep guys like Armstrong trying to get better.

 

With Sproat starting tomorrow, Alabama should have a LHP and will cause a few different looks possibly for our hitters. Guys like Halter, Calilao, Rivera and Armstrong do much better against LHP but Thompson and Deric are far less than their average. Might see a few opportunities for Riopelle and Deric to lay down a bunt if needed. Thompson certainly should if they shift on him again. I don't think Lastres is an option behind the plate at this time and no word on Guscette's return, so hope to get anything we can from Riopelle's bat. APK mentioned Slater possibly on Sunday so we will be wondering if he comes in Saturday if needed or is he on hold. My guess if we have the lead after 5, not a blowout, Sully will use Slater Saturday to go for the win. Otherwise save him for Sunday. Don't forget Pogue, Nesbitt, Manning, and even Neely should all figure in here somewhere with Purnell sure to return again.

 

Here are the batting averages in conference from last year for our returning players.
6 Calilao, Kendrick---- .333
34 Armstrong, Kris---- .314
24 Rivera, Josh-------- .294
26 Thompson, Sterlin- .290
5 Halter, Colby--------- .266
4 Fabian, Jud---------- .255
9 Guscette, Mac------- .350 (only 20 ABs)

 

Good win tonight on the road to clinch the series win. Its great that the bats came through again tonight but concerning the pitching is still iffy. Sproat is still up and down but Slater did his job and got us to the 9th. I have to wonder who Sully will start next Saturday. I expect Sproat but Nesbitt and Pogue are sitting in the wings. For Sunday, I'm not as concerned with who starts tomorrow as much as who comes in and can shut them down. We don't need to look like last year's team that had to score at least 6 runs each night to get the win. Not saying we are because this team has plenty more good things happening but these young pitchers still need some time to settle in. I just hope Nesbitt and Pogue are ready to contribute at full strength soon.
Great job by the 4-9 hitters coming thru big time tonight. Its looking like we have no holes in the lineup.

 

Here's an interesting stat of the day.....
Josh Rivera is now batting .125 against RHP, but he's batting .524 against LHP and leads the team in that column. That's almost a 400 point difference when facing a lefty. Look for Josh to stay hot on Sunday if they start the LHP Grayson Hitt as scheduled. Hhhhmmm nice last name with the way we are hitting.

 

I'm thinking the same as well. Just remember though, with whoever starts, I think its more important to see whoever comes in for relief shuts them down and holds them to no more than 5 runs on the day. We need to see continued improvement in this pitching staff with conference play now started. Sully has plenty of options compared to Bama so use them as best he can. Its tough to handle on the road for some freshmen but a great opportunity to see if we can bring home the sweep.

 

It might not be that hard to believe but Thompson is only batting .188 against LHP. I don't see Sully juggling the lineup yet but he needs to help manage ST around this and keep finding ways to be productive at the plate. On the flip side its great to see Rivera and Armstrong doing so well and hearing Sully talk about the extra time they've spent working with them during the week to put the work in and get their swing back. Might we hear Sterlin doing the same???

 

They sure ain't from Marianna.

 

Here's most of the Gators baseball schedule over the next month....

03-25......FRI.........LSU ...Ranked #13
03-26......SAT........LSU...Ranked #13
03-27......SUN.......LSU ...Ranked #13
03-29......TUE.......SWAC @ Jax ...Ranked #8
03-31......THU.......@ Georgia ...Ranked #20
04-01......FRI........@ Georgia ...Ranked #20
04-02......SAT........@ Georgia ...Ranked #20
04-07......THU.......Arkansas ...Ranked #3
04-08......FRI........Arkansas ...Ranked #3
04-09......SAT........Arkansas ...Ranked #3
04-12......TUE.......@ SWAC ...Ranked #8
04-15......FRI........@ Vanderbilt ...Ranked #4
04-16......SAT........@ Vanderbilt ...Ranked #4
04-17......SUN.......@ Vanderbilt ...Ranked #4
04-22......FRI.........Tennessee ...Ranked #7
04-23......SAT.........Tennessee ...Ranked #7
04-24......SUN........Tennessee ...Ranked #7

Piece of cake right? I left out the 3 games against unranked opponents. So that's 17 out 20 games against opponents ranked in the top 20. Most times you feel okay if we win half our games against ranked opponents. I said "okay", maybe not great, but they are top ranked opponents so you take the wins with the losses and hopefully you come out even. That said, will you be pleased if we go 11 and 9 over the next month after this weekend?

 

Well after Saturday's fortunate ending and today's unfortunate ending it doesn't seem like we are a team ready to handle the SEC East leaders of Tennessee and Vanderbilt or Arkansas from the West. We've got two more weeks to settle the defense and find the right combos for the mound. Lots of thinking and work to do for Sully. LSU will be challenged to play until the last out in every game this coming weekend.

 

I feel like we could start a whole other thread titled pitching woes. Here's a shot in the dark and throwing out an idea or wish list. Everybody agrees Friday is set with Barco, hopefully going 7+, and then letting Purnell close it if all goes well. If Barco has an off day you could also bring in Slater for 2+ innings to help get to the closer. Saturday starter is up in the air even though Sproat might still be our best option and Sully still considering his potential. I'm fine if we try someone else, like Slater or Nesbitt as other have suggested, but if Sproat keeps his spot on Saturday I suggest that Manning come in for relief. Why, because Sproat is a fastball/changeup hard throwing RHP that might give us 3-4 good innings. Then we go to Manning as the lefty, different arm swing, curveball specialist that will take an inning or two for hitters to adjust on a good day. Combined if Sproat and Manning get us past the 6th inning you have to like our chances if our hitters do their job. Now you go back to Nick Fic and Slater to get us home on Saturday. Sunday I'd go with Nesbitt for now as starter with guys like Milchin, Neely, Pogue and finish with Purnell. Hopefully if we get a few blowouts Sully will try Abner and/or Finnvold in short relief to get more opportunity with the LHPs. Here's the breakdown to see it easier...

Friday - Barco/(Slater)/Purnell
Saturday - Sproat/Manning/Nick Fic/Slater
Sunday - Nesbitt/Milchin/Neely/Pogue/Purnell

Special note - if Coppola can make it back then he becomes the long relief for Saturday instead of Manning.
This is just one guys opinion, trying to keep it all sorted out. If Nesbitt and Pogue take longer than expected to get back into form, the SEC schedule going forward is not very forgiving. Can you imagine our pitching staff having to face Vanderbilt and Tennessee hitters without Nesbitt, Pogue, or Coppola? Ugh