I am OK with how the season ended up. We essentailly lost our entire weekend starters and yet came close to winning a regional. That was hard to do.
We're not making a cool million a year, but there are other coaches that are pitching expert/coaches out there... Not saying we need a new coach at all. That's NOT what I am saying. But there are other coaching experts if things do go sour...
I’m just so baffled by how awful that decision making was and looking for some rational reason to explain it. It doesn’t appear that there is one.
He should have asked and Sully would have answered. We may not have agreed with it but at least we would know Sully’s rationale.
Losing by just getting outplayed I can go with that. To fight like this team to get to a game like tonight and only needing 6 outs, you leave your relief pitcher in while he is obviously losing it, is NOT how it should have ended. These players deserved better. The players didn't lose the game tonight imho. It should not have ended this way.
There are more than one type of mistakes in coaching... One is a single play from a single player that you left in the game too long... The other is watching a total meltdown by one player and still not doing a damned thing about it until it was too late... It was like watching a train wreak in slow motion... That was all coaching.
Coach speak. Pride won't let him admit he screwed up. Deflect his poor decision by stating positives as in look over here but don't ask me about the 8th inning.
Yes..Sully I guess was hoping Slater could get out of a jam...but he didn't...He will probably go over his poor decision over and over in the off season
After going home for dinner and return of play, I walked into the Ballpark in right field and saw Sproat stretching in the pen getting ready for 9th inning shut down... No one else getting ready to finish 8th, should trouble emerge-- so it was all on Slater.... after the 2-run HR-- on 1-2 pitch-- I glanced at pen- and was surprised that no one was getting ready. Two runs later- the game had slipped away and we are now home licking our wounds- and players must be gutted after the effort they've put in over 6 weeks of intense come backs.. Puzzling coaching moves from Sully- to be honest. Gift to the Sooners.
Not sure about more 'class' -- wanting to keep his job is more like it. Small market homer gotta stay with the program or be "asked to leave." Always powder puff questions and allow Sully to do his spin thing.
In 2017 (I think), he put the next day starter in against LSU late to save game 2 and win the NC. It was a gutty call that worked. I’m not sure what happened tonite but it backfired and we self destructed in the 8th inning as a result. I like Sully but hate to lose. We did lose pitchers this year but most teams lose players as well so just an excuse; it’s unfortunate but you keep going.
Class? You can ask the hard obvious questions we all have and still be respectful. Kendall, you are right about Cardozo not wanting to go there with Sully for the reason stated. However, do not bristle when a caller to your radio show points out that you are a company man geared towards a happy to glad post game interview style.
The score was tight and every single run counted... The sad thing is all the great plays and player stories that ended this season too early. Like our two big home 20+ run hitters - Fabian and Langford. And the fact that the Gators were a top ten HR hitting teams was an under unrealized 'great' story too.... well not unrealized, but if we would have made the Would Series all these stories would have made more of a historical impact in Gators' folklore.... But the one story that never really counted more than for one game was Sully's decision to play Finnvold in the first inning with the bases loaded and no outs. And he pitched a game for the ages... And his game effort will never be forgotten, nor diminished. These stories would have immortalized these players if we had punched their ticket to the World Series, even if we just made it and not won it all. I feel for our players that gave it their all and came up short. This team deserved a higher place in the Gators' baseball history books.
I think 3 SEC teams lost their Friday night pitchers and only 1 is still playing. MSU missed the tourney completely. LSU got the injury bug too, done in regionals as well.