Gator Baseball 2023 Official Roster Tracker/Lineup???

I agree that Cags as pitcher needs to come back slowly- maybe 3-4 innings in mid week starts to begin the season. But having him at 1st everyday with the big bat- man- that will be a big step up. It seems from his HS scouting reports- he is a very good fielder and a big target at first with soft hands can secure a bunch of outs.
On Coppola- once there is assessment on his condition the weekend rotation should become clearer but in any event- it will be a bountiful number of solid pitchers for Sully. Looking forward.

 

A great problem to have!!

 

Knowledgeable poster on another board said he was doing very well. My impression was he could do some stuff in the fall

 

That's great news. To think we could have 3 stud RHP and LHP starter types is amazing. Now just need to product at the plate and find someone to close out games consistently.

 

Y’all just think about this for a minute—2 seasoned RHP’s and LHP Coppola for weekend starters with Sproat as our bonafide closer…(chances are he’s a bullpen guy with MLB)

 

Mariano Rivera had a career WAR of 56.3. Pedro, 86ish. Randy Johnson, 101.

Kenley Jansen has a WAR of 19ish. Clayton Kershaw is about 71.

Translation: SP is more valuable than RP. Much more valuable.

He gave up 7 ER in his last 6 starts. I want him where he maximizes value which would be SP.

Now the more interesting corollary to this is what does the team need the most? It is possible by April that the answer might be a backend option as more valuable.

 

I’m just throwing options out there Greg. Converting from a D-1 college SP to MLB can be a long a winding road. Sproat’s last 7-8 starts were by far his best as a Gator. Personally, I credit his work and improvement of his 2-seamer and spotting his 4-seamer in advantage counts to leading to his strong finish last season.

With what he has in his repertoire now he’s more likely to be a bullpen guy at the MLB level IMHO.

If he can develop a “go-to” true off speed pitch then he becomes an immediate interest as a SP at the pro ball level.

 

New transfer coming into the program. Rutgers OF with hitting skill.
https://mobile.twitter.com/rschiek10

 

Some nice numbers at Rutgers: .330/.421/.464 last year, .330/.422/.458 for his career. 25 walks against 26 strikeouts last year.

 

The Rutgers transfer puts UF at 37 on the roster using the 1st post. I thought the limit was 35?! Should we expect 2 Fall transfers?

This of course assumes the unknowns all leave.

 

"For the ’23 season, the NCAA is allowing programs to have a roster size anywhere from 35-40, but there are major caveats. For instance, any student athlete beyond 35 would have had to lose their season to COVID back in 2020. Furthermore, teams will be allowed to have anywhere from 27-32 players on scholarship".

 

Fall workouts are also a tryout for roster spots. That can lead to some tough exit interviews at the end of the semester because like others have said, 2023 spring roster size is 35.

 

He might be a starter for a weaker MLB team with what he has now and evolve into a closer if he doesn't turn his current slider into a wipe out pitch or learn to throw a good change. I am thinking Goose Gossage as a template for that. A more obscure one was Bart Johnson. He was a fireballing starter that went to the bullpen and IIRC was the AL Fireman of the Year once.

Heck, not many know it but Hoyt Wilhelm originally was a starter and even threw a no hitter against the Yankees for the Orioles. Nobody would confuse Wilhelm's stuff with Sproat's or Gossage's. LOL.

IIRC Hoyt was the first HOF guy that got in mostly due to his relief pitching.

 

With Sproat’s stuff his value is as a starter. Throwing 25 pitches a week as opposed to 85-90 is not best usage or getting bang for our buck.

 

Or impacting 2-3 games each week vs just 1 is better bang for the buck