^ sorry, thought it was a general softball question, not specific to this year's Gator team. However, Imagine the fan response if u take your starter out after she has shutout the opponent for 2 inn and the replacement gives up a quick 4 spot.
And possibly not the most likely event, but what happens in a close game? The LSU/USC game was close until late. What if it ties up and goes long into extras....14-15 innings. You have used up the staff as the only pitcher that can return is the starter. I agree....you don't do this if you have a competent staff. You only do it if you know you don't have pitchers that can survive going through the lineup more than once.
Good points, all. Everyone has said that our pitching staff might be the Achilles heel this year, so I was just thinking that maybe this could give them a little extra advantage. I will now go back to praying for a breakout year for Delbrey.
So far so good. Her ERA is currently .045 in 31 innings. Her improvement in control is outstanding. She has walked 5 batters in 31 innings. Last year she walked 75 batters in 111 innings.
And pitching on back-to-back days is an indicator her stamina is there as well. It is kind of concerning that the staff only has 68 strikeouts, by far the lowest in the SEC. I think next to last has 125. A lot more balls being put into play.
Tonight's game vs. Bucknell is another stat-builder opportunity before heading into SEC play. Bucknell is only 7-13 with only 1 game played against a P5 school and that was unranked Iowa.
I wonder if her improvement in control has anything to do with velocity. Perhaps she’s not throwing as hard because of the surgery. Anyhow the reduction in walks is very welcomed. All the walks last season were killing me inside.
Here's a question for the rules experts..... Trlicek was pitching and was the defensive flex player. Later, she was inserted as an offensive player to pinch run (and scored). I didn't think the flex could ever be used on offense? BTW, when CTW pulled Trlicek after three innings, she was pitching not just a no hitter, but also a perfect game. I understand that there are only certain situations when Bender can get playing time and why this was one of them, but it would have been fun to see a perfect game.
PRESS RELEASE: Saturday's game between Florida and Missouri has been moved to Friday, March 17th at 3:00 PM due to the forecasted weather on Saturday. The two teams will now play a doubleheader on Friday, March 17th.
Tenn looks almost unbeatable. Everyone else in the SEC might be playing for second. Tenn better enjoy the ride for there are a bunch of new sheriffs coming to Gainesville next year and a new reign of terror is about to begin.
The Gators miss Natalie Lugo on the pitching staff, IMO. She wasn't great, but was a steadying force. I wonder if the weak Gator hitting against the better pitchers is a reflection on our own staff, since those are the pitchers the Gators face in practices and scrimmages getting ready for the season? Especially since our best pitcher, Lexie Delbrey, was available during all the practices and scrimmages leading up to the season. The team was facing Hightower, Trlicek, Bender & Gigante.
Lugo was definitely an asset. For me it’s coaches leaving that made the greatest difference. The pitching has been vulnerable since Rocha left and the hitting dropped off after KG moved on to OSU. On pitching though I can’t help but think that like Rocha, you need a coach that’s been there done that; a pitcher that has competed at a high level and can now teach what she’s learned.
You have a point. Both Trlicek and Delbrey came to Florida as the #2 rated pitching prospects in their recruiting class. But they're not performing at that elite level that a top program needs. Next year we have what everyone is saying is a generational-type pitcher coming to Gainesville - Keagan Rothrock, a supposed superstar in the circle. Let's see what our current staff does with her.