First of a 9-inning double header. There will be a separate thread for game 2. TV: SEC Network+ (on-line) Alabama vs. Florida | Watch ESPN Radio: WRUF 830 AM / 98.1 FM Listen Live - ESPN 98.1 FM - 850 AM WRUF Stats: StatBroadcast Live Stat Feed Game Notes: 3 16 Alabama public (PDF) - Florida Gators Weather: 80 Deg at the start and 77 to finish. 0% chance of precip. SW wind @ 14-15 = blowing out to center field. Starting Gator: #14 So LHP Caglianone (3-0, 1.77) Starting Earl: #27 So RHP Hess (3-0, 1.83) Go Gators!
We need to be ready to carry on with the quality pitching and great defense— AND BY ALL MEANS—BRING THE BATS ALONG TODAY!
This looks to be the toughest game to win for us this weekend. Hess has only had one bad outing against High Point, otherwise he has only given up 1 run in 16.2 innings. Look for Hess to go at least 5 and then some. Waldrep can chew thru some innings but may give up a few. If we can get to Hess early it sets up an easier path to victory in both games. What a pitching match up with the wind blowing out to CF.
The biggest challenge for us with Hess is to put him constantly in hitter’s counts and not play into his hand by staying in pitcher’s counts at least IMHO.
So this is the kind of game I find intriguing for a coach this year in the SEC. If your team is doing well, hitting the ball, scoring runs and are up like 9-2 after 5, are you trying to run rule the other team on purpose to get out of there early and save a few arms for the double header today? I would think yes.
I guess I'm thinking above the obvious. Do you pull any defensive players late for better ABs and do you bring your closer(i.e. any really good arm) in early to shut them down instead of saving him for the second game if its close? I guess the question is how far do you go trying get a few more runs, while shutting your opponent down, to win early with another game coming?
Win the first game by whatever means and worry about Game 2 when it starts. If you coach looking ahead to the next game you could end up losing both. One game at a time, IMO.
True, I guess with our bullpen you never know. I would hope the last week has given them some confidence to go out there and do their job.
It was a noticeable difference yesterday how much better Alabama is than the rest of the teams we have already played.
Gator Line Up: #11 Robertson CF #4 Kurland 2B #14 Caglianone P #24 Rivera SS #15 Riopelle C #2 Evans RF #25 Schiekofer LF #6 Shelnut 1B #5 Halter 3B
Bama lineup #10 Jarvis SS #1 Hodo DH #21 Pinckney RF #18 Williamson 1B #3 Tamez C #5 Johnson 2B #16 Shelton 3B #7 Rose CF #20 Seidl LF #27 Hess SP
Good to see Heyman walking out in his catcher gear to hangout in RF warmups. I wonder if he will be able to catch any bullpen.