Gator Baseball 2024 OFFICIAL ROSTER/Transfer Tracker/Lineup???

I'm pondering some of the questions from tonight on my drive home. All the while, I have to keep the context of its just one game and try not to rearrange the puzzle Sully was putting together that we saw in practices. Its troubling though, expecting many answers on opening night and finding many more questions that will leave us hanging a few weeks longer. So here's a few things to ponder....
1. The big gorilla from tonight, is Cade Fisher ready to be the guy? One night cannot answer that one. We will have to give Sully a few weeks before making an honest evaluation. SJU loaded up the right hand hitters and Fisher struggled. I wish I had his opposing batter numbers from last year to see if the numbers mattered. Fisher had a few rough outings in the fall but the spring has been very good. He gave up a few runs in spring scrimmages but nothing like this. Let's see how he does the next two Friday's and then revisit this one.
2. Should Jaylen Guy be in the lineup as batter or mainly as a defensive replacement? He went 0-3 with a sac fly. Most of his bats did not show much chance of production except hitting the fly ball to advance the runner home. He didn't have any challenging plays in the outfield for this game but it's his bat in question. I'm okay if Sully doesn't have a quick hook with Evans still hurt but just remember Guy hasn't been hitting much in practice all spring. Tomorrow they start a LHP so that might help but I really want to see what Brookins or Yost can do very soon.
3. Should Colby Shelton move up in the order? Sully had the lineup of Robertson, Kurland, Shelton, Cags, and Heyman for many of the scrimmages. He moved Shelton to the 5 spot late in the spring practices. Personally I would prefer Shelton to bat 3rd in front of Cags. Yes it's two LHH back to back but I think Shelton and Cags can handle it.
4. Was Thomas playing too far off third? He did stop one ground ball down the line but three others got by. Granted two were liners that had little chance at but it seemed StJU batters were timing up and turning on pitches to work the corner. I'd rather Sully protect the corner more to defend the doubles and give up a few more singles for now. Shelnut didn't make any good plays in the left field corner either so that only made matters worse.
5. Will Peterson have an advantage as a RHP going up against their right hand hitters? I don't know how many LHH they have but it seems the SJU coach likes playing the analytics. He went to a LHP when Robertson was coming to bat late in the game that was a smart move. The ump tonight was calling pitches 50/50 so hopefully Peterson will have better luck. I do know if he faces mostly RHH and his curve ball is working, tomorrow will be a fun game to watch.
6. Big question, so now what does Sully do with middle relief tomorrow or if we play 2 more games this weekend? Slater is cooked. Jameson is done. If Peterson and Neely can't handle the day then we will see mainly freshmen like Jones, Whitmer, Smith, Satin, Clemente, Gomberg, or perhaps Purnell again. The last thing we need is another 6 pitcher day or else get somebody up doing the rain dance.
7. Can Donay be more effective at the plate? I've said several times when Brody steps in with a man on, expect either a double play or one over the batter's eye. Unfortunately we got the double play tonight instead of the drive to center. Again, one game is not enough but we have seen this pattern plenty of times in practice. I think for Sully he starts him and sees how the game is going. If we get behind and need runners on then we pull him sooner. If the wind is blowing out then he more than likely stays in. I'd rather watch how the season unfolds before trying to name another DH for now.
8. A telling stat from tonight we gave up 3 more walks (8 total) than them, plus one hit batter, and lost by 4. BUT, we struck out 13 SJU batters and they only struck out 3 of our batters. Our guys put the ball in play, but their guys hit more extra base hits with runners on that we gave them. That has to be improved or we lose many more games like that again this year. I just hope we get a chance to improve ourselves this weekend and not be waiting until Tuesday.

 

Question for the panel.....
If no other games are played this weekend would Sully let Peterson and Cags start on Tuesday and Wednesday and let them go for 2-3 innings in prep for the next Saturday and Sunday appearance opportunity?

 

One other thing I'm pondering....
Should we consider our starting rotation as a team pitching in reverse?

Hear me out. I know many of you supported the info that Fisher was ready to be the Friday guy. Whether you had insider info or saw the potential Fisher had to be the Friday guy. Plus Cags has to be the Sunday guy because of his two-way ability. Now I take you back to the fall where Cags showed over and over he has improved, either in scrimmages or the two starting appearances against Stetson and Georgia. Yes the spring for Cags has been less than hoped, especially his last scrimmage where the wheels fell off again. But apparently he was complaining of arm soreness after that debacle.

Peterson has been very good and getting better. I even suggested he could be our best pitcher but Sully will not put a freshman in the Friday spot to start the year. Sully might be forced to move Peterson to the Friday spot if Fisher doesn't settle in. But that would mean we go to a R-L-L rotation, not as good. I do believe Peterson could end the year very easily with the best numbers in our rotation.

Once Cags gets a chance to ramp up that 100 mph heater and see if can control his 3 pitches, he might be our best candidate to lead this team from the mound. I know it sounds weird after his problems from last year but let's see how he starts the season and if he's ready to step up in Miami that Sunday and help us win the series. We may very well be looking at a rotation pitching in reverse. In Sully do we trust.

 

Well said Bossman!

 

I suppose the sellout is from the season ticket reserved seats being sold out. I don't expect nearly the crowd we had last Friday on Opening Night. I'd be happy if half of them actually showed up. They might announce 5000-6000 but I doubt that many will be in the park, especially with softball, men's basketball, and gymnastics all at home that weekend.

 

Good question, since Philpott pitched Friday I'm thinking he is more likely to pitch sometime tomorrow. Since Peterson is a RHP then I'd look at either LHP of Menendez or Satin who only faced one batter. Since Cags is still an unknown for tomorrow, I'd go with McNeiliie as the Wed starter if not Cags. I would also assume we see Neely tonight or tomorrow for sure since he got nothing last weekend. Hunter Jones should also get called up for action here soon. In the past Sully always seemed to put more emphasis on the Tuesday instead of the Wednesday game but since we lost Friday I hope we see the team respond with more focus on both games.

 

Wow you don't get these kind of posts very often. But I think it's @74nole that you better watch for. He has a bad problem forgetting the competitors we face. Besides Sully has a few arms he needs to get through the next two days.
It's great to have a dad on here from teams we face. I recall a few others from other schools in the state. By checking the UNF site it looks like Kaden from Naples is the RHP we better look out for. I'll tell you what, if he comes into the game I'll do the same as I have for several other kids of posters on here, I'll stand and applause their walkup to the mound. I believe GC posters here on Diamond Gators deserve at least our appreciation for the game. Thanks for giving us the heads up so others will join in and welcome him to The Condron if he gets the chance.