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

Guys I wouldn't get too wrapped up in the starters going 6-7 innings yet. We need to take a step back and realize we are not talking about starting the season with a returning Sproat/Waldrep or Faedo/Singer. Sure Sproat was ready to handle a complete game the first SEC weekend last year but Sproat was an experienced pitcher that decided to forgo the draft the previous year. Plus we were only able to play 1 out of 3 games the first weekend this season and we still have another weekend to go before SEC play starts. Fisher and Cags don't have the best of ERAs right now either so Sully doesn't want to put them thru any more stress. With Peterson a true freshmen you don't want to put too high of an expectation on him as well.

As I said going into this weekend Sully will be happy if each or any of the three starters get thru 4 innings or more. I put out a pitchers plan for the 3 days guessing how it might look. Game 1 was Fisher, Slater, Neely and they nailed it. Sure it would have been great if Fisher completed the 5th to get the statistical win but more important the fact that Sully didn't have to use anyone else and we only gave up 3 runs over 9 was a win-win for the weekend and the rest of the staff.

I don't think Sully had a hard pitch count for Fisher to that extent. I based my comment in the game thread that Sully did the right thing getting him out in the 5th, on the thinking Sully didn't want him going over 70-75 pitches, especially in a stressed situation with Slater ready to go. Unfortunate that Slater let one get across but the move worked. We held the lead and the bats came thru. End of game, Gators get the win. Fisher's ERA went down from 9.0 to 7.71. It's not great but headed in the right direction. Credit Sully for protecting his young pitcher early in the season.

All that to remind you on Saturday Peterson will be in a similar situation. Let's get him thru 4 innings if possible and see where the rest takes him. If he makes it to the 5th and gets taken out after a runner gets on, great job, mission accomplished. If he makes it thru 5, even better and we are ahead of track for next week. Any more than that all depends on pitch counts staying low each inning and runners off the base paths. Again Sully has some trust I believe in the freshmen Satin and Philpott and getting them in on the road in Miami during a critical game will bring big rewards once SEC play starts. If its close in the 9th, sure Sully will be measuring if he goes back to Neely, which he will to get the series win.

Lastly don't forget about Cags the same on Sunday. Reminder, he had some arm soreness right before the season started. Then we got rained out on Sunday, which was probably part of why Sully slow played putting the team out there for Games 2 and 3. Not saying he did it on purpose but he probably felt another week off for Cags before he takes the mound probably isn't a bad thing. So now Cags sits at only 3 innings pitched and gave up the 3 run homer with another 9.0 ERA. Would Sully love getting Cags thru 4 innings and only give up a run or two? You better believe he would, especially with this batting lineup and possibly Slater and Neely ready to go.

 

All good comments guys and I appreciate your input as well.

As to JDs comments on Robertson and Thomas, I mostly agree even though I'm a big fan of Robertson. I am concerned what will happen to his swing and results at the plate in SEC play. His swing has not been the same the last week or so that I saw over and over in practice. Those line drives to LCF have turned into lazy fly balls to left. Credit Mikey for having the most doubles on the team so he has contributed in many games already but I'm not seeing the consistency. Plus Miami starts two LHP today and tomorrow which Robertson struggles against. It might be a long weekend for him. Mikey is still the best CF we have so his starting spot remains solid for now.

As to Thomas, he hasn't been the same since he started arguing with Slater after hitting the bomb off him in practice. That was Thomas fault and that's on him. Who knows if that ever got resolved. Clearly many on here, myself included, continue to run with the idea to put Albert at third since Thomas bat is almost as big a hole as Donay. Credit @apkgator or @jdgator or one of the insiders on here for that one because I first read it from them and added it to my list of wants. Several adaptations of the change are floating in these threads but Thomas spot at third if we can find the right guy defensively and be the spark in the bottom part of the order we need. I like Albert but still not sure if he will step up as a starter on this team.

And to @gator1977, you continue to nail it man. Leadership is huge for this team and that's the unknown. Sure we have a few unknown pieces but I have no idea who really is the leader. Cags is the closest thing as a player at the plate, in the field and could be on the mound but I see nothing from him in the clubhouse that says the same. As to Fisher on Friday, I agree. It was you that first convinced me Peterson was the real deal. I remember once I gave into that I said he probably should be our Friday guy before the season started but Sully wouldn't do that to a freshman if needed. Plus others pointed out its a better rotation to go L-R-L on the weekend. I also said Fisher might not be the Friday starter halfway thru the season and Peterson would be. I don't think we are far away from that. Today will tell us more about the rotation than anything so far.

 

Welcome to the club. I appreciate your input.

 

I was real surprised Sully did not use Satin or Philpott today. They will be good to go tomorrow as will Neely. Wondering if Slater can handle a few innings or is he just possible for an inning if needed. Can't forget we have two challenging midweek games this week as well against FAU and UCF.

 

Scratch Peterson off the list. We have Philpott, Satin, Smith, and Witmer still at zero ERA.

 

Stop, don't look down this post......
Of the Gator hitters, who do you think has the best walks plus HBP to strikeouts ratio??? (BB+HBP)/SO
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Here's the list by player names, BB, HBP, SO and ratio....(minimum 15 AB)
Caglianone - (8+1)/4 = 2.25
Shelnut - (7+1)/10 = 0.80
Shelton - (9+4)/8 = 1.63
Evans - (4+5)/8 = 1.13
Heyman - (9+3)/5 = 2.40
Thomas - (8+1)/5 = 1.80
Kurland or Robertson - not even close
And your winner is....
Albert - (6+3)/2 = 4.50

Sure Albert only has 15 registered at bats but that's still good he is getting on base some how and has a .333 batting average and leads the team with a .583 OB%. If he keeps starting and gets moved to third I hope he gets put in the 9 hole. I'd rather increase my chances with runners on for Kurland and Cags than keeping Thomas and Robertson at the bottom.

 

What should we expect from Cags on Sunday?

Many on here would say he never was consistent last year and he already gave up 3 runs in 3 innings in his first appearance against Columbia so there's no telling what we get. Another poster on here said a fan in Miami suggests "Just ask Matherly". So on the surface I think its best to agree with the rest and say there's no telling. But I still ask myself, do you believe everything you saw in the fall and spring? And I told myself Cags was the best we had over the fall scrimmages and as starting spring as well. He regularly went out there and got thru 2-3 innings without a threat. My reports said Cags was a changed pitcher. Now some of you are rolling your eyes thinking he's giving editorials of his self. Please make him stop. (Jim Gaffigan annoyed comedy plug-in goes here)


I was Cags biggest advocate on here for him to be the Friday guy, not understanding the both ways player needs to pitch on Sundays. Now I'm left hoping the good Cags shows up again tomorrow and surprises many of us. Sully has said he was on arm rest just before the season so its still unknown if that has any concern. So I go into this game expecting Cags will get us thru 4 or more without giving up the big inning or another 3 run HR. Just don't hold it against me....HA