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Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

Discussion in 'GatorGrowl's Diamond Gators' started by ocalaman, Feb 20, 2022.

  1. alysb21

    alysb21 GC Legend

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    I don't think that sooner pitching is all it's cracked up to be.
     
  2. sweetpotato2

    sweetpotato2 GC Legend

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    Florida has 14 shutout so far this season. 5 more than Oklahoma.
     
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  3. ufgator72sb

    ufgator72sb GC Legend

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    Hats off to Chelsey Dobbins, she’s calling the pitches and she understands the talents she has been blessed with. I am all in her court.
     
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  4. Porschegator

    Porschegator GC Hall of Fame

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    Through Feb 29 Keagan has pitched more innings than anyone in Division 1 Softball. In as much as she is a freshman, is this a good thing, a bad thing or doesn't matter. I haven't a clue. Would appreciate feedback from you people that know much more about this sport than I.
     
  5. ufgator72sb

    ufgator72sb GC Legend

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    For one thing, her offense needs to give her more runs. When Ava and Liv pitch, the lumber comes out. I think Ava has only had to go seven once. Liv just has had to pitch five for her complete games.
     
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  6. ocalaman

    ocalaman GC Hall of Fame

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    I'm surprised that Olivia Miller hasn't pitched more innings because when given the chance she's been really good - 2 perfect games even. On top of that, Rothrock had some serious issues with her legs starting in the fall of 2022. She had surgery on her right leg 1/13/23 and on her left leg 2/3/23. Then she got a serious infection in one of the legs that was extremely painful. Yet she was able to play her senior season and report to Florida completely cleared. IHSAA softball: Keagan Rothrock has her mojo back, Roncalli on top
    With all that said, softball pitching is much different from baseball in the way it affects the joints, muscles and tendons and doesn't require much recovery time to go again. Usually when softball pitchers get tired, it's the legs that go first, IMO. Stacey Nelson was a workhorse during her time at Florida and I believe she pitched a higher percentage of total innings than Rothrock has so far. Coach Walton has handled seasons where he used 2 primary pitchers, sometimes with a 3rd in there, but relied heavily on one stud to carry the load. He knows what he's doing and I have full confidence that between he, our new pitching coach, the team doctors and Keagan's parents, they aren't doing anything to put her in jeopardy. But one never knows when the injury bug could hit any one of our players and the more we rely on a single player, the greater impact it will have if they get hurt.
     
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  7. ufjaz

    ufjaz All American

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    There were plenty of games so far that we didn't need Keagan to start - if we were watching her usage, but we used her. We definitely needed her to start the Michigan game.
     
  8. ocalaman

    ocalaman GC Hall of Fame

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    I just hope the 19-3 record isn't fool's gold. After today's loss, our SOS is only 193, RPI #49. We are 3-1 in Quad 1 games, 3-0 in Quad 2 games, 2-2 in Quad 3 games (MIchigan is Quad 3) and 11-0 in Quad 4 games. It gets real starting next weekend and we'll see what this team is made of. But for an offense that Coach Walton described before the season as "elite" and one of the best he's ever had, so far they haven't shown that eliteness against quality pitching. They destroy mediocre pitchers, but have a lot to prove over the next several weeks because every SEC team has 2 or more quality pitchers.
     
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  9. ocalaman

    ocalaman GC Hall of Fame

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    They've played a much tougher schedule than us. Oklahoma's SOS right now is #17, UF's #193. Not taking away from what our pitchers have done, just sayin'.
     
  10. Porschegator

    Porschegator GC Hall of Fame

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    Bad day for several other ranked teams. Stetson over Tenn, South Alabama over Alabama, NC St over Clemson.
     
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  11. sweetpotato2

    sweetpotato2 GC Legend

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    I can’t believe sec play starts next week. It really seems like yesterday the first pitch of the season was being thrown.
     
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  12. ocalaman

    ocalaman GC Hall of Fame

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    That's probably Bama's first loss. They have played a very soft schedule so far and had been undefeated. They have 2 really good pitchers we're going to have a hard time hitting against.
     
  13. ocalaman

    ocalaman GC Hall of Fame

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    I wonder if Coach Walton will try to get a midweek game scheduled since we got rained out of a couple of games. The way it stands we're off until next Saturday because our Bama series is Saturday, Sunday, Monday.
     
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  14. sweetpotato2

    sweetpotato2 GC Legend

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    Maybe we can find a hitting coach also.
     
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  15. Porschegator

    Porschegator GC Hall of Fame

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    My expectations for this freshman class.
    Year one: Super Regionals
    Year Two: WCWS
    Year Three: win WCWS
    Year Four: win WCWS
     
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  16. sweetpotato2

    sweetpotato2 GC Legend

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    Hate the loss. But happy we Beat a ranked team in ucla.
     
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  17. sweetpotato2

    sweetpotato2 GC Legend

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    Next weekend is going to be tough. Alabama is already a tough opponent to play and then you add the hostile environment of Tuscaloosa. Who is going to step up to have the pitchers back when a run or two is given up? If Skylar has one of those rare off days and doesn’t get a hit or is intentionally walked. Who is going to step up and have her back. Same with Erickson.
    Go gators!!
     
  18. hoyt233

    hoyt233 GC Hall of Fame

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    Prattvile, AL-Go Lions!
    The 2 top gump pitchers have ERAs of 0.57 and 0.58.
     
  19. ocalaman

    ocalaman GC Hall of Fame

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    Yes, and their SOS jumped considerably last week. They are now #36 in SPS and #8 in RPI. 19-1 record, their only loss a 2-0 shutout vs. South Alabama. Their offense isn't quite what it's been in the past, but their 2 main pitchers are really good. We'll see where the Gator team stacks up in the SEC starting Saturday afternoon.
     
  20. Porschegator

    Porschegator GC Hall of Fame

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    To Ocala, UF, & Scrappy. I don't think I'm being that optimistic. This #1 class is only going to mature and get better plus with the likes of Lamar, Comia & Oxley coming in next year this team is going to be stacked with talent. Could be as talented as any Oklahoma team ever assembled. If they can do it, why not the Gators? OK guys, blow a hole in my observations please.
     
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