I have some questions from fellow Gator softball fans. The experts had lower expectations for this year's Gator softball team than many of ours. How do you think this team is achieving compared to your expectations? New freshman pitchers, transfers and coaches have all made this an interesting season. How would you grade pitching? Fielding? Hitting? Leadership? My question isn't about how much you love this team. I would be shocked if anyone didn't. It is about how far you expected this team to go and how your thinking has evolved. I've developed my own opinions but I am very interested in the opinions of other Gator fans. Go Gators!
Think we are ‘ahead’ of schedule per what the so called experts prognosticated but not yet sure just how far. Let’s see a couple or three more SEC series and then we’ll have a more firm feel for where we are. IF the young pitchers progress quickly, this well might be a top eight squad.
Like to see more of Miller. Didn’t have it vs MSU, but she’s thrown two perfect games….and must have something
This team definitely exceeded expectations of the so called “ experts” Alabama and Kentucky were series we were expected to lose but won the series and swept respectively. We beat an always tough UCLA team and fought every at bat and every inning vs. a great hitting team in MSU. My expectation I expect them to fight each pitch and each at bat. Up by 3 or down by 5 and so far they have done that. My second expectation is a top 8 seed so they can stay home for regionals and supers but that’s something only time will tell.
Pitching - about as good as I would have expected out of pure freshmen. Fielding- I’d give that about a B+ to a B, Hitting- id give a B. We are better than we were the last forever but we still tend to run hot or cold and struggle against the top pitchers. That’ll have to change if we are going to make noise post season. Leadership- seems to be great. The upper class girls have really ‘steered the ship’ and the freshmen girls seem to be following well. This is going to be a fun run.
Pitching was fantastic until Miss St series when Gators allowed 24 runs. That has to change for the better if they expect to compete for a title. It is a small miracle they won the series. If they can hold LSU to four runs or less per game they will be just fine. Regardless, they are a fun team to watch. They certainly have lived up to my expectations thus far.
Pitching - It's as good as I had hoped. The freshmen are SEC competent and maybe excellent - the rest of the SEC schedule will tell. Generally it's been good, definitely better than the past few years. However, it has let down in the 2nd Michigan game, and MSU opener. Fielding - Pretty good as usual but let down in the 1st Michigan game, and MSU opener. Hitting - Slow start to begin the season, but seems to have found their stride - always dangerous. However, a let down in the first Michigan game, and OSU game. All in all, this does seem to be a good position to be in.
I'm sitting where you are. My feeling is we have very good to great pitching, but not elite. (Though potential) Excellent fielding in the main. Potential to grow to elite Very good hitting, getting better. May become great to elite. I think this team has good leadership and the coaching changes are very promising.
I would say we were mostly ahead of schedule.....but felt like all the freshman hit a bit of a wall last weekend. All the pitchers struggled, AK and Mia had brutal weekends, and the pinch hitting freshman were not productive. Ava got hold of a couple at the plate but also scuffled at times. Need them to regroup and get ready to hit the second half of the season. Pitchers especially need to not only steady themselves but continue to improve if this season goes where we think it can.
MS State ties school record with 13th run-rule victory In their 14-0 victory over UAB in five innings, the No. 16 Bulldogs tally nine of their 14 runs with two outs and secure their school-record-tying 13th run-rule victory of the season. April 03, 2024
Pitching - A- Fielding - A- Hitting - A- Leadership - A+ Expectations: 1. Top 8 NCAA Tournament Seed 2. WCWS Appearance 3. WCWS Final Series Appearance This is UF's best team since 2017. The good news is I expect the team to continue to improve as the season progresses. 2024 has the potential to be a special season.
I think offensively it’s one of the best teams in Gator softball history. The pitching has been fantastic given the lack of experience to lead them. But pitching is the reason I think the 2018 team behind Barnhill and Ocasio in the circle would have the advantage. Definitely the best since that team though. Barnhill and Lorenz just didn’t have much help in 2019.
I honestly don't think it's that far fetched. A team that plays together like this and has all the pieces can fo a lot of damage. They don't play scared against anybody. They'd hsut to have to outhit OU after the first or 2nd time through the lineup against Rothrock and Brown. Even though I don't think she's their best pitcher I feel like May would be the one to give us fits since she's more of a spinny downball pitcher. I'm not going to put an expectation on them to make it to the wcws. But at this point it would be a surprise to me if we didn't... but not a disappointment. We have a very high ceiling if we stay healthy and don't peak too early.
Even though it wasn't as good this weekend... I still give our pitchers a lot of credit for battling through. Honestly to me the defense was the bigger issue. Several balls that we should've made plays on that we didn't and 99% of the time would've. The freshman looked a little younger this weekend but at the same time the arms especially grew up with fighting through. No complaint from the offense other than should've adjusted a little quicker to Wesley and Marren... at least cut down on the k's. Also though.... that strikezone on Saturday for sure was very generous to the inside corners. Our pitching is still great... jsut keep in mind our defense didn't help them this weekend and State is a very good offensive team. They scored off OU right off the bat when they played them and should've scored more. Jsut hurt themselves with errors.
Yea there's something off with 3B and 2B to me. Both aren't the standard we're used to seeing. Wasn't expecting us to light the world on fire with only having freshmen pitchers. We needed to get Vawter and didn't. Therefore I had low expectations heading into the season and still do honestly. Brown and Rothrock are serviceable but neither are strikeout pitchers who throw nasty pitches. They rely on throwing strikes and letting the defense make plays.
The problem with 3B and 2B is both starters are freshmen. Even though UF's fielding percentage is good, there are some growing pains. The good news is both should be like seasoned sophomores by the end of the season. I leave it at this, no debate from me, there is no way Rothrock and Brown are just "serviceable."
I am aware of how dominant they will both be in time. I just don't think it's this year. They are certainly capable pitchers but they've been giving up plenty of hits against SEC teams thus far. You can go ahead and toss out the stats but 80% of those stats are against cupcake opponents.
