The Dolphins are back in town! Let's see if the thank you note I sent them helped or hurt. TV: SEC Network+ (on-line) Radio: WRUF 850 AM / 98.1 FM Listen Live - ESPN 98.1 FM - 850 AM WRUF Stats: StatBroadcast Live Stat Feed Game Notes: 4 16 Jacksonville2 (PDF) - Florida Gators Weather: 83 Deg at the start and 72 to finish. No precip expected. E Wind @ 7-9 = blowing in from right field. Starting Gator: #20 RsFR RHP Clemente (15.00, 0-0, 3.0 IP) Starting Earl: #24 So RHP Stone (0.00, 0-0, 0.0 IP) Go Gators!
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.- Jacksonville Baseball (16-18, 10-5 ASUN) left Clarksville with a win on Sunday afternoon conquering Austin Peay (21-14, 9-6 ASUN) 18-11. The Dolphins exploded in the fifth and sixth inning, putting up a nine spot in the fifth and five additional runs in the sixth to give them the lead, one they held through the end of game.
My read of this team: Like my son's grasscutter football team that would look at an opponent as being "easy to beat" and they'd go out and get whipped. Couldn't get them to give their best regardless of the opponent. These guys, to borrow a phrase, woke up on third base and think they hit a triple. I see a lack of senior leadership and grit, personally. Just my .02 and I hate it for a player like Jac for now.
I heard who the probable starter is tonight but I don't want to be accused of spreading rumors again. Apparently the mods on here aren't big fans of Fleetwood Mac. Sorry for the rest of you. Roberto sure was a great player back in the day. I'm glad Sully is taking another recommendation of mine to start a guy with a high ERA to just get us thru an inning or two and then see how it goes. Hopefully Evans stays in the leadoff again.
Team ERA 6.57. Reilly Witmer had only thrown 2.1 innings, but has an ERA of 0.00, next best is Cags at 3.89, then Robert Satin (8.1 innings) at 4.32, Fisher Jameson at 4.94, Brandon Neely at 5.58, Blake Purnell at 5.82, Ryan Slater at 6.02. Everybody else above the team ERA.
If there is to be improved pitching performance and consistency, it will come from one or both of two groups: the seven pitchers who have 15 or fewer innings pitched or the nine who have more. Most of the latter continue to get opportunities, while only Coppola, and apparently Clemente today, in the former group seem guaranteed more time on the mound. If they don't play, they definitely won't contribute. I'm satisfied that the guys who have pitched most often are the ones who have earned their playing time in workouts- the traditional approach. I'm well prepared by 65+ years of Gator games to simply accept a below par season and wait 'til next year. But Sully has convinced me to believe he can find the right mix of tradition and innovation. If he asks for my suggestions, I'd say give a few innings to the less obvious choices. Yes, that will risk the ire of front runners who consider winning Tuesday games as important as winning SEC games, but midweek experimentation, even this late, seems necessary. Clemente may get bombed early tonight, but I'd rather see Witmer or Smith or Satin relieve instead of Slater and Purnell. If that means another JU loss, I'll find a way to survive the griping, especially if it identifies one or two guys who can help over the next few weeks.
Gator Line Up: #2 Evans RF #14 Caglianone DH #10 Shelton SS #6 Shelnut LF #28 Heyman 1B #4 Kurland 2b #29 Donay C #1 Thomas 3B #11 Robertson CF #20 Clemente SP
Dolphin lineup #3 Gale CF #22 Edmonds LF #4 Brewer 2B #30 Steidl 1B #34 Hinrikus 3B #5 Howard DH #9 Delgado RF #42 Spelman C #5 Hentz SS #24 Stone SP