Agree with you @gator1977 on Donay 100%. He’s big and really strong and can hit it out anywhere in the ballpark. That said you’re spot on about him working on his approach. He has got to be much more disciplined at the plate. I believe if he can improve his pitch recognition (mainly spin on the ball) he can have better control of his swings. Again, hitting it where it’s pitched remains a centerpiece for success.
Exactly.....and maybe just maybe get the ball in play with 2 strikes rather than just keep doing the mighty Casey thing
God bless you, man. No way I was going out there today. (Of course we did party with the team last night, and I had a couple of appointments today - but I’ll never pass up a chance to disparage the current weather). Things are looking up! It’ll be in the 60’s Monday and 70’s by Wednesday!
I caught the last 20-30 minutes of BP and the scrimmage. Yost looks ready to go just 35 weeks -- oh, to be young agin -- after an ACL tear, running smoothly and the ball sounds good off the bat (though, every player has their own bat; might be the tool not the wielder). Orange ("road" team) won the scrimmage 5-1. Peterson pitched the first two innings for blue, with a fastball that sat at 94 and touched 96. Let's say his command of the fastball is "not season ready" at this point. But he seemed to be focusing other pitches, particularly a curveball that was inconsistent, with the extremes being a knee-buckling strikeout looking of Blake Cyr and a hanger that Brody Donay deposited for a three-run first-inning homer. Gave up four total, though the last was mostly from slow infield play. Menendez pitched the other two innings for blue. Command also needs work, but he got the 6-4-3 DP in his first inning to keep the 4 pitch leadoff walk from being too bad. Gave up one run total. Coppola pitched first for orange, giving up one run in two frames with a bit better command than Peterson, though his fastball topped out at 91. Philpott pitched the other two innings for orange with a double play in the last inning and no runs allowed. I got distracted by a couple work e-mails during his inning, so I can't really comment on stuff/command.
There’s always uncertainty to start the season, but there’s a chance Clemente is even our best pitcher. I’m excited to finally see these guys again soon to find out.
I agree. After coming back from TJ surgery and fine-tuning his mechanics, Jake had a very good second half last year and was excellent on the Cape in summer. Liam has outstanding stuff but his tendency for an innng where he loses the zone then gives up the long ball has hurt him-- not surprising for a freshman and hope and expect him to take a big step forward in performance this year.
I hope we have a Friday night guy we can count on. It seems to make a difference in how our season goes when we have a dependable ace. We have had some bad luck with that lately. Opening day starters over the last 10 years: 2025 ?? 2024 Cade Fisher 2023 Brandon Sproat 2022 Hunter Barco 2021 Tommy Mace 2020 Tommy Mace 2019 Tyler Dyson 2018 Brady Singer 2017 Alex Faedo 2016 Logan Shore 2015 Logan Shore
He was a great Gator! I’m sure we all have a favorite! I’ll have to say my favorite 4 are Alan Horne (naturally), Tommy Boss, Logan Shore, and Brady Singer. All great Gators.
At the park for four innings of a 5-inning scrimmage: quick summary and observations: McNellie started for Blue and threw two solid innings. Barlow for Orange was all over the place in the 1st giving up two runs and stranding two and going deep into counts. In the 2nd he made quick work of Blue (many of the proj. starters) on 12 pitches. He also was inconsistent in the Fall. After that --- the bombs started flying out of the Park. Boser (Orange) hit a two-run dinger against McDonald (it came after Mc beaned Evans and then grooved one). No ill effect for Evans. Two batters later, Yost hit a 400 foot 2-run bomb. Then next inning Heyman (Blue) hit one out vs Rowland. Next half inning Cyr (Orange) hit a 3-run shot off of Ong. I left soon after. Pitchers need to up their game-- I think soon we may begin to scratch off some names from Sully's "circle of trust” list. In my view, Barlow may be on the bubble but I sense Sully wants to keep him inside the circle. Had some OK stats at Clemson.
In the recent radio show and again at the Dugout Club event, Sully specifically said Rodriguez will be back sometime after start of the season and the workouts he has been able to do have been promising.
One thing I forgot to note in yesterday's comments is how Nadeau looks like a real gamer. Knows how to play the game. He opened the game with a perfect bunt to 3rd (off McNeilly)-- he easily beat out... showed good speed by stealing 2nd and in his next at-bat delivered a perfect hit run single to the opposite field. His stats at JU are off-the charts. Sully has a challenge with so many quality players (non-pitchers) to choose from and only 8 slots (9 with DH) to play. Some tough calls and lots of guys to keep engaged.
Really think he could be a leadoff hitter for us if Jones falters at all. Not expecting it but awesome to have options.