Baseball vs. Arkansas, Fri 4/25, 6:30 pm

Big weekend, let’s rise to the challenge Gators!

 

Make or break weekend. Gators 6-12 and need to get 13 SEC wins (some say 12 will do it) for post-season bid but with Arky, USCe on the road, Texas on the road and closing with Bama at home-- getting 6-7 wins more will not be easy. Two of three this weekend would put us in better shape (8-13)... anything less will make it extremely challenging-- Gotta notch the home wins.

 

Damn that takes a long time to do correctly.

Even if I had a 5 pound pork shoulder in the fridge I would have to get up very early to smoke it, rest it, and pull it for sandwiches before serving it and then driving to the game.

Give me a heads up early enough and maybe I can sneak one into the ball park for you via the ADA gate.

 

Some say 10 or 11 conf wins may get us in

 

At $.99/lb, pulled pork is hard to beat for a big group. I did a boston butt for Easter and also smoked a chuck roast. Smoked the chuck kind of how you’d traditionally smoke a brisket, but chuck is much more forgiving and you don’t need an army to finish it off. It rivals brisket when it’s fresh, but seems to dry out much faster after it’s cut open so it’s not great for leftovers. If there’s a group, there’s usually no leftovers though.

 

Arky has a ridiculous team batting average(.328 and which is first in the SEC). They have a very good pitching staff who can throw strikes (3.71 ERA and a 3.84 Strikeout-to-Walk ratio which is second in the nation behind Tenn). It is going to take our A++ game to get a win this weekend, let alone take the series. We cannot give them extra base runners (which seems to be our undoing this season), because they will get them home.

Yes, they have recently struggled in SEC play, but it was to Georgia on the road (who swept us), and the other to Texas AM at home who seems to be getting better each SEC series. I wouldn't read much into that. After all it is baseball. I am hoping for the best and for mistakes that we can capitalize on, but realistically this is the best team we have faced thus far this season. Gators need to be ready for a fight, because these boys can get after it. It doesn't help us that they lost the last two series. I think it makes them more focused. Also, we can't afford to strand 10-15 runners this weekend. We need to be clutch on offense and put pressure on their defense to pull off the upset.

Come on Gators! Get up and go!! It's time to show the committee why you should be in the post season. This will be your best chance to date to make a statement on your home field! Oh, and BTW #1 Texas on the road lurks around the corner. Are we having fun yet?

 

I would say we would be a lock to get in at 12 (assuming we do not falter in the mid-week games). I also think we would have a really good chance at 11 too (even if it has never been done before), if we end up around 25 in the RPI. That also takes into consideration we have 2 of 3 series wins against both FSU and UM which are "like" Conference games.

Our current RPI is 24. I would think if we go 5-7 against the remaining schedule, our RPI would remain about the same as it is.

Not as sure about only 10 conference wins.

 

I think 12 wins with RPI in mid 20s and SoS likely in top 5 or 6-- gets us in-- agree. That means going 6-6 down the stretch- doable but still formidable task given schedule-- Mizzou and MSU are weak links in the SEC and they're in rearview. Another "Selection Monday" we'd have to sweat out.

 

I tend to agree. Only one more midweek (USF) so the work there is mostly done. If UF can stay at least in 13th place in the SEC they should be good because the RPI is there and the total wins will be there. How many conference wins keeps you in 13th is the question

 

I got a 6+ pounder at Hitchcock's in Alachua a few weeks ago for $1.49 a pound and a nice cut. Usually when I get it cheap they are huge and not so great. Often Swift "Premium" where "premium" is a bit of a misnomer. On sale at my Publix it is usually $1.99 per pound but nice cuts.

Do folks on this board do it Western Carolina style topped with vinegar based slaw? I don't usually sauce mine unless the pulled pork is a little dry and not juicy. And the secret is to use CHEAP buns and nothing fancy.

Anyway today is leftover BBQ chicken legs and Hebrew National hot dogs before going to the game. I think we have some kind of bagged slaw to go with it.

 

My wife likes to make “porkies”. Pulled pork with slaw and a pickle on a yeast roll. I usually don’t make a sandwich.

I don’t sauce the whole thing, but usually have sauces available. Sometimes I dip, sometimes I don’t. Usually don’t, especially if it’s freshly pulled. The $.99/lb ones do the trick just fine for me. Hitchcocks seems to run them at that price often enough that if I have ANY notice, that’s usually what I pay.

 

SP—Earl Root—NEVER heard of him….

 

Gonna see a good one tonight in former Gator Commit Zach Root. Projected top 20 pick in draft. Can be filthy at times. Hope to get to him early.

 

Starts tonight. Gotta get 2 this weekend. We know we are thin pitching wise so gotta take the opener.

 

Ump took a hit by pitch