Baseball vs Vandy, Fri 4/4, 6:30 pm

This is an embarrassing SEC team. Florida finished the conference last year at 13-17. Just think of how much worse the 2024 team would have been without Cags. Yes, they squeaked into the tournament and finished strong. This year probably 1-9 currently with no apparent relief in sight. I was at the game and left after the seventh inning. Turned on the radio and heard the announcer say, "Florida needs to just flush this one and move onto tomorrow". No, I don't think so. At this point sporting a 1-9 conference record it's time to face the facts. Our baseball program has not kept up with its SEC brethren. The Portal is the key, along with prudent recruiting, but relying on freshmen pitchers in the current baseball world is not the answer. There are so many glaring deficiencies in this year's team. Sparce hitting and a pitching staff that is litered with arms that cannot find the strike zone. (12) walks tonight when I left the Condron Family Ball Park.

 

Weak ABs and a bunch of BB.

 

Gators need to order a new supply of “Want To”—

Because they have zero want to on hand.

 

Thank You for hanging tough like you always do @Gatorgal04.
You’re the best!

 

With the recruiting classes UF gets year in and year out they should never be at the bottom of the SEC standings, period.

 

Changes need to happen, that is all I am saying..we have been like this for a good bit now..since our championship run..last year was fun, but we were very very avg most of the year.

 

Bad game from the bats, but balanced lineups (lots of SEC-level players, no real stars) with balanced skills (BA/power/walks) are the most inconsistent. The occasional shutout happens.

Worse game, at least the middle part, from the Sully play-calling perspective. Four trips to the mound between the 5th and 7th, followed by 3 BB and an RBI double. The first was the worst: Peterson got the last two guys out, about to finish 5 IP with 1 R... and Sully breaks his rhythm. Thank you very little, coach. The high-degree of difficulty, low payoff bunt call to Nadeau... who has 1 sac bunt in his college career!... was a ludicrous decision. Sully apologists will say "failure to execute". I say "setting the team up to fail."

Worst game, though, Colby Shelton. Grounder to him on the first pitch of the game... what was that footwork? An audition for the lollygag guild? Peterson works out of the inning, though. First rally, he TOOTBLANs a 1-out, 1st and 3rd into a 2-out, 3rd only. Second rally, his strikeout is the final nail in that coffin. Then he whiffs on a tag on Vandy near-TOOTBLAN... 3 runs score.

 

They played "Won't Back Down" in the stadium, though yours is the more apt one. Maybe WBD was pre-planned, since it has been played at a couple other mid-8th Fridays, but still.. read the room, would ya?

 

I was with you until you brought up the sac bunt attempt. Asking a D1 baseball player to lay down a sac is not setting the team up to fail, no matter how many times he’s attempted it in his career. Everyone has to attempt their first, second, third, or fiftieth bunt eventually. They practice bunts for a reason. Nadeau’s bat has been cold and it was the right call.

 

We haven't been able to bunt in at least 6 or 7 years. That is fact. It's also why I'm starting to question some of coaches. Our hitting philosophy is questionable once again and I still can't figure out what David Kopp does as 'pitching coach'.

 

I didn't like the decision because the starter was struggling. You get #8 and #9 on (nobody out), with SP nearing 90 or whatever it was, PRESS.

On the flip side, I didn't like the decision not to bunt with B-Law up and the entire left side of the infield MIA with 1 strike.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

 

10 walks tonight. Embarrassing once again. Those issues should be solved in competitive bullpen sessions. I don't care if these kids throw a BP fastball in order to get it over. Who is coaching these kids?

 

Ugh this team is difficult to watch. Maybe one of those have to hit the floor before you can work yourself back thing. Sully can’t be okay with this can he?

 

Sully needs to take a long hard look in the mirror.

 

Sucks when the guys are losing like this and everyone starts bickering.