Gator Baseball 2023 Official Roster Tracker/Lineup???

Matherly87 · Apr 28, 2023

shane4three said: ↑

Mat,
Your best work yet!! Like what you say about Dale Thomas. Kid truly needs a chance and here’s to hoping he gets it. I think Shelnut and Thomas can both help us if given consistent at bats. Sunday, Slater or Neely or do we see a surprise starter like Fisher. Fisher is a possible Saturday or Sunday guy next year and is a true gamer.
Click to expand...

Neely seems to be the most likely but I think we have to wait and see what Sully does on Friday and Saturday. Sully usually does more to get a win before making decisions about tomorrow. Plus the rain might have more of an effect than even Sully can plan for. Who knows if we even get to play all 3 games.

ocalaman · Apr 28, 2023

Matherly87 said: ↑

Disagree all you want people but here goes. Its just one person's opinion like your own. If you want my advice I'll give it but if you don't then start your own thread that covers the last 10 months of Gator Baseball.

I took a deep dive to make sense of the changes needed in the batting order. I've been sitting back a week now pondering my own and watching plenty of you take the plunge. I tried to incorporate Sully's intentions and how the stats have evolved over the last month. Sully's lineup since day one has kept Langford/Caglianone/Rivera together no matter where they fall in the lineup because of the challenge they face to opposing pitchers. Most all SEC games have kept Langford in the leadoff as some here have pushed for. But the last two midweek games Sully has detoured with the leadoff putting Robertson there last week (FAMU) and Kurland there this week (UNF). Also several players have started in RF. So Sully is looking for some changes it seems. Cags looks to be the only good LHH we have but Sully keeps Riopelle batting after Rivera which has resulted in little productivity. But there may be another LHH that could step up.

I started by comparing SEC batting averages and On Base % of 5 Gator players (Langford, Rivera, Robertson, Kurland, and Halter) so far this season and narrowed that down to the last 3 SEC weekends. I'm trying to find any trends these players are showing why they should leadoff. Granted the smaller the sample size the less accurate the data becomes but it can show which bats might be hot right now or who is handling the tougher SEC games better. Recall the last three weekends we were at Tennessee, home Georgia, at South Carolina. To spare you the spreadsheets, they showed Kurland is the one with increasing numbers, up almost 80 points BA and 25 point OB%, the last three SEC weeks verses the SEC season. All four others have dropped.

I also took into account walks and HBP over the last 3 weekends since Langford gets so many walks (9) and Kurland gets the most HBP (3). They came out identical at .429 which was surprising to say the least. But again Kurland's number is going up and Langford's is going down from its lofty .473 on the season as expected. So many might say Kurland should leadoff and I'd be fine with either one, the hot bat or the experience of Langford.

Here's the biggest stat that no one has brought up, Langford's RBIs in the SEC. If you haven't looked Langford in SEC games this season has 3 homeruns and only 3 RBIs in 53 at bats. He has played in 15 of 18 games. He hasn't hit another Gator baserunner home in any SEC game yet this season. Sure you can say he's the leadoff so he's not going to get many RBIs. Okay but not every time he gets up as the leadoff. By comparison Luke Heyman has 41 at bats and 17 RBIs. If you need to know Kurland has 72 at bats and 17 RBIs. Matt Prevesk, for crying out loud, has only 25 at bats, less than half of Wyatt's, and 7 RBIs that more than doubles his number. So hopefully you see some evidence that shows Langford's bat has not been productive as we would hope, other than getting walks. And yes I have that number as well. He has 14 hits in SEC play as compared to 20 walks. Granted he gets on base as much as Kurland and even more than every one else the last three weeks. So leadoff isn't such a bad thing for Langford either. But he's not helping other Gators score either.

A quick note that Robertson's and Halter's numbers have continued to fall so they shouldn't even be in consideration for leadoff any more in my opinion. Also Rivera continues to be the most productive batter in the lineup coming in the top three on the team in almost every category. More on Rivera coming up. One point on Robertson here, two weeks ago I found that Robertson was our second best hitter with Runners On Base, with Rivera leading. Since then Robertson had the game winning hit against Georgia which was predictable by the stats. He has not become the base stealer I thought but he has become a key hitter.

So what becomes of Sully's terrific trio of Langford, Cags, and Rivera. Upon further review, the top three Gator hitters, in SEC play from their OPS numbers, are Rivera (1.140), Cags (1.121), and Heyman (1.091). Langford is number 5 after Kurland, interesting. Point is Cags is not protecting Langford's spot before him in the lineup. Possibly teams still remember he hit 26 last year and are pitching him away? But why do they put him on in front of Cags does not make sense. So in mine opinion Langford is just being more patient and more selective at the plate and allowing them to walk him if he can get it. That said it opens the door for Sully improve the lineup.

So here's my idea how Sully should adjust the batting order.

Kurland (R) 1A - (hotter bat .355 last 3 weekends) or Langford 1B (more experience but only .250 last 3 weekends) take your pick
Rivera (R) - let Cags start protecting his bat and he might end up even more productive instead of Riopelle
Caglianone (L) - homerun king batting third can lead to more 3 run homeruns hopefully
Heyman (R) - keep the 3 best hitters together and Luke can protect Cags
Langford (R) or Kurland - your choice but opposite of leadoff
Robertson (L) - team's second best hitter with ROB and bats left to replace Riopelle
Riopelle (L) - down in the order he goes
Thomas (R) - somebody other than Evans at this point, also wonder if Shelnut can play in RF, Evans in late as a defensive specialist
Halter (L) - back to last in the order like last year

So there you have it. I don't think Sully would like that 3 of the last 4 bat left but Halter, Riopelle, and Robertson are difficult to replace and if you keep them any higher it leaves holes in the order. Maybe by putting them together they can work at forcing an extra run across every once in awhile. In contrast the top 6 could really generate some big innings and cause opposing pitchers plenty of problems. But what do you care, its just my opinion people.
Go Gators!
Click to expand...

Your explanations are totally logical, but I don't think O'Sullivan will make all those changes in his lineup. I think he'll keep Kurland at leadoff, but will basically have the same batting order he had against UNF. Just my opinion. I'll be surprised if we get 3 games in this weekend.

Matherly87 · Apr 28, 2023

I agree about Sully. I try to take it a step or two further than what he might think to add a few more ideas for everyone to consider. I seriously doubt Robertson will move up but he could be more productive than Riopelle based on the last three weeks.

74nole · Apr 28, 2023

I have to say BT needs to be moved down in the batting order. The way he’s been going if nothing else let’s get him back contributing—let him bunt his way outta his slump. He gets some confidence add hit & run—he gets a little more confidence let him swing away, maybe he’ll run into one….

Off of current performances I wouldn’t have a problem with seeing Heyman swinging outta the four hole.

Batting lead off is a big deal for the mind set of any hitter. Usually it’s going to take a seasoned hitter—folks, as far into the season as we are everybody should be playing like they’re in their second season. It’s a toss up IMHO for lead off between Kurland and Robinson. I think that I would try Kurland there because I like what I see from Robinson swinging in the nine hole.

Ok, that’s me talking about hitting more than I have all year.

apkgator · Apr 28, 2023

74nole said: ↑

I have to say BT needs to be moved down in the batting order. The way he’s been going if nothing else let’s get him back contributing—let him bunt his way outta his slump. He gets some confidence add hit & run—he gets a little more confidence let him swing away, maybe he’ll run into one….

Off of current performances I wouldn’t have a problem with seeing Heyman swinging outta the four hole.

Batting lead off is a big deal for the mind set of any hitter. Usually it’s going to take a seasoned hitter—folks, as far into the season as we are everybody should be playing like they’re in their second season. It’s a toss up IMHO for lead off between Kurland and Robinson. I think that I would try Kurland there because I like what I see from Robinson swinging in the nine hole.

Ok, that’s me talking about hitting more than I have all year.
Click to expand...

I would go with Kurland at the top too....that let's Rivera stay clean up and then you can put Heyman in the 5 hole which seems perfect

srqgtr · Apr 28, 2023

Is Cags the best option, defensively, at first base?

Matherly87 · Apr 28, 2023

srqgtr said: ↑

Is Cags the best option, defensively, at first base?
Click to expand...

Right now I think Riopelle is. Heyman is doing fine at 1B as well.

Matherly87 · Apr 28, 2023

Got to give credit when due. After my lengthy piece on the lineup, I noticed Langford got his first RBI in the SEC by knocking in another Gator on base. His other 3 were from his own solo homeruns, until now. For the record, I'd still rather see Rivera batting second in front of Cags and then either Langford or Heyman. I guess I have a feeling that Rivera and Langford would be even more productive with that change. Either way I'm very glad to see Kurland got the nod back to leading off so Langford can start making more aggressive adjustments. Also Riopelle might be coming around if he can get hot this weekend and hopefully start producing more over the next 10 games. Apparently Missouri is very good at righting plenty of wrongs we found after the South Carolina series.

Matherly87 · Apr 29, 2023

I'm just going to put this here. It looks like Brandon Sproat pitches an exceptional game every third SEC game he appears in. Starting out with Alabama, then at Tennessee, and tonight at home against Missouri. That's over 21 innings and only 2 runs given up with 2 complete games. If this holds Kentucky better lookout cause Game 1 in Lexington ain't going over very well for the home fans. Personally I'd rather see Sproat go on the same kind of run last year in the last 5 games he pitched.

shane4three · Apr 29, 2023

Matherly87 said: ↑

Got to give credit when due. After my lengthy piece on the lineup, I noticed Langford got his first RBI in the SEC by knocking in another Gator on base. His other 3 were from his own solo homeruns, until now. For the record, I'd still rather see Rivera batting second in front of Cags and then either Langford or Heyman. I guess I have a feeling that Rivera and Langford would be even more productive with that change. Either way I'm very glad to see Kurland got the nod back to leading off so Langford can start making more aggressive adjustments. Also Riopelle might be coming around if he can get hot this weekend and hopefully start producing more over the next 10 games. Apparently Missouri is very good at righting plenty of wrongs we found after the South Carolina series.
Click to expand...

What impact it could have if BT gets going!!! Look out. Timely hits and big RBI’s to add to what we already have!!!

gator1977 · Apr 29, 2023

87, great work - thank you. I agree with a number of your recommendations but we all know Sully has a tendency to "stick with his guys" sometimes with counter-productive results. We saw it last year with his sticking with D Fabian at third for a bit too long and others kept in key spots in the batting who should have been dropped as Riopelle should be now, especially vs LHP.
I'm very surprised that facing RHP- Prevesk has not had opportunities in RF.
Do we have any word on an injury?
And whatever happened to Rene Lastres? He was excellent in scrimmages- had one sub par outing early in the season-- and is exiled to the Tucker Talbot end of the bench? Not sure what is happening. Against LHP why not Heyman at first and Lastres C- and Riopelle sits?

gatorstevelp · Apr 29, 2023

Matherly87 said: ↑

Disagree all you want people but here goes. Its just one person's opinion like your own. If you want my advice I'll give it but if you don't then start your own thread that covers the last 10 months of Gator Baseball.

I took a deep dive to make sense of the changes needed in the batting order. I've been sitting back a week now pondering my own and watching plenty of you take the plunge. I tried to incorporate Sully's intentions and how the stats have evolved over the last month. Sully's lineup since day one has kept Langford/Caglianone/Rivera together no matter where they fall in the lineup because of the challenge they face to opposing pitchers. Most all SEC games have kept Langford in the leadoff as some here have pushed for. But the last two midweek games Sully has detoured with the leadoff putting Robertson there last week (FAMU) and Kurland there this week (UNF). Also several players have started in RF. So Sully is looking for some changes it seems. Cags looks to be the only good LHH we have but Sully keeps Riopelle batting after Rivera which has resulted in little productivity. But there may be another LHH that could step up.

I started by comparing SEC batting averages and On Base % of 5 Gator players (Langford, Rivera, Robertson, Kurland, and Halter) so far this season and narrowed that down to the last 3 SEC weekends. I'm trying to find any trends these players are showing why they should leadoff. Granted the smaller the sample size the less accurate the data becomes but it can show which bats might be hot right now or who is handling the tougher SEC games better. Recall the last three weekends we were at Tennessee, home Georgia, at South Carolina. To spare you the spreadsheets, they showed Kurland is the one with increasing numbers, up almost 80 points BA and 25 point OB%, the last three SEC weeks verses the SEC season. All four others have dropped.

I also took into account walks and HBP over the last 3 weekends since Langford gets so many walks (9) and Kurland gets the most HBP (3). They came out identical at .429 which was surprising to say the least. But again Kurland's number is going up and Langford's is going down from its lofty .473 on the season as expected. So many might say Kurland should leadoff and I'd be fine with either one, the hot bat or the experience of Langford.

Here's the biggest stat that no one has brought up, Langford's RBIs in the SEC. If you haven't looked Langford in SEC games this season has 3 homeruns and only 3 RBIs in 53 at bats. He has played in 15 of 18 games. He hasn't hit another Gator baserunner home in any SEC game yet this season. Sure you can say he's the leadoff so he's not going to get many RBIs. Okay but not every time he gets up as the leadoff. By comparison Luke Heyman has 41 at bats and 17 RBIs. If you need to know Kurland has 72 at bats and 17 RBIs. Matt Prevesk, for crying out loud, has only 25 at bats, less than half of Wyatt's, and 7 RBIs that more than doubles his number. So hopefully you see some evidence that shows Langford's bat has not been productive as we would hope, other than getting walks. And yes I have that number as well. He has 14 hits in SEC play as compared to 20 walks. Granted he gets on base as much as Kurland and even more than every one else the last three weeks. So leadoff isn't such a bad thing for Langford either. But he's not helping other Gators score either.

A quick note that Robertson's and Halter's numbers have continued to fall so they shouldn't even be in consideration for leadoff any more in my opinion. Also Rivera continues to be the most productive batter in the lineup coming in the top three on the team in almost every category. More on Rivera coming up. One point on Robertson here, two weeks ago I found that Robertson was our second best hitter with Runners On Base, with Rivera leading. Since then Robertson had the game winning hit against Georgia which was predictable by the stats. He has not become the base stealer I thought but he has become a key hitter.

So what becomes of Sully's terrific trio of Langford, Cags, and Rivera. Upon further review, the top three Gator hitters, in SEC play from their OPS numbers, are Rivera (1.140), Cags (1.121), and Heyman (1.091). Langford is number 5 after Kurland, interesting. Point is Cags is not protecting Langford's spot before him in the lineup. Possibly teams still remember he hit 26 last year and are pitching him away? But why do they put him on in front of Cags does not make sense. So in mine opinion Langford is just being more patient and more selective at the plate and allowing them to walk him if he can get it. That said it opens the door for Sully improve the lineup.

So here's my idea how Sully should adjust the batting order.

Kurland (R) 1A - (hotter bat .355 last 3 weekends) or Langford 1B (more experience but only .250 last 3 weekends) take your pick
Rivera (R) - let Cags start protecting his bat and he might end up even more productive instead of Riopelle
Caglianone (L) - homerun king batting third can lead to more 3 run homeruns hopefully
Heyman (R) - keep the 3 best hitters together and Luke can protect Cags
Langford (R) or Kurland - your choice but opposite of leadoff
Robertson (L) - team's second best hitter with ROB and bats left to replace Riopelle
Riopelle (L) - down in the order he goes
Thomas (R) - somebody other than Evans at this point, also wonder if Shelnut can play in RF, Evans in late as a defensive specialist
Halter (L) - back to last in the order like last year

So there you have it. I don't think Sully would like that 3 of the last 4 bat left but Halter, Riopelle, and Robertson are difficult to replace and if you keep them any higher it leaves holes in the order. Maybe by putting them together they can work at forcing an extra run across every once in awhile. In contrast the top 6 could really generate some big innings and cause opposing pitchers plenty of problems. But what do you care, its just my opinion people.
Go Gators!
Click to expand...

Good stuff! This team seems to feed off of Langford who has not been himself since the injury. I’m confident he will be back to his old self sooner than later and maybe this “slump” for him will be a good thing for the team. Give them some struggles to work through during the season then hopefully start clicking as the post season approaches and Langford’s bat warms up. Langford hopefully doesn’t get really frustrated and start swinging at bad pitches. If Cags bat doesn’t protect him then I’m not sure what you can do about that except make the other team pay for putting him on base.
Now for my counter opinion (lol) on BT. When you ran the SEC stats back on April 19th BT was 3rd in OBS…..he is probably 2nd now. He isn’t swinging and missing as much anymore like he was earlier….a lot more foul tips it seems. He’s a really good base runner……CRAZY TIME…..put him at lead off ……that should get some responses lol

gatorstevelp · Apr 29, 2023

Matherly87 said: ↑

I'm just going to put this here. It looks like Brandon Sproat pitches an exceptional game every third SEC game he appears in. Starting out with Alabama, then at Tennessee, and tonight at home against Missouri. That's over 21 innings and only 2 runs given up with 2 complete games. If this holds Kentucky better lookout cause Game 1 in Lexington ain't going over very well for the home fans. Personally I'd rather see Sproat go on the same kind of run last year in the last 5 games he pitched.
Click to expand...

Maybe Sproat will have the run he had at the end of last season. It seems his command is getting much better.

Matherly87 · Apr 29, 2023

gator1977 said: ↑

87, great work - thank you. I agree with a number of your recommendations but we all know Sully has a tendency to "stick with his guys" sometimes with counter-productive results. We saw it last year with his sticking with D Fabian at third for a bit too long and others kept in key spots in the batting who should have been dropped as Riopelle should be now, especially vs LHP.
I'm very surprised that facing RHP- Prevesk has not had opportunities in RF.
Do we have any word on an injury?
And whatever happened to Rene Lastres? He was excellent in scrimmages- had one sub par outing early in the season-- and is exiled to the Tucker Talbot end of the bench? Not sure what is happening. Against LHP why not Heyman at first and Lastres C- and Riopelle sits?
Click to expand...

All good thoughts and issues that don't seem to change enough. Side by side comparisons seem like no brainers to you and me but I'm sure there's plenty more that goes into it.

ocalaman · Apr 29, 2023

Read the section about Waldrep being told the delivery he's used for 11 weeks was illegal. No wonder he was out of sync today. This is unbelievable. It's starting to look like the powers that be have something against the Gators or O'Sullivan. Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but ....
https://247sports.com/college/flori...ler-Shelnut-Kevin-OSullivan-Gators-209210010/

hoyt233 · Apr 29, 2023

ocalaman said: ↑

Read the section about Waldrep being told the delivery he's used for 11 weeks was illegal. No wonder he was out of sync today. This is unbelievable. It's starting to look like the powers that be have something against the Gators or O'Sullivan. Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but ....
https://247sports.com/college/flori...ler-Shelnut-Kevin-OSullivan-Gators-209210010/
Click to expand...

That is bizarre, but so is the NCAA sometimes.

74nole · Apr 29, 2023

Geez—
Between analytics, computers, and non-baseball people being put in charge—collectively they are absolutely destroying our game.

I read an article like this one that @ocalaman shared and have to think at what point have they damaged the game enough?

Too many people with too much time and obviously leverage on their hands that have absolutely no clue what they’re doing to the game.

gatorstevelp · Apr 30, 2023

I’ve had pitchers (high school level) that had pauses similar to Waldrep and I checked the rule book and it was fine. I figured it was the lift of his right pivot foot.
Rule book states: During delivery, he may lift his non-pivot foot in a step forward, a step sideways, or in a step backward and a step forward, but he shall not otherwise lift either foot.

Matherly87 · Apr 30, 2023

In the 5 games that Langford batted second in the last two weeks, he has gone 12 for 19 with 4 doubles, 1 homerun, and 6 RBIs. I think batting second suits him just fine.

Great to see him leading the team again with a .397 batting average on the season. His SEC batting average is now back up to .333. Not that long ago it was close to .260 in conference.

Matherly87 · Apr 30, 2023

Here's a batting average comparison by player on their season and in conference...

Player...................Season.....SEC
Langford, Wyatt----- .397 --- .333
Heyman, Luke------- .380 --- .353
Rivera, Josh--------- .378 --- .363
Caglianone, Jac----- .363 --- .310
Shelnut, Tyler------- .329 --- .308
Kurland, Cade------- .311 --- .262
Robertson, Michael- .280 --- .260
Riopelle, BT--------- .261 --- .194
Halter, Colby-------- .261 --- .250
Prevesk, Matt------- .250 --- .240
Schiekofer, Richie-- .229 --- .111
Evans, Ty------------ .217 --- .080

Obviously its great that Shelnut has found a spot, but unfortunate for Evans, Prevesk and the Schiek. Riopelle is the loan drag on this lineup. Perhaps a few games to rest that hand could do him some good, although I doubt a senior would want to sit out his last FSU game and have a chance to hit that game winning homerun that we are all use to. Its great to see the first year players (Kurland, Robertson, Heyman, Shelnut, and Cags 2.0) all contributing so much to this team. I really hope Rivera gets back on another hot streak this weekend that takes him into the post season. If Tyler Shelnut continues doing what he has been doing, he could start getting considered as a possible leadoff hitter. He has an OB% on the season of .420 and rising, putting him 4th among starters above Kurland, Robertson, and Cags.

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