Gator Baseball 2024 OFFICIAL ROSTER/Transfer Tracker/Lineup???

I see former players as not much different from other fans- some are rich, some aren't- but that still is a pretty small group. It's the people who attend games- frequently or seldom- who follow the games from near or far or who just care about success of Gator baseball who ought to chip in. I have to pay Gator Booster premiums to buy my tix, but I make a monthly Victorious donation because it goes directly to the players. They accept dinky donations and I buy the argument that a few bucks a month adds up over time and one-time donations matter, too.

Rather than picking a tiny fraction of the Gator bsb community, players, I'd rather urge the people sitting around me at games to chip in. Any regular participant on this site ought to contribute and I hope a small portion of the membership fees and ad revenue from this site goes to NIL, as well as advertisers themselves. I'm pleased that the Dugout Club is looking for avenues to help NIL, for example, the revenue from their fall golf tournament went to Victorious. Donating to UF or to UAA is a good thing, but donating for bsb NIL is critical.

 

I'm not quite obnoxious enough to reply to every post that says Gator bsb needs to pay more NIL, "Are you contributing to Victorious?" But it's an appropriate thing to ask.

 

"O'Sullivan said that while he is not ready to remove players from his rotation, a shuffling of the order could be in store and changes are always on the table." It'll be interesting to see what comes of this...

 

Thanks Apkgator.
I appreciate the thoughts.
I get it and agree. Man it’s insane the direction college athletics and the amount of money these kids make..
I am a pretty successful earner but busted it half my life to get there. We are very generous to the community and church but certainly not going to funnel money to college athletes and certainly not high school players.

 

That's a common attitude, but do you pay to go to movies or watch streaming produced by and starring super rich people. Do you pay for groceries or clothing or gasoline at businesses that enrich owners and stockholders.

College athletes, as well as pro athletes and TV and movie producers and actors, are entertainers who work for a living. I go to a few concerts a year and it takes my breath away when I see the price of tix.

I know that most college sports fans don't contribute directly to the costs of winning teams, but I chip in a few bucks and I wish more Gator fans, especially baseball fans, would do the same.

I never have been especially impressed with LSU fans as human beings, but they do a good job of financial support. Gators WON'T win more games because some fans wish things were like the old days, even though those fans may be very nice people.

 

That’s really good points Boss.
There are a 100 different angles to view this subject. I certainly do not believe my opinion even matters.
When I graduated school I owed $150,000 in student loans. I did research and treated patients and never received a nickel. I paid to do such things and still paying. when I go to college venues I pay a premium for tickets. Same with concerts and shows. Ticket prices are very expensive.
I sent my wife and daughter out of state to Taylor Swift. Ouch that was a load. lol
The amazing part of college athletics is a percentage of highly paid athletes also have zero tuition debt, world class nutrition, medical and emotional services, along with room and board and a degree if they chose. And, they leave with zero financial responsibility.
The value of that alone is great compensation.
I have friends that are residents in specialized medicine that work 60-80 hours a week and can barely buy a McDonalds cheeseburger and owe north of $350,000 in loans. It’s just weird that there is such a premium for entertainment and winning.

 

I won't get started on the scam of student loans- far more insane than NIL. I'm happy that sports donations are voluntary and anyone who doesnt like another fee probably is a normal person. My central point is messy NIL is what we have until the same people who won't improve the unfair student loan mess generates a fix for NIL. I'm annoyed by fans who complain about LSU and others who spend huge amounts on NIL, but want someone other than themselves to put up NIL cash for Gator teams.

My only student loan was $1500, but it was as a time when tuition was around $125/quarter, gas was under $0.20 and there wasn't a McDonads in Gvl. $30/mo to pay it off was bad enough.

 

First time I've seen Guy make a throw that mattered: deep dead center to third after a fly out, in the air, made it a close play on the tag up runner. Robertson has a good arm, but that throw was exceptional.

 

Colby got after him for throwing over him.

 

I think you should tell Sully. I will watch.

 

I wouldn't post this comment if the writer didn't agree with me, but he does so very nicely. D1Baseball writer Mark Ethridge covered the aTm series and wrote the following in his summary of midweek games:

Florida keeps dropping midweek games, and some people are losing their minds over the losses and how the Gators maintain a high ranking. However, there are more important things than losing March midweek games for a program like Florida. When you’ve been to eight of the last 16 College World Series, the goals aren’t maximizing midweek wins. Certainly, they are trying to win and falling short, but the young, talented pitching staff is gaining experience during these losses. The midweek focus can be on building depth, because a team this talented will its share on weekends. It appears McNeillie has turned a corner. If the Gators can get a couple more to join him, this is a team that you will not want to face in May and June.​

He and I may both be wrong to perceive a purposeful approach to the coaching of this team and that approach may not work out so well this year. Win or lose, the LSU series won't determine the teams success for the season, but a couple of wins would be nice.

 

Do we think Sully will adjust the lineup? The whole team is struggling at the plate and Shelton is really slumping in the leadoff spot. What about this lineup?

1. A. Albert 3B (only 25 ABs but leads the team with a .486 OB%, high K rate is a worry)
2. Evans (Seems to be one of our only hot hitters - currently .463 OB%)
3. Cags
4. Shelnut
5. Shelton (Could swap to 4, but keep the LRLRL in the lineup)
6. Kurland (No way he should lead off, has only 4 walks and 35 Ks, 38% K rate!)
7. Heyman
8. Garrison
9. Guy (Has a surprising .395 OB% and only 3 Ks)

 

Sully has to be thinking about a new Saturday starter. Peterson has given up 12 HR and 14 BB in 26 IP. Teams are hitting .290 against him. In his last 5 starts he's given up 24 ER runs in 19 IP. I know he has great stuff and a bright future, but it's not happening right now.

Slater is probably an option, but Sully might not want to move him out of the pen after moving Neely. A crazy idea might be Jameson - currently 3rd on the team behind Slater and Cags in WHIP. In his last 10 appearances has only allowed 4 ER in 16 IP.

 

Maybe even go to the Rays way of thinking and use Jameson (or fill in the blank) as the Saturday opener and have Peterson try and take the bulk of the innings after opener gets through lineup one time. Just thinking out loud.

 

@orlgator I kinda run parallel to you on this—Jameson is familiar with game pressure so a few spot starts he should be ok. The biggest issue I see with Jameson is that he’s a one time through the lineup guy. By that I mean (for what I see anyway) hitters are facing a low 90’s FB and a loopy slider more than a tight slider. Second time through the lineup his pitches can get big.

I honestly don’t think starting games is Peterson’s issue—he’s started games his whole life. I think he’s facing better lineups where mistakes get punished. He’s definitely got to learn to locate better, especially the second time through the lineup and when in pitcher’s counts.

Human nature is to tire physically as the game goes on — one of the big keys to success in the later stages of the game for a SP is to remain as mentally sharp, tough, and strong so that his competitive levels stay equal to his task at hand.

 

Great post!

 

I like this lineup a lot except I like Robertson’s defense a whole lot more than Guy’s. I feel like Guy has made some bad jumps and taken bad routes on plays that Robertson would make. And outside of walks I haven’t seen anything from Guy that makes me think he’s a better option at the plate for facing lefties. Robertson makes better contact more frequently and I believe is second on the team in doubles. Robertson has hardly any ABs against lefties this year anyway. I’d like to see him get the chance to prove himself against more left-handed pitchers.

 

One of the biggest disappointments this season has to be Cade Kurland. You can see his own disappointment after every strikeout when he walks from the plate. Hopefully, it is lingering effect from the injury to his hand earlier in the year. He was so good last year. Maybe, too good and that resulted in such high expectations for this year. He’s got plenty of time to get his mojo back but he needs to bring Heyman and some others along with him. Here’s hoping all our guys put it together for the second half of the season!