Most teams have 6 or 7 pitchers with 3 or 4 of them getting the bulk of the work, many teams with one ace who throws 150 to 200 innings. There are 400+ innings in a season, so spreading it out among 2 grad seniors and 2 true freshmen doesn't seem like too big of a deal. In 2016, Kelly Barnhill's freshman season, she threw 108 innings, Delanie Gourley 157 and Alicia Ocasio 146. We had 412 innings that year and only used 3 pitchers. To have the 2 seniors pitch 120-140 innings each and the freshmen 60-80 innings each is well within reason to me, plus they would all be fresh and strong for the post season. It seems that Ava Brown may be good enough a hitter to play almost every day when she's not pitching, but she's going to have to earn that right. I read that Coach Walton asked Rothrock to get experience playing 1st base this year, so I'm not sure about her being an every day player, although I'm sure she'll get a chance to do so. I'm much more concerned about not getting either Vawter or Maxwell than I am having to spread out innings among 4 quality pitchers.
If they get both pitchers, they will be undefeated next year. If they get only one, they will loose a few games but win the WCWS. If they get none, they will get to the WCWS but will not win. You heard it here first.
I like you're optimism, but we're ALL assuming a lot from these 6 freshmen. Yes, it's the top class in the country, with 3 of the Top 5 players in most rankings, etc., etc. But they still have to perform at the D1 level and sometimes it takes some players a year or two to hit their groove and some, like a couple of our recent high-ranked recruits, never pan out. I'm expecting Brown & Rothrock to be star pitchers and Williams, Hovermale, Kowalewski and McLellan to be excellent, with at least 2 of the position players to be starters out of the gate. But they all have to earn their stripes. But it sure does look like the best collection of talent we've had in Gainesville since the national title years, especially if we land Maxwell and/or Vawter.
No team goes undefeated. I'd much rather lose a few games during the season than take that loss where it most counts. Any updates?
I've seen Roe and Deblrey landed at the Cajuns, has Gigante landed? I actually believe it only benefits the program to have lost all three.
Analysis of Possible Innings Per Pitcher in 2024 I looked at the regular season games for 2023 and substituted the hopefully four new pitchers where I thought they might pitch. There were 385 innings total in the regular season. Assumptions were definitely made. Vawter as the Friday night pitcher. One of the freshmen on Saturday. Maxwell on Sunday. For the tournaments: USF-4 games, one for each. T-Mobile-5 games, one for each, plus Rothrock the 5th game. Mary Nutter-4 games, Vawter pitches the 1st and last, Maxwell the 2nd, and Brown/Rothrock split the 3rd. Bubly-5 games, Brown, Vawter, Rothrock, Maxwell, Vawter, and Maxwell split the last game. All 3 game series are Vawter, freshmen alternate on Saturday, and Maxwell on Sunday. Florida State- Vawter and Maxwell Midweek games are split between freshmen. Doing it this way: Vawter-113 Maxwell-118 Rothrock-81 Brown-73 Vawter pitched 190 innings last year. Maxwell pitched 142. If both the transfers were given 150 innings, that would leave 85 for the freshmen. I realize that is not realistic. But, it shows what a good problem we have. Go Gators.
I love this post. The Sunshine Pumpers will meet on Sundays to pray that the "I word" is never uttered all year.
I hate to admit I forgot about Christina wellen. Anyone have an idea where she's headed? Her last post on twitter was May 25th. So that won't give me any clues.
Rather her go there than Oklahoma. Justin McLeod @justfactsmaam Former Indiana IF Taryn Kern is transferring to Stanford. Kern, the top position player still in the portal, was the Big Ten Player of the Year and an All-American as a freshman in 2023. She hit .404 in her rookie year, w/ 23 home runs, 13 doubles, 68 RBIs, and 68 runs scored.
Another board has Nole & Sooner fans fretting that Maxwell & Vawter are both going to Florida. Apparently they're following each other and Coach Walton on Twitter now. For What It's Worth (Something's Happenin' Here!) How many old folks get that one?
Buffalo Springfield Lyrics "For What It's Worth" There's something happening here But what it is ain't exactly clear There's a man with a gun over there Telling me I got to beware I think it's time we stop Children, what's that sound? Everybody look - what's going down? There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong Young people speaking' their minds Getting so much resistance from behind It's time we stop Hey, what's that sound? Everybody look - what's going down? What a field day for the heat A thousand people in the street Singing songs and carrying signs Mostly saying, "hooray for our side" It's time we stop Hey, what's that sound? Everybody look - what's going down? Paranoia strikes deep Into your life it will creep It starts when you're always afraid Step out of line, the man come and take you away We better stop Hey, what's that sound? Everybody look - what's going down? We better stop Hey, what's that sound? Everybody look - what's going down? We better stop Now, what's that sound? Everybody look - what's going down? We better stop Children, what's that sound? Everybody look - what's going down?
Buffalo Springfield 1967. Second quarter of my freshman year at UF. Everybody look what’s goin’ down…in the softball portal!
