Defending Champs Florida #1 in Pre-Season Poll

gatorkev85

Well-Known Member
Nov 24, 2015
1,544
1,903
Can't wait for basebasll season to start back up. Back2Back champs in our future and becoming the only school in history to have multiple titles in all 3 major sports.
 

rogdochar

Founding Member
RIP
Lifetime Member
Jun 14, 2014
25,397
29,513
Founding Member
I'm hoping that we got 1 or 2 decent power hitters (HRs) in the new class.?
We've got plenty of returning hitting-for-average hitters. Solid offensive lineup should be in place day one.
 

FireFoley

Senior Member
Lifetime Member
Nov 19, 2014
9,013
14,787
Went to a handful of fall practices and I am not sure we will have much more HR power than last, unless JJ picks it up or perhaps Bell with more AB's. The 2 frosh catchers behind JJ do not have power, but one has a great arm. Looks like Liput and Indy are staying at 2B and 3B, thus a frosh starting at SS. I was hoping Indy would move to SS. 3 frontline starters and 1 bullpen guy looks a lot like last years team, so if they can find better mid week pitching that can be good bullpen help on the weekends, the team could be better than last year, sans the leadership aspect. Lost a couple good leaders off that team.
 
Last edited:

Frozen Gator

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Apr 26, 2016
5,594
5,978
Can't wait for basebasll season to start back up. Back2Back champs in our future and becoming the only school in history to have multiple titles in all 3 major sports.
We used to include Track and field as a major sport, if you do that we have multiple nc's in three out of four.
 

MADGator

This space intentionally left blank
Jan 28, 2015
1,079
1,220
Went to a handful of fall practices and I am not sure we will have much more HR power than last, unless JJ picks it up or perhaps Bell with more AB's. The 2 frosh catchers behind JJ do not have power, but one has a great arm. Looks like Liput and Indy are staying at 2B and 3B, thus a frosh starting at SS. I was hoping Indy would move to SS. 3 frontline starters and 1 bullpen guy looks a lot like last years team, so if they can find better mid week pitching that can be good bullpen help on the weekends, the team could be better than last year, sans the leadership aspect. Lost a couple good leaders off that team.
The freshman at SS isn’t optimal but we’ve good success with that in the past. Nolan Fontana and Dalton Guthrie come to mind. The kid this year is supposed to be one of the best in the country. Can’t wait to see them play!
 

FireFoley

Senior Member
Lifetime Member
Nov 19, 2014
9,013
14,787
Byrne’s save total for last year was impressive, but dang that dude made me nervous when he came in. Probably because it was a save situation which is nerve wracking to begin with.

Funny that you mention that about Byrne. I remember last year him blowing a 4 run lead late against LSU costing us a sweep of them in the regular season. After that the guy was great and pretty much was the only reliable guy in the bullpen the rest of the regular season. They began to get to him in the post season and I am not sure if he was b/c he was worn down or if the hitters were patient. I like Byrne and he throws strikes (which I like), but he is not overpowering nor does he have anything great. But he is good. So at the last fall practice I went to I actually was talking to Sully and I asked about Dyson, thinking maybe he would go back to his original plan from last year and hope Dyson would close games. Well after 3 months of Dyson not being able to throw a strike, the guy comes out of no where and saves the season. Without him we don't beat Wake in the Supers nor probably win in Omaha. So Sully said he is definitely going to start. I would have liked Byrne as a mid week starter and do it all on the weekend. He throws strikes, can pitch multiple innings if called upon. I too get nervous with him b/c he is not overpowering and around the plate so much that he can be touched up. But it's a long season and perhaps this year some of the young guys who did not develop as pitchers last year will be improved this year.
 

MADGator

This space intentionally left blank
Jan 28, 2015
1,079
1,220
Funny that you mention that about Byrne. I remember last year him blowing a 4 run lead late against LSU costing us a sweep of them in the regular season. After that the guy was great and pretty much was the only reliable guy in the bullpen the rest of the regular season. They began to get to him in the post season and I am not sure if he was b/c he was worn down or if the hitters were patient. I like Byrne and he throws strikes (which I like), but he is not overpowering nor does he have anything great. But he is good. So at the last fall practice I went to I actually was talking to Sully and I asked about Dyson, thinking maybe he would go back to his original plan from last year and hope Dyson would close games. Well after 3 months of Dyson not being able to throw a strike, the guy comes out of no where and saves the season. Without him we don't beat Wake in the Supers nor probably win in Omaha. So Sully said he is definitely going to start. I would have liked Byrne as a mid week starter and do it all on the weekend. He throws strikes, can pitch multiple innings if called upon. I too get nervous with him b/c he is not overpowering and around the plate so much that he can be touched up. But it's a long season and perhaps this year some of the young guys who did not develop as pitchers last year will be improved this year.
Nailed it. Not overpowering but does throw strikes. It was a successful recipe for the most part. I don’t remember the game you mention against LSU but I do remember Dyson having to bail him out in the championship game.
 

T REX

Founding Member
Well-Known Member
Jun 24, 2014
10,107
7,389
Founding Member
DUakSiWW0AAqT4X.jpg
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Help Users

You haven't joined any rooms.