Gator Baseball CWS 2018: Can the Gators go "Back to Back?"

MADGator

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They have more talent than they need to win the whole shooting match and I'm sure they'll be the favorite, but the lack of executing fundamentals has me wanting to pull out my hair that's already gone. Absence of clutch hits with runners on base; no success in advancing runners up a base; unbelievable base running errors. In fact, at the tail end of the stealing home play when Nicky tries to take 3rd, in the highlight video you can see Sully in the background walking that way throwing his arms up in the air like WTF? I was telling my son that one of the cardinal rules of baseball is you don't make the 3rd out at 3rd base. I do appreciate his aggressiveness though and Girand was at the plate so that was probably his best chance of getting there. Girand, god love him, is showing why he doesn't play more. And I was joking with a friend of mine that Dalton had the kind of game that'd make you want to quit. Baserunning error, silly fielding error that led to a run, wore an 0-4 collar at the plate and left four runners stranded. I'm still glad he's ours.

I'm knocking them for a lot of things here, and yet, they're winning. Owning and destroying would be better but just win and advance is all we need. They have every major part needed to repeat but tightening up those small things will be key.
 

deuce

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I want the Gator Boys to win but I'm keeping my wallet in my pocket.
 

-THE DUDE-

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Sure they CAN...i would bet they don't at this point. Pitching is great but the bats are unreliable at best and the base running is so awful little league kids would say it's awful. It's a downright embarrassment how bad they are on the bases. You can't hit .178 with risp AND run the bases like a bunch of idiots and expect to win a championship.
 

Jbossgator8

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There are 297 teams in Division 1 college baseball. ONLY 8 make it to the CWS. We have had a great season thus far. Need to buckle down and get some more wins. Go Gators!!
 

MADGator

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Sure they CAN...i would bet they don't at this point. Pitching is great but the bats are unreliable at best and the base running is so awful little league kids would say it's awful. It's a downright embarrassment how bad they are on the bases. You can't hit .178 with risp AND run the bases like a bunch of idiots and expect to win a championship.

What he said!! Preach it, brother!

BA with risp below the Mendoza line? Ungood. I had no idea it was so low.
 

Ocalaman

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I'd expect JJ to be at the DH
I doubt JJ will be DH. That's been Maldanado's job all year. Nellie only plays in the outfield when he does play in the field and our outfield is set with Langworthy, Dalton & Horvath. You don't take Maldanado out of the lineup and don't think O'Sullivan would replace any of our outfielders at this point to keep him in the lineup. If JJ plays it will be either catcher or 1st base.
 

g8tr72

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I doubt JJ will be DH. That's been Maldanado's job all year. Nellie only plays in the outfield when he does play in the field and our outfield is set with Langworthy, Dalton & Horvath. You don't take Maldanado out of the lineup and don't think O'Sullivan would replace any of our outfielders at this point to keep him in the lineup. If JJ plays it will be either catcher or 1st base.


It's gonna be interesting. Horvath was 2 -11 in the Super. Bell was 3-9.

We really don't know what his ability and limitations are going to be. My assumption is that JJ could bat but maybe not play Catcher.

Hopefully JJ will be 100% and can resume C duties. Regrettably, it seems Jonah has been in the belly of the whale of late.....
 

Ocalaman

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It's gonna be interesting. Horvath was 2 -11 in the Super. Bell was 3-9.

We really don't know what his ability and limitations are going to be. My assumption is that JJ could bat but maybe not play Catcher.

Hopefully JJ will be 100% and can resume C duties. Regrettably, it seems Jonah has been in the belly of the whale of late.....
Horvath is such a great defensive centerfielder, whatever he does at the plate is a bonus. Bell is a great defensive first baseman, but has been a liability at the plate against good pitchers, especially lefties. Brady Smith was hitting good for a while, but he's still learning to play 1st base. Lately, he seems overwhelmed by the big stage and has really struggled hitting. I agree that it'll be risky putting Schwarz back behind the plate. Another foul ball on the same spot could mess him up and I don't think Sully will risk his future unless he's completely healed. Decisions, decisions. That's what they get paid the big buxks for.
 

GatorStud

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Now that it’s Prime Time, hope our guys focus sharpens and slumps and miscues reverse. Go Gators... good luck!
 

g8tr72

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Experience on this stage is one advantage that our Gators have.
 

Double Gator Dad

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They have more talent than they need to win the whole shooting match and I'm sure they'll be the favorite, but the lack of executing fundamentals has me wanting to pull out my hair that's already gone. Absence of clutch hits with runners on base; no success in advancing runners up a base; unbelievable base running errors. In fact, at the tail end of the stealing home play when Nicky tries to take 3rd, in the highlight video you can see Sully in the background walking that way throwing his arms up in the air like WTF? I was telling my son that one of the cardinal rules of baseball is you don't make the 3rd out at 3rd base. I do appreciate his aggressiveness though and Girand was at the plate so that was probably his best chance of getting there. Girand, god love him, is showing why he doesn't play more. And I was joking with a friend of mine that Dalton had the kind of game that'd make you want to quit. Baserunning error, silly fielding error that led to a run, wore an 0-4 collar at the plate and left four runners stranded. I'm still glad he's ours.

I'm knocking them for a lot of things here, and yet, they're winning. Owning and destroying would be better but just win and advance is all we need. They have every major part needed to repeat but tightening up those small things will be key.

Your points are all valid.
During the last month, this has been a different team from the one that appeared to be head and shoulders better than anyone else in April.
Yes, they are winning but they are winning close games due to self inflicted wounds. The team that we watched earlier this year would have beaten Auburn in two games.

The field in Omaha will NOT allow us to flounder about the way we have lately. Hopefully, we can clean this up
 

Double Gator Dad

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I doubt JJ will be DH. That's been Maldanado's job all year. Nellie only plays in the outfield when he does play in the field and our outfield is set with Langworthy, Dalton & Horvath. You don't take Maldanado out of the lineup and don't think O'Sullivan would replace any of our outfielders at this point to keep him in the lineup. If JJ plays it will be either catcher or 1st base.


I hope he as at first base. JJ lets at least one pitch per game get past him and sometimes many more.
Please put him at first........
 

Captain Sasquatch

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I think we should just steal home and hit home runs out of defenders' gloves from now on, seemed to work against Auburn! :bananadance2:
 

Gatorphan

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i hope he ends up at catcher. Giran, or whatever you call him, is worthless at the plate.
 

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