- Jun 12, 2014
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Founding Member
Good to beat the criminoles but we struck out 13 times and left 8 on base. 5 players struck out twice and everybody else struck out at least once except Hickey and Halter. Noles had 5 errors and we only managed 2 unearned runs. Gators made 2 errors and gave up 1 unearned. So many opportunities and so many failures. On the plus side Milchin and Leftwich only gave up 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 1 hit by pitch and got 12 k's.
Good recap. Thankfully the fielded the ball worse than we did. Had the once a game man on 3rd base with no outs and could not get him in. I know Thompson is a frosh and has been hitting but he is awful in right field. He looks uncomfortable catching a routine fly. On the positive I can't remember the last time Calilao played but good for him. And as Sully goes, Calilao will probably play all weekend now after not playing for a month. And let's hope Leftwich found something.
Leftwich was a beast; sure beats his outing against the vols. The best things about this game are two fold. First we returned the favor against the clowns and secondly, we won out first extra inning game. Although it is only 2 in a row, this could be a turning point for our team. We still need to get our bats on the balls to get our runners on base across. 4 hits for 33 at bats needs to change.
As @Bullag8r said, our best offense was the defense.
I'm not a huge baseball fan but I have some questions for the experts here. My friend is a season ticket holder to baseball and his is the only voice I hear related to baseball. I like multiple viewpoints so thought I'd ask similar questions here. I've watched several games and followed most via app (not the best but it's the easiest) so I've got some conceptual issues of this Gator team.
1. Is it typical in college baseball too have 50% of outs be strikeouts? We strike out A LOT!!!
2. It seems to me we take a lot of strikes. Is this Sully strategy to wear pitchers out? Bad eye for strike zone? Limited confidence? All of the above?
3. We don't seem to have much power. So if we aren't swinging for the fences, why all the strikeouts?
4. Given #3, why don't we try to manufacture runs? No stealing, no hit and run, no bunting. Just step in, watch a strike, whiff at one, watch a third, walk back to bench.
5. Are we supposed to have elite pitching? Because this Muschumpian offense can only work with elite pitching. Are we playing for 3-2 wins or are we just so bad with the bat that's all we got?
6. Why isn't Fabian hitting 8th or 9th? Don't you put your worst batter down the order so he doesn't get out as much. I like Young and Hickey but nobody else can hit. What gives?
7. Can this team "turn it on" thru the end of season and still win it all? Do managers/coaches save their team for late season and sacrifice first third of it?
Thanks for responses. Go Gators!!
Thanks, I appreciate your responses. Mostly what I feel too. Since I'm often called "negative" I don't know what that says about you. Or me.1. No
2. Yes.
3. We ARE swinging for the fences, every damn one of them.
4. Not Sully's M O. Fundamentally sound not part of the Sully strategy. Have you ever seen a Gator bunt? It is an ugly sight.
5. Yes, supposed to but we don't. Each year we have one pitcher who is suppose to be a star and they flounder. AJ Puk, Tyler Dyson, Leftwich. Wash, rinse, repeat.
6. Fabian is an elite player who is only trying to hit HR's. If he swung to contact I think he would improve.
7. No. Not good enough.
Those are my short answers/views.
1. NO and it's because they take sooo many pitches early and get behind quite often. Hitters count 2-0,3-0, 3-11. No
2. Yes.
3. We ARE swinging for the fences, every damn one of them.
4. Not Sully's M O. Fundamentally sound not part of the Sully strategy. Have you ever seen a Gator bunt? It is an ugly sight.
5. Yes, supposed to but we don't. Each year we have one pitcher who is suppose to be a star and they flounder. AJ Puk, Tyler Dyson, Leftwich. Wash, rinse, repeat.
6. Fabian is an elite player who is only trying to hit HR's. If he swung to contact I think he would improve.
7. No. Not good enough.
Those are my short answers/views.
Jordan Butler is the worst. My son starts throwing sH!t around the house when he sees Butler up to bat because he already knows he's going for the right field wall.1. No
2. Yes.
3. We ARE swinging for the fences, every damn one of them.
4. Not Sully's M O. Fundamentally sound not part of the Sully strategy. Have you ever seen a Gator bunt? It is an ugly sight.
5. Yes, supposed to but we don't. Each year we have one pitcher who is suppose to be a star and they flounder. AJ Puk, Tyler Dyson, Leftwich. Wash, rinse, repeat.
6. Fabian is an elite player who is only trying to hit HR's. If he swung to contact I think he would improve.
7. No. Not good enough.
Those are my short answers/views.
I've been following Gator baseball since 96 and I'm am unable to remember a team that was as inept with a bat as this one. Absolutely abysmal. If I were Sully everytime my leadoff batter made it to first I would bunt and then hit and run every single time just to drive home a point. If you can't figure out how to go to the plate and put a ball in play to get runners around then i will micro-manage EVERY at bat with runners on the bag.
Gators Take Doubleheader to Sweep Missouri - Florida Gators
Gators take the DH today vs dismal Mizzou but don't even hit a HR doing it while scoring 14 runs utilizing small ball which the above posters were asking for! Sully heard you and the players delivered. Gators with 10 hits in each game and just playing basic fundamental hitting offense with great coaching by Sully. Tommy Mace had a rough 2nd inning but then settled in with 6 strikeouts and Leftwich steller yet again in relief in 4 innings with no hits, no runs, no walks, and 2 SO. In Sully we trust!