Gator Country

nolez20 · 04-01-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimCasey67

Not calling Damon, Hurley, Butler, McCutchen or Sulbaran "former Gators," just former UF signees who never made it to campus.

Sometimes its fun to keep track of them in the minors and imagine what the current Florida team would be if they had come to school.

Did A.J. Pierzynski sign with Florida? I know he's a bigtime Gator fan and former HS teammate of Damon.

**panhandlegator70** · 04-05-2009, 11:36 PM

isn't herbert perry long retired?

HiFiGator · 04-06-2009, 03:01 PM

How about one of you computer experts who have plenty of time, compile a list of Gators that made opening day rosters? Heck, I'd love an up to date, list of those on AAA rosters. For that matter, just an up to date list of where all of our former Gators are would be a big help, instead of individual links to the individual players.

Thanks in advance.

jhfxof · 04-06-2009, 08:55 PM

I ran into Cole Figueroas dad today in Thomasville. He said Coles doing great. Hes w/ the Padre orginization (think he said A ball) and was excited about opening day today.

Had as nice mirrorized tag that read Gator Baseball. Obviously special made so I had to ask. Didnt Coles dad play at FSU?? Kinda weird sporting Gator gear now that Cole has left. Or ever IMO. hehe

74nole · 04-07-2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhfxof

I ran into Cole Figueroas dad today in Thomasville. He said Coles doing great. Hes w/ the Padre orginization (think he said A ball) and was excited about opening day today.

Had as nice mirrorized tag that read Gator Baseball. Obviously special made so I had to ask. Didnt Coles dad play at FSU?? Kinda weird sporting Gator gear now that Cole has left. Or ever IMO. hehe

jhf-

Not really weird at all. Just like Cole's Dad, I played baseball at FSU---but when you watch them sh!t on your kid (and that's a long story in itself), well, it was very easy to become a Gator, especially when you watch the first class way UF treated Alan...and when you remember the '05 SuperRegional when UF ended FSU's season. Must have been a long bus ride home for Martin and Shouppe.

jhfxof · 04-07-2009, 11:54 AM

I did not know there was a history betwen Cole & FSU. I was actually going to ask what lead Cole to sign w/ UF, or anyone, rather than FSU.

BTW, you see Jeff get the Opening Day start on ESPN last night.

74nole · 04-07-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhfxof

I did not know there was a history betwen Cole & FSU. I was actually going to ask what lead Cole to sign w/ UF, or anyone, rather than FSU.

BTW, you see Jeff get the Opening Day start on ESPN last night.

Yeah, pretty sweet, huh? How 'bout that throw to third!!!

MadduxFanII · 04-07-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhfxof

I did not know there was a history betwen Cole & FSU. I was actually going to ask what lead Cole to sign w/ UF, or anyone, rather than FSU.

At the time, Figueroa was pretty open about the fact that he was looking for immediate playing time and UF offered more of it than FSU. Adam Davis had just left the program through the draft, and we had a nice, gaping hole at short, one Cole was able to fill quite ably.

If there was any resentment toward FSU, he kept it quiet.

**countrygator** · 04-07-2009, 03:04 PM

Thanks Tim. Not a MLB fan, but I will check box scores now because of your article.

EG52 · 04-08-2009, 11:03 AM

Casey, Bo Smith is still playing at Samford University isn't he?

jhfxof · 04-08-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EG52

Casey, Bo Smith is still playing at Samford University isn't he?

Yep, started at DH last week vs AU.

ssagator · 04-08-2009, 10:14 PM

Don't really have anything to add regarding our former Gators playing pro ball, just using this as an excuse to show this really cool Alan Horne autograph I picked up on Ebay.

**TimCasey67** · 04-23-2009, 07:56 AM

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Check out this story. Pretty crazy day that Darren O'Day had yesterday.

Began the day on the beach, got picked up by the Rangers, pitched the 11th inning in Toronto wearing another player's jersey. Wow.

**cojones** · 04-23-2009, 05:32 PM

Hopefully O'Day can stick around with the Rangers.

HiFiGator · 05-01-2009, 05:03 PM

There is another thread with this, but I thought it needed to be here as well:

Acquired from the Brewers as the centerpiece of the CC Sabathia trade, Matt LaPorta's season ended prematurely when he was beaned in the head while playing for Team USA in the Olympics. He then struggled in the Venezuelan winter league and was basically sent home when the team no longer wanted him, but LaPorta has quieted any concerns about his health by getting off to a huge start for the Cleveland Indians' Triple-A team.

He's hitting .368/.436/.706 with five homers and 11 total extra-base hits through 19 games, and perhaps most encouragingly has a strong 7/7 K/BB ratio in 75 plate appearances. LaPorta has had elite power dating back to his days at the University of Florida, but the 2007 first-round pick came into this season with 105 strikeouts versus 52 non-intentional walks in 131 games as a minor leaguer.

LaPorta has always looked to me like a low-average, high-power hitter in the making, but if the improved strike-zone control that he's shown early on this season is for real he has a chance to develop into more of an ideal middle-of-the-order bat capable of posting strong on-base percentages along with his pop. Either way he'll be a 30-homer threat and seemingly should be ready for the majors very soon.

Cleveland's left fielders have hit just .237/.301/.408 so far and the AL Central preseason favorites are off to a hugely disappointing 8-13 start, but manager Eric Wedge made it pretty clear yesterday that he's not ready to push Ben Francisco and Trevor Crowe aside yet for the 23-year-old LaPorta:

74nole · 05-01-2009, 11:27 PM

Alan's been activated from EST to Trenton and will make a start tomorrow (Sat) for Trenton on the road against New Britian (Twins-AA affliate). Depending on how things go he will probably make 1 or 2 starts for Trenton and expect to be moved up to S-W/B (AAA). Let ya'll know more when I do....

CDG8tor · 05-05-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 74nole

Alan's been activated from EST to Trenton and will make a start tomorrow (Sat) for Trenton on the road against New Britian (Twins-AA affliate). Depending on how things go he will probably make 1 or 2 starts for Trenton and expect to be moved up to S-W/B (AAA). Let ya'll know more when I do....

Thanks Pop

We love our Gators.

CD

HiFiGator · 05-05-2009, 05:48 PM

The way the Yanks are pitching, I think he might want to speed things up a tad.

gtj31 · 05-06-2009, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiFiGator

The way the Yanks are pitching, I think he might want to speed things up a tad.

Look on the bright side, they can't be worse. Dead last in MLB I believe.

GatorCody · 05-06-2009, 01:03 AM

I posted this in the recruiting thread, but it works here too. I was watching Florida signee LeVon Washington play tonight in the playoffs, and noticed former Auburn head coach Tommy Slater in attendance. I introduced myself and talked to him for a little bit.

He is the GCL Yankees head coach, but since their season hasn't started he is working in extended spring training. He said that Alan Horne looked very good before he left and went to Trenton. Slater sounded genuinely impressed with what he saw out of Alan before he went north.

Not much of an update, but figured I'd throw it out there.

04-08-2009, 10:14 PM	#32
ssagator Junior Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 469	Don't really have anything to add regarding our former Gators playing pro ball, just using this as an excuse to show this really cool Alan Horne autograph I picked up on Ebay. __________________ http://www.gatorcollector.com

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04-05-2009, 11:36 PM	#22
panhandlegator70 VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,646	isn't herbert perry long retired?

04-06-2009, 03:01 PM	#23
HiFiGator Heisman Candidate Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,662	How about one of you computer experts who have plenty of time, compile a list of Gators that made opening day rosters? Heck, I'd love an up to date, list of those on AAA rosters. For that matter, just an up to date list of where all of our former Gators are would be a big help, instead of individual links to the individual players. Thanks in advance.

04-06-2009, 08:55 PM	#24
jhfxof All SEC Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 845	I ran into Cole Figueroas dad today in Thomasville. He said Coles doing great. Hes w/ the Padre orginization (think he said A ball) and was excited about opening day today. Had as nice mirrorized tag that read Gator Baseball. Obviously special made so I had to ask. Didnt Coles dad play at FSU?? Kinda weird sporting Gator gear now that Cole has left. Or ever IMO. hehe

04-07-2009, 11:54 AM	#26
jhfxof All SEC Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 845	I did not know there was a history betwen Cole & FSU. I was actually going to ask what lead Cole to sign w/ UF, or anyone, rather than FSU. BTW, you see Jeff get the Opening Day start on ESPN last night.

04-07-2009, 03:04 PM	#29
countrygator VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 838	Thanks Tim. Not a MLB fan, but I will check box scores now because of your article.

04-08-2009, 11:03 AM	#30
EG52 Signee Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 71	Casey, Bo Smith is still playing at Samford University isn't he?

04-23-2009, 07:56 AM	#33
TimCasey67 GC Photo Dept Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 3,963	http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...=.jsp&c_id=mlb Check out this story. Pretty crazy day that Darren O'Day had yesterday. Began the day on the beach, got picked up by the Rangers, pitched the 11th inning in Toronto wearing another player's jersey. Wow.

04-23-2009, 05:32 PM	#34
cojones VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 183	Hopefully O'Day can stick around with the Rangers.

05-01-2009, 05:03 PM	#35
HiFiGator Heisman Candidate Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,662	There is another thread with this, but I thought it needed to be here as well: Acquired from the Brewers as the centerpiece of the CC Sabathia trade, Matt LaPorta's season ended prematurely when he was beaned in the head while playing for Team USA in the Olympics. He then struggled in the Venezuelan winter league and was basically sent home when the team no longer wanted him, but LaPorta has quieted any concerns about his health by getting off to a huge start for the Cleveland Indians' Triple-A team. He's hitting .368/.436/.706 with five homers and 11 total extra-base hits through 19 games, and perhaps most encouragingly has a strong 7/7 K/BB ratio in 75 plate appearances. LaPorta has had elite power dating back to his days at the University of Florida, but the 2007 first-round pick came into this season with 105 strikeouts versus 52 non-intentional walks in 131 games as a minor leaguer. LaPorta has always looked to me like a low-average, high-power hitter in the making, but if the improved strike-zone control that he's shown early on this season is for real he has a chance to develop into more of an ideal middle-of-the-order bat capable of posting strong on-base percentages along with his pop. Either way he'll be a 30-homer threat and seemingly should be ready for the majors very soon. Cleveland's left fielders have hit just .237/.301/.408 so far and the AL Central preseason favorites are off to a hugely disappointing 8-13 start, but manager Eric Wedge made it pretty clear yesterday that he's not ready to push Ben Francisco and Trevor Crowe aside yet for the 23-year-old LaPorta:

05-01-2009, 11:27 PM	#36
74nole Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 470	Alan's been activated from EST to Trenton and will make a start tomorrow (Sat) for Trenton on the road against New Britian (Twins-AA affliate). Depending on how things go he will probably make 1 or 2 starts for Trenton and expect to be moved up to S-W/B (AAA). Let ya'll know more when I do....

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05-05-2009, 05:48 PM	#38
HiFiGator Heisman Candidate Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,662	The way the Yanks are pitching, I think he might want to speed things up a tad.

05-06-2009, 01:03 AM	#40
GatorCody Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 6,714	I posted this in the recruiting thread, but it works here too. I was watching Florida signee LeVon Washington play tonight in the playoffs, and noticed former Auburn head coach Tommy Slater in attendance. I introduced myself and talked to him for a little bit. He is the GCL Yankees head coach, but since their season hasn't started he is working in extended spring training. He said that Alan Horne looked very good before he left and went to Trenton. Slater sounded genuinely impressed with what he saw out of Alan before he went north. Not much of an update, but figured I'd throw it out there.

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