SUMMER BALL

I'd be interested in seeing a study on how predictive summer league performance is for returning college players. There are individual success stories we tend to remember (Pete Alonso had a monster season in the Northwoods League one summer), but it would be interesting to see if solid summer league performances consistently carried over to college.

 

McDonald was the starting pitcher for Wareham last night and had his best outing going 5 innings allowing no hits and one unearned run.

Christian Rodriguez has still yet to give up a run over 12.1 innings and has 13 strikeouts. His success on the Cape this summer has to give him heavy consideration to be the closer as UF enter fall practice. Unfortunately, Luke McNeillie has struggled his last couple starts and his ERA has risen to 5.68 with command still being the major problem (eight walks in 12.2 IP).

 

With regards to McNeille that almost sounds like he just throwing pissed off rather than trying to pitch through a rough stretch while re-establishing command and confidence. Not the mindset needed to be gaining command/confidence.

 

Bingo.

Big difference between throwing and pitching.

 

And McDonald hit another HR tonight. He is now hitting .327-4-15. Brenden Lawson also hit his 4th HR tonight which leads his Brewster team despite missing the first three weeks of the Cape Cod season.

 

Love seeing the guys do well in the Cape. McNeillie always seems to run hot and cold.

 

Will we see Caden McDonald as a hitter next season?

 

IF he hits that well during fall and preseason workouts.

 

Agree, but what the kid has accomplished this summer after getting just one AB and basically being a PO this season at UF, is pretty impressive. He has a ways to go (strike outs have been a issue) but after what he has shown in the Cape along with the fact he was one of the more dominant high school hitters in Florida, I would be shocked if Sully didn’t give the kid a legitimate chance to be an everyday player.

 

I like McDonald's potential, too. He looked good as a frosh in fall workouts before he was injured. At that time, he clearly was P first, batting and position play at 1B were afterthoughts. This fall, there will be a dozen or so guys fighting for spots in the lineup. Catcher and SS will require obvious defensive skills and adequate defense is necessary for any other position, but offensive production will be the #1 criterion for guys to play regularly. Summer league performance will get guys ampat on the back, fall and preseason performance gets giuys on the field. McDonald likely will contribute on offense, but he still will be a P first.

 

If Caden does make he lineup as a hitter, would he be a DH or play in the field?

 

McDonald hit HR #5 last night and also got a win on the mound going five shut out innings and allowing just one hit. He is now 3-1 with a 3.32 ERA.

Christian Rodriguez continues to pitch well giving up just two ER over 14.1 IP out of the bullpen.