Shane— I get what you’re saying but I don’t think Butler’s bat gives us more than we would give up defensively—he’s just not as good around the bag as KC, at least IMHO.
We were winning in the past and letting guys struggle but it was not the offense that let us down this year. Even with the freshmen struggling it was not the bats
Exactly. Defense and pitching cost us a bunch. How many games did we lose where the offense put up 10 runs or damn near it? Last few years 3 runs was almost a lock for a w.
We may not end up with all three but Allan, Barco and/or Sproat would sure start to help our situation. Freshmen pitchers are not the best place to start, as we learned from this past year, but these three could contribute in a big way. Let's hope their summer development goes well.
How exactly did we learn freshman pitchers are the best place to start? I am hoping that is a typo!! Our freshman were pretty much a disappointment. None of them established themselves as a starter going forward.
97— Look back at ALL of our great starters/Sully years—None were Wow their freshman years but they ALL got their feet wet and learned from their peers —like most everything, it’s a process for everyone.
Oh man that was bad and yes it was a typo. I left out the word not. I guess you could tell something was amiss with that one. I fixed it.
Shore started his FR year in the weekend rotation. Faedo worked his way into it by mid-April. Randall worked his way into the weekend if memory serves. UF has had some very successful FR pitchers but none aside from Shore (and Whitson if memory serves) that started with meaningful SEC innings.
Brian Johnson also started the first SEC weekend as a FR. He pitched Saturday vs MSU and Randall pitched Sunday. So from a relatively quick look-up, UF has had 4 FR start opening SEC series and not because of injuries. Whitson had injury issues; the other 3 were all very good for UF (2 2nd founders and 1 first rounder). There is a precedent for an Allen, Barco, or Sproat to come in, do well, and get paid...
Agreed Greg, but there are several that seem to think if our new guys aren’t performing like JR’s they’re a failure—that’s just not the way it works outside of an exception from time to time.
Hey @gatorjjh are you getting any early indications from player improvements in the summer leagues so far? If this is too soon when do you think we might know more?
the info is sparse, at best the write ups so far have been the best info in a couple of weeks the stats may help get an idea
Looks like Kirby McMullen is making a strong run at DH for the start of next year. Charlottesville TomSox Cal Greenfield: Has a .250 average (2-for-8) through three games with a home run and two RBI. Kirby McMullen: Has eight hits in seven games (.320, 8-for-25) with a home run and three RBI. Has also pitched 2.2 innings with one run allowed. Brock Edge: The Gators' signee from nearby Santa Fe College is hitting .323 (10-for-31) with seven RBI in nine games.
Cape Cod Stats B Smith, 5 G, .333 Leftwich 1 G, 5.0 IP, 7.2 ERA Fabian, 2 G, .200 Langworthy, 7 G, .190 Crisp, 2 G, 5.2 IP, 11.11 ERA
My guess would be that historically summer league performance has little correlation to SEC performance. Summer leagues are the "bigger, faster, stronger" of college baseball.
For a kid(Fab) who should have played High school this year, I thought he did well. He is a future 300 hitter, for us. Don't think we had someone that much better so get him the experience. It should payoff next year. Pitching I don't even try to figure that out.
Unfortunately pitching is what this thread is trying to figure out along with the rest of the position players. Hopefully as more info comes in and it gets compiled here over the summer and fall, we can kick it around some more as Sully figures it out.