UF Series Takeaways

1) I don't care how you win in the SEC, especially on the road.

It's a win and it's good. But coming back like that is big mentally going forward. As bad as the first 25 innings were at the plate, the last 2 basically erase that feeling for most of the team.

2) Home runs >>>>>>> hit and runs.

We must have had 5 failed hit and runs this weekend and none of them made much sense. 2 were with Duplantis batting and on the first pitch he saw. He's been our hottest hitter and you're basically taking the bat out of his hand by forcing him to swing at bad pitches, which both were. One of the two ended up in a caught stealing. Another was with Pap at first base and KRob batting in an at bat where he swung and missed twice already. Thanks to a double clutch and a high throw, Pap was safe, but again, KRob swung and missed. And there's almost no benefit to sending Pap. It's not like there's a good chance he'll get to 3B on a hit or even score on a double. Two of them took place in the very first inning. And PM's thought process there is to "manufacture" a run early to get pressure off the team, pitchers and hitters both. I get that. But it's a terrible approach for the top half of this order. They are our most patient hitters and excel at working pitchers. And it played right into UF's strength: their pitchers' ability to fool batters (the only pitching stat they lead the SEC in is Ks looking).

Finally, this team was bailed out doing the unexpected: getting power from non-power bats. But more importantly, it was too late in the game and we were down by too much to try and "manufacture" anything. Smith's HR was on the first pitch, but Beau and Freeman were able to get into hitter's counts (2-1 and 1-0).

3) Down by 1 or tied in the 9th (or extras even), PM will NOT bunt with a runner on 2B and no outs.

We've seen this before and it should surprise no one. He's done it in SEC play (Kentucky and Ole Miss in 2015; remember the "Deichmann has never bunted in his life" pinch hit?). Maybe I can't remember every game well enough, but it seems like we lose these games in this situation more than we win. I know there are MLB stats out there that show this is one of the few times where percentages support bunting every time. I have no idea why PM doesn't follow the approach. He'll bunt in the first inning, but not the last. It's so weird.

4) UF still has terrible fans and fan support. It's laughable.

5) Bill >>>>> Doug. Take notes, Doug.