The Endorsement: Tommy Toledo For Friday Nights

by mlmintampa on Mar 11, 2008 7:42 AM EDT in Florida Sports Grab Bag

In the midst of basketball and spring football, baseball has silently rolled along, building a 10-3 record. Tonight is their last out of conference game, against Florida Gulf Coast, prior to starting SEC play this weekend with Auburn.

For the last two seasons, the Friday night opener in SEC play has been a graveyard. Unable to send a true number one arm to the mound, the Gators would lose 11-2, fall behind in the series and waste pitchers, killing the mood the rest of the weekend. This year is different, though. The Gators have a big arm they can use on Fridays. He can get wild and he throws a lot of pitches. But he keeps guys from scoring and he'll get you five strong innings. The problem is that he's a freshman.

Watching Tommy Toledo this season, I'm convinced that he is as good as the hype. Like any young pitcher, he will catch too much of the plate. The difference between an inside corner fastball for a strike and an inner-half fastball shot into the gap isn't much, but a young pitcher hasn't quite found that. Toledo will give up a hard shot then start nibbling, leading to walks (8 BB). He can strike out guys however (9 Ks) which is needed on a team that fields like a bunch of 6-year-olds. The ERA may not be mind blowing (3.00) but he's only allowing opponents to hit .216. Only Josh Edmonson (.128) and Clint Franklin (.200), two relief pitchers, are better.

If O'Sullivan decides against Toledo as a Friday night starter, it will be Joe Maddon-esque. ("What? I have Casey Fossum AND Dan Wheeler? Oh wow! No, I know Durham and Montgomery have two of the best staffs in the minors and those guys should be called up. But this is Casey Fossum!" Seriously, I wouldn't let Maddon manage my fantasy team.) Toledo will give you five innings and keep the bullpen fresh for the rest of the weekend. Plus, if Toledo can get the Gators out in front to start the series, that changes the whole make up of the remaining two games. The idea of keeping him on Sunday, under the assumption that he's better than everyone's number three so it's a sure win, is stupid. Why wait until Sunday to win?

Tomorrow, we resume our basketball and football programming.

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Comments

Is that a cricket I hear?!?!

by skigator93 on Mar 12, 2008 11:36 PM EDT reply actions

Sports

You know we play sports besides football, basketball, and spring football, right? Plus, who started the run of Gator Dominance? 2005 baseball and their second place finish in the College World Series.

mlmintampa University of Florida Class of 2006

by mlmintampa on Mar 13, 2008 7:45 AM EDT reply actions

Dominance

I believe to start a run of dominance, you have to actually win something. Second place isn't exactly a championship (or else Ohio State would be the NCAA all around champs).

I am a long time follower of all sports at UF - including golf, soccer, volleyball (now THAT is dominance - have we ever NOT won the SEC championship??), swimminig, gymnastics, etc.

I have also wondered for years why UF cannot seem to compose a top tier baseball program with the unbelievable wealth of talent in the state. FSU and Miami have been light years ahead of us for the past 2 decades and I cannot for the life of me figure out why. It angers me.

I also think more headlines should be given to this season's softball team. They have come out of nowhere to become one of the top teams in the nation and perhaps the best spring tam at UF. I do remember that this site was the first to give them props several weeks ago, but they have really kept it up.

Go Gators.

by skigator93 on Mar 13, 2008 10:51 AM EDT reply actions