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Started By
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How can the LSU baseball team return to the College World Series? Here are 5 keys.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 9:30 am
Posted on 2/13/24 at 9:30 am
LINK
quote:
Sophomores stepping up
Brady Neal, Paxton Kling and Jared Jones all started at points during the regular season last year. But none of them were significant contributors during LSU’s run in the NCAA tournament or in Omaha.
quote:
Strong defense up the middle
With Jordan Thompson off to the pros, LSU has some questions to answer up the middle of the infield. Josh Pearson moves from left field to second base but hasn’t played on the infield since high school. Michael Braswell played 54 games at shortstop for South Carolina but played the position less last year as a sophomore. The Tigers have some options on the bench among Ben Nippolt, Steven Milam and Ryan Kucherak, but Nippolt is the only veteran.
quote:
Find the staff ace
LSU’s pitching depth is the best it has been since coach Jay Johnson arrived three years ago. But with Paul Skenes off to the majors, someone will have to fill his big shoes at the top of the rotation.
quote:
Earn free passes
The Tigers finished second in the nation in walks and hit by pitches last season. How closely can LSU can replicate that success with a younger and less proven lineup? It’ll be tough, but Johnson is the perfect coach to re-install that approach.
quote:
Work well from the left side
LSU has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to left-handed pitching. Ten lefties are on the roster, including Jake Brown, a two-way player projected to start in the outfield. How Johnson and pitching coach Nate Yeskie maximizes this group will determine whenter LSU’s staff can reach its high ceiling.
11
Posted on 2/13/24 at 9:35 am to WPBTiger
Is Neal expected to be the starting catcher this season?
Posted on 2/13/24 at 9:41 am to sta4ever
quote:
Is Neal expected to be the starting catcher this season?
Hard to say. But he was the primary starter before his injury last year. And he was just a freshman. I guess the best answer to that is another question, will that injury limit his starts this year?
Posted on 2/13/24 at 9:47 am to WPBTiger
quote:
How can the LSU baseball team return to the College World Series?
score more points than the other team every game.
This post was edited on 2/13/24 at 9:53 am
Posted on 2/13/24 at 9:53 am to WPBTiger
quote:
Sophomores stepping up
Brady Neal, Paxton Kling and Jared Jones all started at points during the regular season last year. But none of them were significant contributors during LSU’s run in the NCAA tournament or in Omaha.
This is the biggest key in my opinion. Neal and Milazzo need to both catch to keep each other fresh for the post season but also if Neal can build upon his offense that left handed bat is going to be huge in the lineup. If Jones cannot take that next step I think Fry is going to capitalize on the opportunity.
The other key is White and Hayden remaining healthy and staying in the lineup. Need the two proven power hitters to remain in the lineup for this team to reach its ceiling.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 9:59 am to MorbidTheClown
quote:
score more points
SMH
Posted on 2/13/24 at 10:00 am to upgrade
quote:
Hard to say. But he was the primary starter before his injury last year. And he was just a freshman. I guess the best answer to that is another question, will that injury limit his starts this year?
JJ has already said he doesn't think Neal will be able to catch a full weekend. With both Milazzo and Travinski he doesn't need to.
If Neal is hitting well he can provide a much needed left handed bat from the DH spot when he's not catching. He will play a lot, but he probably won't catch every game.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 10:05 am to WPBTiger
quote:
Brady Neal, Paxton Kling and Jared Jones all started at points during the regular season last year. But none of them were significant contributors during LSU’s run in the NCAA tournament or in Omaha
Neal was hurt, otherwise he would have been. Kling got hurt and then others were too hot to give him time to get back into the a grove. Jones has prove he is a bat that can't be removed from the line up. Others will be on his heels, if he already hasn't been passed. Kling will need to be the big one. We need him to be the player he was before getting injured.
quote:
Strong defense up the middle
Seems like SS will be in great hands. We could see an upgrade at that position from last year. Dugas was very very limited defensively at 2B. I think whoever we put there be an upgrade. If it's Pearson, we don't lose anything at the plate.
quote:
Paul Skenes off to the majors, someone will have to fill his big shoes at the top of the rotation
Nobody is filling Skenes shoes. LSU won't have the sure Friday night win. We will make up for Skenes absence by having the starting pitching edge on Sundays for sure, and be equal to, or better, than most on Friday and Saturday as well. Not to mention a bullpen that should be able to carry the load when needed as well.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 11:00 am to Hold That Tiger 10
quote:
Nobody is filling Skenes shoes. LSU won't have the sure Friday night win
We didn’t have a sure Friday night win last season either. Floyd had a better record than Skenes (not going against Friday pitching, of course). Between SEC regular season and the playoffs we lost three games Skenes started.
I would not be surprised if we had as good a record against Friday pitching this season.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 11:12 am to Penrod
quote:
We didn’t have a sure Friday night win last season either. Floyd had a better record than Skenes (not going against Friday pitching, of course). Between SEC regular season and the playoffs we lost three games Skenes started
My goodness you have some complete shite takes. So you would rather have Floyd pitching last year over Skenes?
Everybody with a brain knew what I meant.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 11:16 am to MorbidTheClown
quote:
points
Take a lap CLOWN
Posted on 2/13/24 at 11:47 am to Penrod
quote:Skenes gave up 15 earned runs versus SEC schedule, Floyd gave up 32.
We didn’t have a sure Friday night win last season either. Floyd had a better record than Skenes (not going against Friday pitching, of course).
That isnt even comparable.
Given multiple extra innning games and others, we probably go from 19-10 to 16-13 or worse.
Anyone minimizing the dominance of Skenes last year is off base.
And if you look at as dominant as Floyd was from the SEC tournament till the end he gave up 10 ER to Skenes's 6. in the same time frame. And in thet same time span Skenes pitched 35 damn innings, Floyd 24.
The value of Skenes last year could not be overstated.
This post was edited on 2/13/24 at 11:53 am
Posted on 2/13/24 at 12:10 pm to IM_4_LSU
quote:
If Jones cannot take that next step I think Fry is going to capitalize on the opportunity.
I wouldn’t count out Milam in this situation. Could easily see Pearson go to right, Brown to first and Milam at second
Posted on 2/13/24 at 12:10 pm to WPBTiger
Score runs
Posted on 2/13/24 at 12:25 pm to rsbd
I agree with the Sophomore deal…especially if Kling can hit like he did leading up the Aggie weekend last year, it would be huge. His speed would be killer at the 1 spot in our lineup
Posted on 2/13/24 at 12:26 pm to SPT
quote:
Take a lap CLOWN
SPT
Member since Jun 2014
505 posts
post less, fool
Posted on 2/13/24 at 12:27 pm to MorbidTheClown
quote:
score more points than the other team every game
And get good calls from the referees.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 12:34 pm to WPBTiger
I believe that Jay will have the team applying more pressure on the base paths and attempting to generate more offense with running this year than last. I am interested in watching out for this.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 12:46 pm to WPBTiger
quote:
Find the staff ace
LSU’s pitching depth is the best it has been since coach Jay Johnson arrived three years ago. But with Paul Skenes off to the majors, someone will have to fill his big shoes at the top of the rotation.
Meh. Like last year, will be a strength in numbers thing.
"Friday night starter" has just become this fake, mythical title that really does not matter.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 12:50 pm to Lucky Loper
quote:
And get good calls from the referees.
And don't overlook how important winning the OT games can be. Holding serve is key.
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