Yeah, we almost always drop one to NLU or some other scrub and then I come on and bitch because Paul left whatever pitcher in there too long. Happens every year.
LSU's Projected Lineup: C Brock Mathis, So. 1B Saul Garza, So 2B Drew Bianco, Fr. 3B Hal Hughes, So. SS Josh Smith, Jr. LF Daniel Cabrera, So. CF Zach Watson, Jr. RF Antoine Duplantis, Sr. DH CJ Willis, Fr. Starting Pitching RHP Zack Hess, Jr. RHP Landon Marceaux, Fr. RHP Eric Walker, RS-So RHP Todd Peterson, Jr. These projections are thrown out there by D1 and do not imply changes that could develop before the beginning of the season.
He was, but if CPM has him slotted as the Friday night starter, I doubt he'll be the one going to the pen if another potential weekend starter emerges.
Hess threw four scoreless innings in Havana vs the Cuban team... he is getting much better in the starting role and we need someone who can go deep in the game.
He has always done well in the summer leagues and very well last summer, but something changes when he returns to BR. I hope this season is different, but you also gotta consider playing in the SEC is far and above the summer leagues most get sent off too. Well see on Hess, but I agree that he has always been a monster in the pen and a question mark in the starting role. I just don't think he has the head to go into deep innings and other teams pick up on that. Once you get in his head, no telling what comes up next.
Comparing apples to apples, LSU pre-season #2 and Vandy Pre-season #1. LSU projects to start 2 freshmen and 2 sophomore transfers as well as 2 sophomores returning on defense. Add to that 1 freshman starting pitcher. Lots of youth there, all things considered. Vandy returns EVERYTHING with only 2 sophomores and the rest juniors and seniors. Their weekend rotation has 1 sophomore with 2 juniors and a senior with an average era of 4.37. Them boys is deep. With our youth, anything beyond a super regional will be pretty damn impressive. Just imagine if Watson and Duplantis had left...We look damn good, but we are still young and that includes the pen. Happens that we have some young world beaters out there. Gonna be a fun season to watch. We'll give up some mid-weeks, but watching kids grow into men is gonna be fun leading into the conference schedule.
An early look at our offense: There aren’t many absolutes before the season begins, but it’s safe to say LSU will hit in 2019. The Tigers welcome back Smith, who’s poised to have a massive season at the plate, while Paul Mainieri received a mid-summer Christmas present with the return of Duplantis and Watson, who were both drafted. Cabrera finished last season with a .315 average and eight home runs, and we expect those numbers to be even better in 2019, especially from a power standpoint. Meanwhile, Hughes could be ready to take a step forward offensively. In the past, he was considered. more of a defensive asset and somewhat of an offensive liability. But after hitting around .300 at the Northwoods League last summer, the Tigers said he followed that up with a strong fall. He could be ready to take a step forward. LSU’s crop of newcomers are impressive, too. Mathis and Bianco have some power and the potential to be instant impact sluggers, while Garza had Mainieri and Co. buzzing in the fall despite having an injury. Garza has a strong natural power to right center field and brings quite a presence to the plate with a 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame. CJ Willis, another physical newcomer, also is expected to make an immediate impact. Outside of a few hitters, LSU’s lineup last season could be easily pitched to. I don’t think opposing coaches will ever say the same about the 2019 Tigers offense, as there’s much more versatility with this group. Power: If you only looked back at last season, you’d think a 60-grade on the Tigers in the power department is a little bullish. Well, it is, and we feel pretty comfortable about that grade. Here’s why. The Tigers will have a nice infusion in the lineup in Smith, who was outstanding during fall workouts and showed easy power from the left side. Cabrera was a beast at the end of last season and this past fall, and will hit for even more power, while Watson has some juice in his swing, too. The differentiator with this team? LSU has some newcomers with big-time power potential. CJ Willis is a physical young body who has some serious physicality at the plate, while Mathis, and especially Garza, will add to the power cocktail. Bianco is another potential power producer as well. The Tigers will make a jump after finishing the 2018 season ranked 73rd in home runs, 120 in home runs per game and well down the list in triples. LSU did finish the year 24th nationally in doubles. Look for a jump. Speed: The Tigers had a couple of burners on last year’s team, but you wouldn't think that by their stolen base ranking. LSU finished last season ranked 117th nationally in the SB department, but we expect that to improve a great deal this season. For starters, the Tigers have even more athleticism in the lineup with the inclusion of Smith, who’s back from an injury. Meanwhile, Duplantis and Watson each finished last season with double-digit stolen base totals, while reserve utility player Brandt Broussard is another speedster to watch. Will LSU rack up gaudy stolen base numbers in 2019? Absolutely not. But the Tigers have plenty of guys capable of extending base hits into doubles and so on. So to say this season is going to be gorilla ball, well, no. But we will be very utilitarian with our offense with the ability to improve dramatically by turning base runner into digits on the scoreboard. Again, should be very fun to watch
