2019 LSU Baseball Season

Discussion in 'The Tiger's Den' started by CajunlostinCali, Jan 10, 2019.

  1. watson1880

    watson1880 Founding Member

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    One more thing... If Gilbert, Walker, Labas and Hillard are all healthy, we ain't dropping mid week games.
     
  2. tirk

    tirk im the lyrical jessie james

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    Ain't gonna be a whole lotta dropping nothing but bombs per Hess.
     
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  3. LSUpride123

    LSUpride123 PureBlood

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    Any news on Hillard? He was very good last year in the Sunday spot. Last I heard he has been throwing since October/November pain free. If he is back healthy and Labas can actually see some time this year, we have a chance to be really deep.

    That also gives us Gilbert back for relief in which he can be very solid.
     
  4. tirk

    tirk im the lyrical jessie james

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    Why did I say Hess.

    SQFIAHONYEGVEAO.20180525122114.jpg
     
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  5. LSUpride123

    LSUpride123 PureBlood

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    I was wondering but then I thought maybe Hess got to swing a little this off-season so wasn't sure.
     
  6. CajunlostinCali

    CajunlostinCali Booger Eatin Moron

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    I was making a similar comparison it being Team USA and The Cuban team. The point stands though. He can be stout elsewhere, but at home where he knows he is relied upon as a key cog, changes. I just hope he has grown from that. He has always thrown better with confidence when he is just in for the money role
    I believe they are looking to use Hilliard for middle relief or even close. I know they are gonna go easy on him till he says he's ready to go extras.
     
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  7. CajunlostinCali

    CajunlostinCali Booger Eatin Moron

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  8. tirk

    tirk im the lyrical jessie james

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    Headed to practice and scrimmage this afternoon. Cpm said the other day hilliard is still feeling pain so not looking good for our middle reliever
     
  9. CajunlostinCali

    CajunlostinCali Booger Eatin Moron

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    Most interested in the freshman on the bump if there are any looks:

    Landon Marceaux
    Jaden Hill
    Cole Henry and Drew Bianco on 2nd.

    All have draft power for next year, so I like em already
     
  10. CajunlostinCali

    CajunlostinCali Booger Eatin Moron

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    Some pitching outlooks for the 2019 season:

    Starting Pitching

    LSU’s Hess will have something to prove in 2019. Hess made his mark two seasons ago as a big-time closer, shining at the College World Series with an electric fastball and mean streak, earning him the distinction as “Wild Thing”. Well, he was forced to harness his emotions a bit last season as he moved to the weekend rotation. There, he was just OK at times, good at others and bad in other situations, finishing the season with an ERA north of five, along with 107 strikeouts and 49 walks. The Tigers rested Hess for much of the fall, but Mainieri feels like his stuff has taken a jump and he’s truly ready to prove his worth as a starter at the collegiate level. That’s a good development, because he’ll be needed more than ever if the Tigers are going to reach their goals.

    Walker was a standout freshman pitcher for the Tigers two seasons ago. He almost threw a no-hitter against Auburn late in the season before losing it in the eighth inning. A few weeks later, he was diagnosed with an arm injury and had season-ending surgery during the College World Series. The Tigers desperately missed Walker’s services last season. He’s back and his presence will certainly be felt. Walker isn’t going to blow hitters away with his fastball, but he’ll sit in the upper-80s and into the 90s and will show very good feel for the changeup at times. Command is his forte, and if he has it, he’ll be really good. If not, things might not go well for the Tigers.

    Last but certainly not least, keep an eye on the freshman righty, Marceaux. Marceaux originally was expected to enroll early at LSU, but backed off that possibility before holiday break commenced two years ago. Now, the 6-foot, 185-pounder, is ready to make a huge first impression. Marceaux was 90-93 with his fastball in the fall, along with a plus curveball and changeup combination and maturity beyond his years. Clearly, we’ll see what he’s truly made of when he takes the mound against SEC teams, but Mainieri said the righty might be the best freshman pitcher he’s ever had in his program. If that’s not impressive and loud, I’m not sure what is.

    Bull Pen

    Anyone around the LSU program will tell you the bullpen was an adventure at the start of last season, but things began to come together a bit as the campaign progressed. Peterson, a hard-throwing righty, formed into a shutdown closer and was dominant by season’s end. Peterson didn’t throw a lot this fall, as Mainieri wanted to rest his better arms. But he looked better physically and the long-time LSU skipper said he was up to 94-95 with his fastball, along with a hammer curveball when he did toe the rubber. That’s a good place to start if you’re the Tigers.

    The Tigers have plenty of additional talented options. In terms of experienced returning arms, keep an eye on righties Caleb Gilbert and Matthew Beck. Gilbert had offseason surgery to take care of some fraying in his labrum, while Beck was shut down this fall after experiencing some tenderness at the conclusion of his standout summer at the Texas Collegiate League. Gilbert has been a mainstay for the LSU pitching staff, and will sit anywhere from 90-94 with his fastball, along with feel for a slider and more. Beck is a breakout candidate. The 6-foot-7, 235-pounder, has a loud physical presence and was electric this past summer, sitting 89-92 and up to 93-94 with his fastball, along with his trademark hammer 12-6 curveball.

    Sophomores Ma’Khail Hilliard, AJ Labas and Devin Fontenot also will be relied heavily upon. Hilliard was a savior for the LSU starting rotation last season, but his role in the rotation is in jeopardy after not throwing much this fall because of some arm tenderness. Hilliard has poise and will sit in the upper-80s into the low-90s at times. He also has feel for a nasty curve. Labas also logged some important innings last season and is back for more, while Fontenot was 92-94 with his fastball early in the fall before being shut down. He could start in the midweek, but the Tigers like him as a potential long/middle relief type of guy.

    In terms of newcomers, Jaden Hill and Riggs Threadgill stood out this fall. Hill is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander who has an impressive and athletic frame. He sat 90-92 and up to 93 with his fastball this fall, while the changeup was nasty at 80-81 and he attacked hitters with a 79-81 mph slider that had some late tilt. Threadgill is a physical 6-foot-4, 215-pounder, as well, and sat 88-91 with a sinker, along with a slider at 79-81 and a changeup at 79-80. He creates natural sink on his pitches, and the Tigers feel like he’ll be up to 92-93 in no time.

    There could be more arms in the mix. Rye Gunter, Easton McMurray and Cole Henry, all talented first-year players, missed the fall with injuries. Mainieri said in the fall all three were expected back this spring, and they clearly have talent. Gunter is a big, physical Lone Star State product who can get up to the mid-90s, but who will sit in the low 90s most of the time and who has a swing and miss curveball. Meanwhile, Henry pitches in the low-90s, but actually was up to 97 at one point last spring. The Tigers like the fact Henry is a strike-thrower and command specialist with his fastball. He will be an immediate impact guy if he can stay healthy.
     

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