Dang! It's funny how they mention Brady, since he always gets brought up around here when discussing Smoke.
Well, you really can't expect much else. Skip has GOT to stand behind the guy for a little while, publicly at least. Seeing as how the baseball program is his baby, however, I can't help but wonder how he really feels PRIVATELY....
He feels like he is getting all of the camp money and fans think there is no other baseball coach like Skip. He is probably right about no other like himself and the camp money may make it easier for him to swallow the fall of the program but it doesn't help ease the pain of the average fan.
Hey, I like our chances NEXT year. We sure as hell didn't get "it" done this season--whatever "it" may be to you (SEC Tourney, Regional, SR, CWS.) We had freshmen guys like Chris Jackson, Jordan Mayer, and Michael Hollander step it up. Plus with guys like JP Padron, Will Harris, Quinn Steward, Bryan Harris and Bruce Sprowl also coming back, I think we'll be ok. Our infield looks to be in good shape with W Harris at first, Mayer at second (maybe,) Hollander at SS, and CJ at third. I don't have to talk about pitching because we'll be loaded--most notable return is Bonura, most notable loss is, of course, Jason Determann. Outfield looks pretty solid with Sprowl, Steward, and maybe Mayer or B Harris. Of course this is just what we have right now. I think we'll pick up a few starters right away. Biggest question mark will be at catcher--we need a guy who can step in and start ASAP. BUT, if Liuzza comes back for his SR season (which would be a HUGE plus,) we'd be set. I actually like that line up. Looks like we may be set-up to play a little small ball with the potential to have a bull pen much like the Rices, Stanfords, and CSFs of the world. But, I wouldn't mind picking up a few pitchers so that we could be like the Texas' of the world. In all, I don't think next season will be as bad as everyone thinks, provided the players (notably CJ) step it up. I also look for Steward to have an all-conference type of season, he's definately capable. I think this team might be able to get by with less. We would have enough experience (mainly with the pitching staff, which is most important) to bolster us far into the post-season. I think we'll be a decent ball club. Any thoughts/opinions?
Liuzza is back...i read where he said he didnt want his career at lsu to end like it did against rice and he doesnt care about the draft and where he is drafted its the farthest thing from his mind.Look for a big year out of him next year.
that's great news if he returns. don't let the fact he was drafted in the 30th round and not the teens confuse the reason he would return if he does. either way good deal for us if he does. i'm betting he throws out a runner next year if he does. unlike this year.
Tirk, regarding Liuza not throwing anyone out.... That isn't all Liuza's fault and probably hardly any of his fault at all. Most of the steals that LSU opponents get are the result of LSU pitchers taking all F--king day to pitch the damn ball to the plate. In other words, the steals are coming off the pitching staff much more than from the lack of Liuza's arm strength. Hell, by the time Liuza gets the ball on most steal attempts, the runner is almost standing at second base. Throwing at that point would simply be futile. I hate to harp on LSU's pitching again but the truth is the truth. LSU's pitching staff was VERY long to the plate and has been since Smoke & Wiederhold (sp?) combined their collective "genius" at coaching pitchers. I have stated early on this season that I thought the LSU pitching staff was drasticly over-rated and I still believe that to be true. However, the SLOOOOOW delivery which most LSU pitchers have is obvious and is something that a competant pitching coach would definitely attempt to correct but absolutely NOTHING was done during the season to speed up delivery in order to limit steals against LSU. As a matter of fact, I was surprised that many teams didn't try to steal mors often against LSU than they did because a team with real speed on the basepaths would make LSU look really bad if they chose to exploit LSU's pitching. Teams like Fullerton would have a damn field day and that's no joke. What this situation indicates to me is a lack of fundamental understanding of the game of baseball by some of LSU's coaches. It also falls in line with the lack of pitching development over the last few years at LSU and some of the questionable decisions regarding pitching rotation, relieving, etc. It all indicates a real weakness in the pitching area on LSU's coaching staff. Some of that can be blamed on the pitching coach but Smoke is responsible for much of the problem as well.
