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Post by geauxtigerfan on Dec 5, 2022 20:58:47 GMT -5
I can't wait for the college baseball 2023 season. LSU seems to have a pretty good team for the 2023 season. But it comes down to how well the pitching staff shapes up. Coach Johnson did a good job of recruiting and getting some through the Transfer Portal. Only time will tell.
Preseason player ratings are good for the Tigers:
Six Tigers Named to D1 Baseball Top 100 College Prospects List for 2023 MLB Draft
LSU junior centerfielder Dylan Crews is No. 1 on the list; junior right-handed pitcher/utility player Paul Skenes is No. 10; sophomore right-handed pitcher Grant Taylor is No. 15; junior right-handed pitcher Ty Floyd is No. 44; junior first baseman Tre’ Morgan is No. 47; and junior right-handed pitcher Christian Little is No. 67.
Geaux Tigers.
Hope LSU can make the road to Omaha. I might attend with my oldest grandson if they make it. Omaha is a great destination for those who like college baseball.
I didn't make it to Omaha, but I did make it to the Super Regionals in Baton Rouge for my first visit to the New Alex Box Stadium - Skip Bertman Field. And the Tigers did make it to Omaha and win it all. It was a great season for the Tigers and this old man.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Dec 16, 2022 12:52:18 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"In baseball news, LSU’s already outstanding 2024 recruiting class got stronger yesterday when OF/RHP Konnor Griffin of Florence, Ms. (Jackson Prep) committed to the Tigers. Griffin is the state of Mississippi’s No. 1 prospect and was rated by Perfect Game as the nation’s No. 1 prospect before reclassifying from 2025 to 2024. He’s now rated as Perfect Game’s No. 2 player in the nation, behind outfielder Derek Curiel of California, another LSU baseball commitment. In the past, prospects of this caliber were almost certain to go directly to the pros, but with NIL it’s a brand new game."
Should be an exciting year in baseball for LSU. I can't wait.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 7, 2023 14:12:52 GMT -5
From Perfect Game:
“Heading into Year 2 in Baton Rouge, LSU Coach Jay Johnson has his Tigers in as good of a spot as they’ve been in years as they earned the preseason No. 1 ranking heading into the 2023 season. The Tigers have assembled what looks to be one of the more fearsome rosters in college baseball…
“LSU certainly had the merits to be a top 10 team entering the season but there’s never a good reason not to get better when you have the opportunity, so it added the two biggest names in the transfer portal: Tommy White, formerly of NC State, and Paul Skenes, formerly of Air Force…
“White took the nation by storm last year, earning the moniker ‘Tommy Tanks’ en route to winning Perfect Game Freshman of the Year. White immediately became not only a sensation but one of the best hitters in the sport, slugging over .750 with 27 jacks. Johnson has been very impressed with White, but everyone knows about the power; what’s stood out to Johnson has been the glove work and pure hit tool…”
The article goes on to say that veteran pitchers Ty Floyd and Grant Taylor really emerged in the fall. Floyd is expected to compete in the starting rotation, as is Skenes. Coach Johnson called Skenes “one of the best in the country,” and praised fellow pitchers Thatcher Hurd and Christian Little, who he says have very high ceilings.
College baseball kicks off next month - Man I am pumped.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 14, 2023 13:04:44 GMT -5
Another pitcher for the Tigers. LSU baseball lands another big name pitcher out of the transfer portal - From The Advocate - BY LEAH VANN | STAFF WRITER JUL 28, 2022 - 8:52 PM.
"Air Force Academy right-handed pitcher and catcher Paul Skenes has committed to play for LSU.
The rising junior entered the transfer portal on June 7, the sophomore first-team All-American held a 2.73 ERA through 85 2/3 innings pitched this year with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.2.
At the plate, he hit .314 this year with 13 home runs and 10 doubles.
Skenes joins a hefty staff LSU has already landed out of the transfer portal, including Thatcher Hurd (UCLA) and Christian Little (Vanderbilt)."
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 14, 2023 13:05:22 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"LSU Baseball Countdown to Game Day: 34 Days
No. 34 RHP Chase Shores
We’ve written about the trio of veteran pitchers LSU brought in through the transfer portal — Paul Skenes, Thatcher Hurd and Christian Little — and about JUCO transfer standout Nate Ackenhausen. But LSU also brought in several big-time arms from the high school ranks, including right-hander Chase Shores of Midland, Texas. Shores is an imposing figure at 6-foot-8, 240 pounds and was rated as Perfect Game’s No. 1 RHP in Texas and No. 5 RHP in the nation. According to PG, Shores has a fastball that touches 97 mph with sinking action, as well as a good changeup and breaking ball.
This past fall, Shores threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with no walks on one strikeout, against UL-L in an exhibition scrimmage. He followed that up by starting in LSU’s fall Purple and Gold World Series and working another two scoreless innings with one hit with two strikeouts. Look for Shores to have a prominent role in this year’s pitching staff, possibly as a midweek starter or closer."
Geaux Tigers
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 16, 2023 14:08:54 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
COUNTDOWN TO GAME DAY: 32 DAYS
No. 32 Aiden Moffett
"One thing that has jumped out to me while getting to know this year’s roster is that it definitely has some size to it. Aiden Moffett, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound true freshman from Mount Olive, Mississippi, is another example of that. Perfect Game describes him as having a “big and strong build,”, especially in the lower half. This, combined with a “big hip turn,” a “long arm swing” and some hesitation in his delivery, gives him a fastball that seems even faster than the mid-90s it registers on the gun. He also has a nice curveball that he can throw on any count and “a firm change up with some fade and deception,” according to Perfect Game.
While doing research for this write-up, I came across this article by BVM Sports that sheds some light on Aiden’s baseball journey. What caught my attention were the eye-popping numbers he put up toward the end of his senior season, as noted in the following excerpt:
“While Moffett’s senior season didn’t end the way he wanted it to with the same team success as the year before, he certainly saved his best individual performances for his final go-round at the high school level. During a Mar. 14 battle with Loyd Star, Moffett struck out an eye-popping 17 batters and gave up just two hits across seven innings pitched in a 5-1 win. He also added three hits, a double, a home run and three RBIs at the plate. A week later, he struck out 12 batters and a week after that, sat down 15 more batters with strikes. Moffett put together a total of eight double-digit strikeout games on the season and finished the year with 128 punchouts, good for second most in the state of Mississippi.”
This past fall, Aaiden picked up where he left off and, again, seemed to save the best for last. In LSU’s annual Purple and Gold series, he fired two scoreless innings with no hits and five strikeouts."
Geaux Tigers
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 16, 2023 14:16:00 GMT -5
My love for college baseball has grown over the years. I now look forward to baseball season almost as much as college football. Back in the 80's it was hard to get any news on college baseball. One didn't get results for weekend series until Monday. The internet has really brought sports news to one almost instantly and most times you can watch the game over streaming media.
In the 80's the SEC only had two prominent teams - Miss State and LSU. But now the SEC is strong from top to bottom. California and southern teams have an advantage over the northern teams because of weather. Northern teams take a two to three week trip to play some early games.
Anyway - college baseball season is getting closer and closer.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 17, 2023 12:02:56 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"That makes a good segue to today’s brief edition of of Countdown to LSU baseball’s season-opener, which is 31 days away. Those of you who follow LSU baseball closely know that there’s no No. 31 on this year’s team, and you know the reason why. It’s because the number was retired in honor of a special former Tiger, third-baseman Wally Pontiff, Jr., who tragically passed away on July 24, 2002, at the age of 21 due to a heart condition. Referred to by Skip Bertman as “Everybody’s All-American” and remembered as a gifted player and leader on and off the field, Pontiff will live on forever in the hearts of all who knew him."
A tragic moment in LSU history.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 18, 2023 12:48:00 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"COUNTDOWN TO GAME DAY: 30 DAYS
No. 30 Nate Ackenhausen
We’ll keep today’s countdown topic brief since we already wrote a bit about Ackenhausen last week. Remember, he’s the Owasso, Okla. native who transferred to LSU from Eastern Oklahoma State after posting an 8-1 record in 2022 with a 1.84 ERA, 14 walks and a whopping 89 strikeouts in 58.2 innings. D1Baseball ranked him No. 24 in their list of Top 50 JUCO Transfers for the 2023 season.
At 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, Ackenhausen is one of the most intriguing bullpen arms for LSU this season. He’s a big, strong lefty with a four-pitch arsenal who Coach Jay Johnson describes as “highly competitive.” When Johnson introduced his signing class, he said Ackenhausen’s “motor runs really hot” and that he should make a massive impact on the team."
College baseball only a month away.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 18, 2023 12:48:48 GMT -5
LSU and the other SEC teams have high rankings heading into the 2023 season.
LSU baseball is ranked No. 1 in the 2023 D1 Baseball preseason poll released yesterday, representing the Tigers’ third top ranking since late December. The Tigers have already been ranked No. 1 in the Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game preseason polls. With all these preseason accolades, you might think it’s a given that LSU will cruise through its schedule en route to the College World Series. As optimistic and excited as I am about that possibility, I know better than to take anything for granted in baseball, especially when you play in a league as loaded as the SEC. In that same D1 Baseball poll, seven SEC teams rank in the Top 10 and two others made the Top 25. In other words, LSU is going to be challenged week in and week out during what I predict will be one of the most enjoyable baseball seasons in recent years.
Other SEC teams in D1 Baseball’s Top 25 include No. 2 Tennessee, No. 4 Ole Miss, No. 5 Texas A&M, No. 7 Florida, No. 8 Arkansas, No. 10 Vanderbilt, No. 20 Alabama and No. 23 South Carolina.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 20, 2023 12:54:20 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
LSU BASEBALL COUNTDOWN TO GAME DAY: 28 DAYS
No. 28: Micah Bucknam
I’ll be honest with you; I didn’t know much about Bucknam until doing research for this write-up. He’s one of many right-handed pitchers LSU signed in its top-ranked signing class and wasn’t one of the head-turners this past fall. But he is a very interesting and extremely talented prospect.
Bucknam hails from the small city of Abbotsford, British Columbia. Before making the long trek down south to Baton Rouge, he played for the Trenton Thunder, a collegiate summer team of the MLB Draft League in Trenton, New Jersey. There, he caught the attention of scouts when he logged an 0.53 ERA in five starts with 15 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched. As a result, he was drafted in the 16th round by the Toronto Blue Jays but opted not to turn pro and instead attended LSU.
According to articles like these two (BVM Sports | The Trentonian), Bucknam has a three-pitch arsenal that includes a 4-seam fastball that tops out at 94 mph, a slider and a changeup, and is working on developing a cutter. I wouldn’t expect him to contend for a major role in this year’s pitching rotation, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him develop into someone who can eat up innings in extended relief. I can’t wait to see how guys like this develop under new LSU pitching coach Wes Johnson.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 21, 2023 10:43:40 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"COUNTDOWN TO LSU BASEBALL GAME DAY
No. 27: Jaden Noot
Noot is another big-bodied right-handed pitcher. At 6-4, 235 pounds, he throws a fastball that has touched 97 mph, as well as a curveball, slider and change-up. That is, when he’s healthy. My understanding is that he threw very little this past fall due to arm soreness.
Noot was drafted in the 19th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers but chose to attend LSU instead. Recently, Perfect Game included him as one of five Tigers in their list of Top 100 freshmen after having previously ranked him as the nation’s No. 8 right-handed pitcher prospect.
Last spring, Noot showcased his talent in front of 30-40 scouts during the Boras Baseball Classic in California when he threw seven innings for his Sierra Canyon team. According to a report by Baseball America, Noot pitched a two-hit shutout with no walks and nine strikeouts. In addition to his nine Ks, he induced 10 groundouts with the heavy run on his two-seam fastball and repeatedly induced weak contact from right-handed batters. All of this makes me eager to hear from Coach Jay Johnson on Noot’s status when we meet with him next Friday, the 27th, for LSU Baseball Media Day. That’s also the day LSU opens preseason practice."
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 22, 2023 9:31:24 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"LSU Baseball Countdown to Game Day
No. 26: Thatcher Hurd
You’ve seen UCLA transfer pitcher Thatcher Hurd’s name a lot on this site recently. We mentioned that he was ranked No. 6 in Perfect Game’s list of Top Sophomores, and No. 7 in D1Baseball’s list of Top Impact Freshmen for 2023.
There’s a good reason for those accolades. Last year as a freshman, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound right-hander made nine appearances at UCLA — including six starts —and posted a 2-0 record with a 1.06 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 34 innings. Opponents hit just .138 against him. Against Long Beach State, he logged a season-high 12 strikeouts in five innings as he and Ethan Flanagan teamed up for a 19-K one-hitter. Hurd would have pitched more last season if not for a back injury that set him back.
Now that he’s healthy and at LSU, Hurd is expected to be a featured pitcher on this year’s team. We’ll almost certainly see him as part of the weekend starting rotation or as a midweek starter. One way or another, you should expect to hear the former Pac-12 standout’s name a lot over the next two or three seasons."
It is going to be nice to have pitching depth. It has been a long time since they have had this depth in the pitching staff.
Sure hope it works out thought - spirits have been high in pre season more than once. Geaux Tigers.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 23, 2023 12:07:03 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"LSU BASEBALL COUNTDOWN TO GAME DAY
Day 25: Paxton Kling
Note: Kling is No. 28, but we’re going with him today since we skipped him last week and have already written about No. 25, Hayden Travinski.
Paxton Kling is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound freshman outfielder from Central High School in Roaring Springs, Pa. He was rated as a top-five-round MLB pick before opting out of the draft and is easily one of the stars of LSU’s top-rated signing class.
A former 2021 18U USA national team member, Kling wasted no time showcasing his skills once he arrived at LSU. Fans saw it when he homered in the team’s exhibition game against McNeese and again in the annual Purple and Gold Game. In fact, Kling went 2-for-3 in that Purple and Gold game with one double, one homer and one RBI.
With veterans like Dylan Crews, Josh Pearson, Josh Stevenson and Gavin Dugas returning, it would take an exceptional freshman to earn a starting spot in LSU’s outfield. But with Kling’s offensive skills and blazing speed, we predict he’ll do just that. Our best guess is that he will start in left field by the time SEC play starts and becomes the heir apparent to Dylan Crews’ centerfield position in 2024."
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 24, 2023 12:41:21 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
LSU BASEBALL COUNTDOWN TO GAME DAY
Day 24: Cade Beloso
"Cade Beloso is a very good player. There’s no doubt about that. Longtime Louisiana prep baseball fans remember that he was the 2018 Louisiana High School Player of the Year after leading John Curtis High School to the state championship. And unless you’re a new Tiger fan, you probably remember that he was LSU’s starting first baseman in 2019 and 2020 and the team’s primary DH in 2021. Last year, Beloso suffered a knee injury in pregame activities prior to LSU’s season opener and spend the whole season rehabilitating.
As good as Beloso is, it’s not exactly clear how he’ll be used this year. Tré Morgan seems to have a firm grip on the first base position, though Beloso could get some looks there should coach Jay Johnson decide to give Morgan some reps in the outfield, which is where some project Morgan to play as a pro. Of course, Beloso is a fantastic option at the DH position. The “problem” for him is that the same could be said for several other Tigers including Jared Jones, Gavin Dugas, Hayden Travinski, and right-hander Paul Skenes when he’s not pitching. For coach Jay Johnson, “that’s a good problem to have,” which is probably a phrase you’ll hear often when discussing this Tiger team."
"Excitement continues to build for the upcoming LSU baseball season, which gets underway in just 24 days. Yesterday, LSU became the “unanimous” top-rated team in the four major preseason polls when Baseball America listed LSU at No. 1. The Tigers have already been ranked No. 1 in the Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and D1 Baseball preseason polls.
Speaking at a jam-packed First Pitch Banquet this past Sunday, Coach Jay Johnson addressed the high expectations that accompany this talent-laden team. “I had a really good coach tell me that being No. 1 is either an advantage or a disadvantage and we talked about a mindset of how we want to make that an advantage,” Johnson is quoted as saying in this article by 247Sports. “I think we have to be very selfless. I think we have more good players than playing time, we have more good pitchers than mound time and what’s great about that is that LSU championship teams modeled the way with that.”"
Expectations are high in Tiger Land over the talent this year's Tiger baseball team has on the roster. Especially me.
Geaux Tigers.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 26, 2023 12:12:40 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"LSU Baseball — 22 Days and Counting!
Listed at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, No. 22 Jared Jones is yet another big and imposing Tiger newcomer on an LSU baseball roster that has several. He’s also another of six LSU freshmen who were named to the 2023 Perfect Game Top 100 Freshmen list. A product of Walton High School in Marietta, Ga., Jones was ranked nationally as Perfect Game’s No. 4 catcher and No. 47 overall prospect.
What makes Jones special is his power at the plate. LSU fans got a glimpse of that in preseason scrimmages against McNeese and UL-Lafayette when Jones was one of five Tigers who hit home runs against the Cowboys and one of four who blasted dingers against the Cajuns. As you can tell by the previous sentence, LSU has plenty of power on this team.
Jones will likely compete with Alex Milazzo, Brady Neal and Hayden Travinski at the catcher position and is also a candidate to see action at first base as a backup to Tré Morgan. But we suspect he’ll see most of his action early on as a designated hitter. Of course, LSU has many options for that role, too, including Gavin Dugas, Hayden Travinski, and right-hander Paul Skenes when he’s not pitching. All of that calls to mind the expression we said last week we’d hear frequently this year: “It’s a good problem to have.”"
In case if you are wondering about day 23 - there wasn't one. Dandy skipped day 23.
Geaux Tigers.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 27, 2023 16:56:28 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"LSU Baseball Countdown to Game Day
Day 21: Bryce Collins
Collins is one of three former Arizona Wildcat players, along with Jacob Berry, who followed coach Jay Johnson to LSU last year, and left-handed pitcher Riley Cooper. Berry was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the first round of the 2022 draft, but Collins and Cooper remain on the LSU team. Collins is preparing for his fifth collegiate season, but only his third season of action.
Collins made seven appearances (four starts) during the 2019 season for Arizona but did not pitch in 2020 and 2021 due to injury. Last year at LSU, he made 20 appearances (two starts) and posted a 3-1 mark and a 3.62 ERA in 32.1 innings with 20 walks and 37 strikeouts.
One thing we especially look forward to this year is seeing the development of guys like Collins under the direction of former Minnesota Twins pitching coach Wes Johnson, who is entering his first season as LSU’s pitching coach. Interestingly, it was the Minnesota Twins who thought highly enough of Collins to draft him in the 39th round of the 2018 Major League Draft.
That’s it for now, but mentioning pitching coach Wes Johnson reminds me to pass along the following reader comment I received about a podcast you might enjoy, especially if you’ve got 45 minutes to spare. I plan on checking it out this morning during my drive to Alex Box Stadium.
Reader Comments: Scott, the reason I’m reaching out today is because my brother, Chase Brewster, recently did an interview with new LSU pitching coach Wes Johnson. The name of the show is The Chase Brewster Show and the interview with Coach Johnson is about 45 minutes long, audio only. It can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcast. In it, Coach Johnson talks about his journey from small school Arkansas baseball to the MLB, and what made LSU a destination he wanted to come to even while leading the division with the Twins. He talks about his approach to coaching, his pitching techniques and how he brings a different mindset when improving his pitchers. He also said he would have only left the Twins for a certain situation and talks about how LSU was the perfect fit."
Geaux Tigers.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 28, 2023 13:19:40 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"LSU BASEBALL COUNTDOWN TO GAME DAY
Day 20: Paul Skenes
It’s really a stroke of good fortune that we’re on day 20 of our Countdown because I wanted to say more about No. 20, Paul Skenes. I already told you the glowing words Johnson used to describe him, but his teammates also spoke very highly of him.
White, who set the NCAA freshman record for homers in a season last year at NC State before transferring to LSU, was asked what is hard about hitting off of Skenes. “Everything is difficult about hitting off of Paul,”’ he chuckled. “He’s got a lot of pitches and he knows how to use every single one of them. Not only that, he’s just very competitive on the mound. He’s such a ‘dog’ out there and he doesn’t want to lose, so he gives everything he has every time he steps out on the mound.” Crews had similar praise for Skenes and said he can throw five pitches for strikes.
It’s not just Skene’s presence on the mound that makes him so special. He’s also a beast at the plate. As a freshman at Air Force, he pitched out of the bullpen but also started 48 games, including 28 as a designated hitter, 18 at catcher and twice at first base. He batted .410 and was the only Division I player with double-digit home runs (11) and saves (11). His sophomore year was similar, as he again was named an All-American after recording a 2.96 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 85.2 innings (15 starts) and hitting .314 with 10 doubles, 13 homers and 38 RBI.
This year as a junior at LSU, look for Skenes to not only be LSU’s ace on the mound but to frequently serve as the team’s designated hitter when he’s not pitching.
By the way, in yesterday’s scrimmage, Skenes pitched four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out five, according to a tweet by LSUBaseballData."
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 28, 2023 13:21:24 GMT -5
IMO, the Tigers have not had a good Friday night pitcher since Alex Lange in 2017. I sure hope Paul Skenes can fill that role.
Geaux Tigers.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 30, 2023 10:07:11 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"LSU Baseball Countdown to Game Day
Day 18: Tré Morgan
I don’t need to tell you how good Tré Morgan is. You know that after witnessing his phenomenal defense and exceptional hitting the last two years. Just as a reminder, Morgan batted .357 and earned Freshman All-American honors in 2021, and followed it up with another exceptional season last year. His batting average dropped slightly to .324, but was at its highest in the most critical situations. For example, he hit .412 in the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional with one double, six RBI and one run, and batted .500 in the Vanderbilt series with four doubles, three RBI and five runs. Even more impressive than his “clutch” hitting was his stellar play at first base, where LSU’s fielding percentage would have looked a whole lot worse without his “scoops” and acrobatic footwork.
But you know all that. What you might not know is that Morgan, a devout Catholic, probably wouldn’t have made it to LSU if his senior year at Brother Martin High School (New Orleans) had not been derailed by a couple of unusual and seemingly devastating events. First, he suffered an injury to his left elbow during preseason practice that required surgery and ended his season before it even began. Then there was the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the Major League Draft being reduced from its usual 40 rounds to just five. The convergence of those two events led to Morgan going undrafted and playing for LSU.
Now, as a linchpin of the Tigers’ preseason top-ranked team, Morgan has an excellent chance of becoming an early pick in the 2024 MLB draft and perhaps earning a national championship along the way."
The reason for no day 19 - LSU doesn't have a #19 on the team.
Geaux Tigers.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Jan 31, 2023 12:39:24 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"With 17 days remaining until LSU’s season opener against Western Michigan, today with give a quick tip of the hat to this year’s No. 17, Samuel Dutton. The sophomore right-hander turned in a solid true freshman season in 2022, pitching as LSU’s Game 3 starter in the final nine SEC regular-season weekends. The fact that Dutton’s name has hardly been mentioned when talking about this year’s staff speaks to just how loaded it is. It’s highly unlikely that Dutton will be a weekend starter this year, but he’s certainly a candidate to start midweek or to provide long relief."
Only two and half weeks left to opening day for college baseball.
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Vespula
Senator
"Panzerkönigin"
Posts: 3,813
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Post by Vespula on Jan 31, 2023 19:06:18 GMT -5
I can't wait for the college baseball 2023 season. LSU seems to have a pretty good team for the 2023 season. But it comes down to how well the pitching staff shapes up. Coach Johnson did a good job of recruiting and getting some through the Transfer Portal. Only time will tell. Preseason player ratings are good for the Tigers: Six Tigers Named to D1 Baseball Top 100 College Prospects List for 2023 MLB Draft LSU junior centerfielder Dylan Crews is No. 1 on the list; junior right-handed pitcher/utility player Paul Skenes is No. 10; sophomore right-handed pitcher Grant Taylor is No. 15; junior right-handed pitcher Ty Floyd is No. 44; junior first baseman Tre’ Morgan is No. 47; and junior right-handed pitcher Christian Little is No. 67. Geaux Tigers. Hope LSU can make the road to Omaha. I might attend with my oldest grandson if they make it. Omaha is a great destination for those who like college baseball. I am eager to see college baseball start again too. This could be Danny Hall's last season as coach at Georgia Tech. He is the winningest coach of any sport in the institute's history with the most playoff appearances of any coach as well. I would be very sad to see him retire, but he has earned the honor of a farewell with a lot of accolades.
Over at Clemson, Monte Lee got retired last year already with the purple butt boot award , and Michigan coach Erik Bakich has moved to Clemson to take over the Tiger program, after leading the Wolverines all the way to the 2019 College World Series championship playoff round. The program will need rebuilding, but Bakich had a good recruiting season this past year, and fans look forward to better years ahead.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Feb 1, 2023 12:45:52 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"LSU Baseball Countdown to Game Day
Day 16: Brady Neal
Brady Neal is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound freshman who attended IMG Academy and came to LSU as a the No. 1 ranked catcher in Florida and the nation’s No. 2 catcher prospect, according to Perfect Game. He was selected in the 17th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers but decided to take his talents to LSU instead.
Neal is almost certainly LSU’s catcher of the future. The question is will he beat out Alex Milazzo and become the starting catcher this year. There’s no question he has the offensive skills to do it, and coach Jay Johnson has spoken of him being ready defensively, which is fairly rare for a freshman catcher. But we know Milazzo is a wizard defensively, and coach Johnson has raved about the progress he’s made at the plate — and all around really — since fully recovering from the knee injury that set him back last season. There are also guys like Ethan Frey, Hayden Travinski and Jared Jones competing at the position, but right now it looks like it’s between Milazzo and Neal.
Regardless of how the competition plays out, we’ll likely see Neal early and often this year. He’s a left-handed hitter — and a good one — which should provide him several opportunities."
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Feb 3, 2023 13:12:31 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"LSU BASEBALL COUNTDOWN TO GAME DAY
14 Days: Nic Bronzini
Nic Bronzini is a highly-touted left-handed pitcher from California High School in California. With a 6-foot-3 frame, Bronzini dominated on the mound as a senior, finishing with a 9-3 record, a 1.51 ERA and a 133:26 K:BB ratio in 74.1 innings pitched. He was also a two-way player, batting .230/.304/.327 with 14 RBI in his high school career.
Rated as the No. 153 overall player and the No. 19 left-handed pitcher nationally in the 2022 class by Perfect Game, Bronzini not only brings talent to LSU’s pitching staff but also adds to a crucial component that has been missing in recent years: left-handed pitching. Bronzini is one of five left-handers on this year’s team, making him an important addition to the roster. With his dominant high school career and promising potential, Bronzini is poised to make a significant impact on the team and add depth to LSU’s already talented pitching staff.
Lastly, a bit of feel-good news I overlooked earlier this week: LSU pitcher Thatcher Hurd has donated 100% of the NIL money he’s received so far to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. As you’ll see in this interview by Jacques Doucet of WAFB, Hurd plans on donating all of the NIL money he earns to local charities. Personally, I have mixed feelings about NIL, and I know there are aspects of it that don’t sit well with many of you, but you have to love news like this."
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Feb 4, 2023 14:19:57 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"LSU Baseball Countdown to Game Day:
Day 13: Mic Paul
Mic Paul is a freshman outfielder from Salt Lake City, Utah. He’s one of three freshmen who were ranked No. 1 at their positions in their home states, along with outfielder Zeb Ruddell (Louisiana) and catcher Jared Jones (Georgia). Not only has Paul excelled on the diamond, he’s also a stellar student, as evidenced by his ACT score of 30 and weighted high school GPA of 4.66.
As impressive as all that is, Paul will have a hard time cracking the starting lineup this season with so many talented outfielders vying for playing time. He’s probably one of the many players coach Johnson had in the back of his mind when he spoke of the challenges of keeping players on the team in an era when they can transfer and play immediately elsewhere. Johnson mentioned former Tiger greats like Warren Morris and Kurt Ainsworth redshirting during their freshmen seasons, and guys like Mikie Mahtook and Alex Bregman not starting right away. Mic Paul could very well find himself in a similar situation, but his talent is undeniable. That was evident this fall, including in Game 1 of LSU’s Intra-Squad World Series when Paul went 1-for-1 at the plate with a homer, two walks and two RBI.
Stay tuned as we continue counting down the days to LSU’s season-opener against Western Michigan on Feb. 17.
A few stats from yesterday’s scrimmage, courtesy of LSUBaseballData, before closing out:
STATS FROM FRIDAY’S SCRIMMAGE:
Paxton Kling 2-4, 2B Ben Nippolt 2-2, BB Dylan Crews 1-2, 2B, RBI, 2 BB Brayden Jobert 1-3, 2B, RBI Jared Jones 1-3, HR, RBI Paul Skenes 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 9 K’s Riley Cooper 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 K’s"
Less than two weeks away. Spring is in the air - college baseball about here.
Geaux Tigers.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Feb 5, 2023 12:43:03 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"Now let’s wrap up this back-and-forth seesaw of a report with the continuation of our baseball countdown. Just like a few days ago when we were 15 days out, no current player wears the jersey number corresponding to the number of days remaining until the opener. That gives us a golden opportunity to talk about another living legend of LSU baseball lore.
BASEBALL COUNTDOWN TO GAME DAY
Day 12: Todd Walker
No LSU player, past or present, had a sweeter swing than Todd Walker, whose jersey number 12 was retired by the school in 2017. That swing carried the Tigers to their second national championship and earned the two-time All-American Walker the College World Series MVP award that year.
Walker has his place on the Mount Rushmore of LSU baseball players. He could play a pretty fair second base, too, but his bat got most of the credit. Walker finished his three years as a Tiger with a then-record 310 hits, 52 homers and 246 RBI. His career average of .396 still tops the record book, as does his 11 triples in 1993 for three-baggers in a season.
Walker’s skills made him the No. 8 pick in the 1994 draft and carried him through 12 major league seasons with seven teams, a .289 career average, 107 homers and 545 RBIs. Walker was elected to the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006 and three years later into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Well done, No. 12."
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Feb 6, 2023 13:03:13 GMT -5
Dandy Don and I share our love for LSU baseball. I am posting his entire article for today on LSU baseball.
From Dandy Don's website:
"In today’s report, we look at a few of those reasons for optimism. We’ll likely have many more for you this week in the form of a preseason Q&A with Coach Jay Johnson that I plan on conducting later this morning. Stay tuned for that.
REASONS TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT LSU BASEBALL (As if you needed any.)
Pitching & New Pitching Coach
We’re not burying the lede here, so to speak. Pitching is the name of the game and was the biggest limiting factor for last year’s team. Coach Johnson knows that more than anyone, and he addressed the need in a major way on multiple levels. Not only did he bring in “weekend starters” like like Paul Skenes (Air Force), Thatcher Hurd (UCLA) Christian Little (Vanderbilt), and others, he also brought in the very best in the business to coach them. Grabbing Wes Johnson from the Minnesota Twins, mid-season while his team was leading its division — was an epic power move.
Player Development
Jay Johnson prides himself on player development. Last season was year No. 1 and all about establishing his way of doing things. This year, a deep corps of talented veterans will have a year of Johnson’s system under their belts. Not only will they be better for it, they’ll also be able to show the newcomers what’s expected of them.
Star Power
Dylan Crews, Tré Morgan, Tommy White and Paul Skenes give LSU more Baseball America Preseason All-Americans than any other school. And we’ve barely even mentioned the significance of two proven veterans returning to health in Gavin Dugas and Cade Beloso, or the six freshmen who made Perfect Game’s Top 100 freshmen list, or the multitude of power hitters vying for the DH role… I could go on and on. No question about it; This team is loaded.
You might be wondering how in the world I could have left out Josh Pearson when writing about “Star Power.” Well, there’s only one reason: He wears No. 11, which means we have more on him below.
COUNTDOWN TO GAME DAY:
11 Days: Josh Pearson
Josh Pearson, a fan-favorite from West Monroe, La., burst onto the scene last year as a freshman. He played in 51 games and started in 35 — 27 in right field and eight in left field. Pearson led the team with a .459 batting average (17-for-37) with runners in scoring position and seemed to play his best in big games. Take, for example, when he went 5-for-5 with one homer, one double, three RBI and three runs in LSU’s win over Kentucky on May 26, becoming the first player in LSU history to collect five hits in an SEC Tournament game. Or when he drove in four runs during LSU’s time in the Hattiesburg Regional, including the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning of LSU’s win over Southern Miss (June 4).
Pearson proved his mettle last year and should have a monster season this year. And really, he’ll probably have to if he wants to remain a starter in LSU’s deep and talented outfield that will have several guys vying for playing time to the left and right of centerfielder Dylan Crews. These include guys like Paxton Kling, Josh Stevenson, Ethan Frey, Brayden Jobert and Gavin Dugas if he’s not playing second base."
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Feb 7, 2023 12:54:18 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"Now let’s close out with the continuation of our countdown to LSU baseball’s season opener on February 17 against Western Michigan. Since there’s no player on the current roster who wears No. 10, we’ll take a look at a recent former great who did.
LSU Baseball Countdown to Game Day
Day 10: Aaron Nola
Nola, a native of Baton Rouge who wore No. 10 and played for LSU from 2012 to 2014, is widely considered one of the greatest pitchers in LSU baseball history and in SEC history. In his three seasons as a weekend starter with the Tigers, he was twice named the SEC Pitcher of the Year (2013 and 2014), making him the only player to receive that honor on two occasions. He also earned the well-deserved honor of National Pitcher of the Year in 2014 after posting an 11-1 mark and leading the SEC in strikeouts (134), ERA (1.47) and opponent batting average (.172), and ranking No. 3 in the nation in strikeouts (134). To say he was a dominating presence on the mound would be an understatement.
After his time as a Tiger, Nola was drafted as the seventh overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft by the Phillies. He advanced through the Phillies’ farm system throughout the 2014 and 2015 seasons, becoming the first Phillies pitcher since Pat Combis (1989) to make his major league debut the season after being drafted. Nola remains with the Phillies today and has had a great career there. In 2021, he struck out 10 consecutive batters in a game against the Mets, tying the MLB record for most consecutive strikeouts in a game. Last season, he started the in Phillies’ playoff-clinching win over the Houston Astros, carrying a perfect game through 6+ innings, and started in Game 1 and Game 4 of the World Series.
LSU hasn’t had a dominant pitcher close to Nola’s caliber since he donned the purple and gold, but there’s hope that LSU might just have one this year in Paul Skenes. Those are awfully strong words, I know, and only time will tell if they’re justified. But we can certainly hope, right?"
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Feb 8, 2023 12:37:03 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"Now let’s continue counting down the days to LSU baseball’s season-opener by looking at this year’s No. 9, a veteran pitcher who is expected to play a big role this season.
LSU Baseball Countdown to Game Day
Day 9: Ty Floyd
Ty Floyd came to LSU two years ago, rated as the No. 28 player in the country and Perfect Game’s No. 1 RHP in Georgia. As a freshman in 2021, he worked exclusively out of the bullpen. Last year, he made 16 appearances with 10 starts and really came on strong in the latter half of the season. You may recall that Floyd started LSU’s second game of the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional and worked 6.0 innings against Southern Miss in a game LSU won 7-6 in 10 innings. Coach Jay Johnson obviously had a lot of confidence in Floyd at that time, and that confidence has only grown.
In today’s installment of my Q&A, Coach Johnson suggested that Floyd has really responded well to the coaching of new pitching coach Wes Johnson and is one of six guys who will probably either start or pitch in high-leverage situations.
If you’re chomping at the bit to see Floyd and his teammates in action, you might want to head out to The Box this weekend. The school will hold intra-squad scrimmages at 5:00 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. LSU players will be available to fans after Sunday’s scrimmage to sign autographs, and free 2023 posters will be distributed along the right-field foul line fence."
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Feb 9, 2023 11:27:42 GMT -5
From Dandy Don's website:
"LSU Baseball Countdown to Game Day
Day 8: Gavin Dugas
Gavin Dugas is entering his fifth year as a Tiger, which is just one of many reasons he’s a fan favorite. Others are that he’s from Louisiana (Houma), wears the coveted No. 8 jersey given to the upperclassman who best exemplifies the spirit of LSU baseball, and has come through in crucial situations time and time again. Just think back to his grand slam at Ole Miss in the top of the ninth inning in 2021. Or his two home runs and three RBI in the 2021 NCAA regional title game win over Oregon. Or his game-tying solo homer in the bottom of the eighth of last season’s championship game of the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional. We could go on, but you get the picture. Gavin Dugas has been Mr. Clutch for the Tigers.
Unfortunately, he’s also been beset by injuries. Dugas missed two months of the 2019 season and much of last season with a thumb injury. This season, Dugas is recovering from eye surgery, which has probably put him at a disadvantage in the competition for playing time at second base, in the outfield, or as the designated hitter.
As you’ll see in today’s installment of my Q&A, Coach Johnson commented on the injury when discussing the competition at second base. “We just don’t know about Gavin Dugas yet,” he said, “because the injury he’s recovering from is an eye injury. And [chuckling] the last time I checked, your eyes were pretty critical to being a good baseball player.”
That said, Dugas sure did get a good look at a pitch in last Saturday’s scrimmage when he launched a two-run homer off the scoreboard in left field. Here’s hoping and expecting many more like that from Dugas this year"
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