Every baseball lineup has a formula.
When placing batters in the order, a head coach must take into account each of his player’s individual abilities and apply them to where he’d fit best on the lineup card.
For LSU coach Paul Mainieri, one of the most difficult pieces to decipher was the top of the batting order, also known as the “table-setters.” Two key spots in the lineup, the leadoff man and the No. 2 hole, were left open for both sophomore center fielder Chris Sciambra and freshman right fielder Mark Laird to claim.
It wasn’t an easy decision for Mainieri.
“About two weeks before opening day, I had Laird leading off and Sciambra hitting second, and then we flip-flopped it, and it was really the last decision going into the season,” Mainieri said. “I just felt like it was a better
combination for our team, and I didn’t want to make Laird take a lot of pitches with him being new to college baseball.”
The judgment worked in the Tigers’ favor during the team’s opening series against Maryland.
Sciambra thrived in the leadoff spot against the Terrapins, batting .625 with a .750 on-base percentage.
“I think [getting the leadoff man on often] it’s huge,” Mainieri said. “I knew he hit leadoff in high school at Catholic High, but he’s a much different player now. Now he draws, walks and he uses the whole field. He doesn’t have great running speed, but outside of that, he’s the consummate leadoff hitter. He’s not afraid to go deep into counts and make the pitcher throw a lot of pitches.”
Sciambra knows his role in the Tigers’ batting order, and his plate approach during the Maryland series proved he has a keen understanding of the leadoff position.
“It’s an honor to be the leadoff man and know that [Mainieri] trusts me to set the table for the guys in the middle of the order,” Sciambra said. “I’ve got to do anything that I can to get on base, whether it’s walking or getting a hit here and there.”
Laird had a more difficult time adjusting to Maryland’s pitching, picking up only two hits over the three-game series. Laird’s speed has been well-documented, and his multiple attempts to lay down bunts showed the freshman has the tools to be a No. 2 bat.
“Really, we didn’t even see what Mark Laird can do offensively,” Mainieri said. “You watch and see this kid as the season goes on, and you’ll see he’s going to be a special player.”
Laird isn’t intimidated by being placed in the second position as a freshman.
“I didn’t really think about [being placed No. 2 in the lineup],” Laird said. “I just try to play like I always play. I try to find a ball in the zone I can drive and get a base hit.”
The young left-handed batter also understands the importance of having a leadoff man with Sciambra’s capabilities.
“It’s always great to have somebody who can get on base and help the team out in almost every at-bat,” Laird said. “It gives us an opportunity to move him over and score. It’s pretty great.”
“(Chris Sciambra) doesn’t have great running speed, but outside of that he’s the consummate leadoff hitter. He’s not afraid to go deep into counts and make the pitcher throw a lot of pitches.”
