In the fall, Saturdays dominate the social scene. Everyone plans the day around the LSU football game, whether the Tigers play in Baton Rouge or on the road. But once the calendar turns to spring, Tiger fans look forward to Friday nights at Alex Box Stadium.
A new series is about to start. There’s a new second baseman — or maybe a new leadoff hitter — they want to see in the lineup for the first time. The ace of each pitching staff toes the mound and dazzles the crowd with an impressive pitching display.
This season, it’s been sophomore Jared Poche’ toeing the rubber most Fridays, but it’s about time for that to change.
Since coach Paul Mainieri took over LSU in 2007, he’s had more aces than most programs ever get. Tiger greats like Aaron Nola, Kevin Gausman and Louis Coleman have all risen to a level that rivals folklore.
Another pitcher, freshman Alex Lange, looks like the next to add his name to that list. The Missouri native has been incredible all season long, leading the three weekend starters in ERA (1.42), innings pitched (38) and WHIP (a sabermetric that measures walks plus hits per inning pitched) with .895.
If you’re one of the 12,164 people who attended the March 14 game against Ole Miss, you don’t need me to tell you how good he is. Lange posted 13 strikeouts through eight innings on 117 pitches while allowing only one earned run. LSU lost the game in extra innings, 5-3, but the freshman was remarkable in his first Southeastern Conference start.
Lange followed that performance with another gem in Game 2 against Arkansas in his first true road start. He went seven innings, allowing one run while striking out six batters on the way to his fifth win of the season.
The undefeated record, the strikeouts and the ERA are all ridiculous for a freshman, but what impresses me most is Lange’s late-game life. In his outings, he sits mid-90s with his fastball deep into the game.
The mix of power in his fastball and deception of his off-speed pitches has made him almost untouchable, even when he should start wearing down.
Lange has proven he’s not only ready to pitch at the collegiate level, but at the best program in the best conference. As the best pitcher on the team, he needs the Friday night job.
I’m a fan of baseball, so I know mixing up days for some pitchers and players can throw off their “mojo” or whatever ritualistic things baseball players are into these days, but Lange is ready. He outdueled Ole Miss’ and Arkansas’ No. 2 starters and could probably do it against the rest of the SEC’s second arm.
But don’t you want to see him toe-to-toe with the best arms in the conference every weekend? I do, and I’m sure you do, too.
It’s time for the freshman to get the ball on Fridays and start staking his claim among the list of Tiger greats.
Brian Pellerin is a 21-year-old mass communication junior from Kenner, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @Pellerin_TDR.