The LSU baseball team’s pitching rotation was changed many times during the 2010 season.Possible weekend hurlers are an even bigger question mark going into this year, and the Aug. 16 MLB deadline didn’t clear up the pecking order on the mound.Five LSU commitments, including two pitchers, signed MLB contracts and will not get the chance to play in Alex Box Stadium.The Tigers took another hit when Anthony Ranaudo, a mainstay on LSU’s pitching staff for the past two seasons, signed a deal worth $2.55 million with the Boston Red Sox.Ranaudo played in the Cape Cod league this summer, posting 31 strikeouts and only walking eight batters in 29 2/3 innings of work, to help earn a better contract than the 39th overall pick would normally receive.The New Jersey native succeeded and inked the highest signing bonus for a collegiate right-handed pitcher in the 2010 draft.”He called me at 11:01 p.m. last night,” Mainieri said to the media Aug. 17. “He literally could not talk to me because he was so emotional over the phone.”Mainieri, who was a little choked up himself, said he wasn’t surprised his former ace signed with the Red Sox.Pitcher Zach Lee, who enrolled at LSU and practiced with the football team this summer, signed a last-minute contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers the same night.The McKinney, Texas, native said he hadn’t talked to the Dodgers since he was drafted at LSU Media Day on Aug. 10, but things changed Monday when they reached a $5.25 million five-year contract.”I don’t know how anyone can turn down that much money,” Mainieri said. “I really don’t believe the kid meant to hurt anyone, but it’s hard to be put in that type of situation.”Pitcher Cameron Bedrosian, infielders Delino DeShields and Garin Cecchini, and Lucas LeBlanc also decided to go pro even though they pledged to LSU.LeBlanc’s signing with the Red Sox was unexpected to Mainieri, who expected the former Central Lafourche outfielder to keep his LSU commitment.”The kid was under a lot of turmoil mentally because he had some obligations to support people that were dependent on him,” Mainieri said. “I hold no ill feelings towards the kid, but I guess you could call that one being a little bit surprised.”Mainieri said he was prepared for Cecchini’s choice to leave for the Red Sox.”I never thought Cecchini would step foot on campus,” Mainieri said. “He wanted to play professional baseball more than he wanted to come to LSU.”But LSU did secure two players who were offered high contracts by MLB teams.Pitcher Kevin Gausman from Centennial, Colo., was a sixth-round draft pick by the Dodgers but will suit up for LSU.”Most everyone assumed he would be a first-round pick,” Mainieri said. “This kid has the chance to be Ranaudo-ish.”The Grandview High School alumnus was a two-time All-State selection and a gold medal winner with the USA Baseball Junior National Team.”One organization asked Gausman on draft day if he would sign for a $1.5 million [contract] and he said no,” Mainieri said. “He valued his experience here, and he thinks he’s better than that. We feel lucky to have him.”Infielder JaCoby Jones had a significant offer from Houston but denied the Astros’ deal.”He probably could have signed for at least over $1 million,” Mainieri said.Catcher Tyler Ross and pitchers Ryan Eades, Mitchell Hopkins and Tyler Jones also declined signing with MLB teams to stay at LSU.”We got burned some, but we also feel very strongly that we came out pretty lucky with some other kids,” Mainieri said.LSU welcomes 18 total new players, including former LSU-Eunice star Raph Rhymes and Illinois Player of the Year Kevin Kozoil.Outfielder Marcus Davis, former teammate of LSU freshman running back Spencer Ware at Princeton High School in Cincinnati, will also join the Tigers in 2011.
 
 
 
—-Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]