Organize a strong lineup to blow a team out. Organize a strong pitching staff to win championships.
A solid group of players on the mound is essential to winning.
Last season, the LSU baseball team saw what happens when pitching deteriorates. LSU, which had been accustomed to stud aces and stellar pitching staffs in years past, hit a lull.
Only two teams in the Southeastern Conference gave up more earned runs than the 2010 Tigers.
LSU was No. 5 in the SEC West in earned run average with a 5.56 ERA. LSU’s ERA hovered around 4.00 in the two previous seasons.
Now, the pitching staff has been remodeled.
LSU fans may not recognize the nine first-year Tigers expected to pitch this season, but LSU coach Paul Mainieri said he is confident they’ll develop quickly.
“They’ve got to get the experience, but we have eight or nine guys that have been clocked at 90 miles per hour or higher,” Mainieri said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a team with that many arms that have thrown that hard.”
Mainieri said he expects freshman Kevin Gausman and junior transfer Tyler Jones to be the next two starters after senior Ben Alsup takes the mound Feb. 18 for the season opener against Wake Forest.
Jones, a 6-foot-4 Junior College First Team All-American who participated in the 2010 JUCO World Series, had a 9-2 record with a 3.01 ERA for Madison Area Tech in 2010.
“It’s like he’s throwing from the sky and he’s halfway to home plate,” said sophomore outfielder Mason Katz. “He’s got a lot of talent, and we’re excited to see him.”
Gausman, a Centennial, Colo., native, also went 9-2 his senior season at Grandview High School, recording 88 strikeouts and 14 walks with a 3.12 ERA.
“I played in the California Collegiate League this summer, and it definitely helped me out getting used to college hitters because it’s such a big jump coming from Denver in high school,” he said.
Gausman said he expects a few butterflies when he takes the mound in front of the LSU faithful for the first time, but he’s confident they’ll disappear after the first pitch.
“Say to yourself you’ve done it thousands of times before,” he said.
In 2008, LSU had six pitchers with ERAs under 4.00 and a team ERA of 4.11.
In LSU’s 2009 National Championship season, the Tigers had a 4.02 ERA and a whopping 679 strikeouts. Six pitchers notched ERAs under 4.00 once again.
The regression was monumental in 2010 as the Tigers had 472 strikeouts and only Alsup and then-senior Paul Bertuccini recorded ERAs under 4.00.
Junior outfielder Mikie Mahtook said new arms should change the decline.
“I’m glad I have to face them in the fall and not the regular season,” he said. “They’re going to help us a lot. I think anybody that follows this program and is a fan of LSU is going to be impressed and excited.”
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