Reporters ask terrible questions sometimes — and I’m not immune. Wednesday at LSU Baseball Media Day, the stupidity bug hit me hard.
Me: “Two years ago, y’all were preseason No. 1, and you opened up a new stadium. Last year, y’all were coming off a national championship. This year, do you feel there’s not as much pressure?”
LSU coach Paul Mainieri: “Pressure at LSU — is that what you said, Andy? You should go talk to Joe Alleva, Mike Martin or the 9,100 season ticket holders.”
Let me try to explain myself and my stupid question. LSU is ranked No. 22 nationally to start off the year. They have a young team and few expectations, outside of being picked to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division.
In comparison to past years, that’s no pressure. And relatively speaking, LSU is under the radar.
But I forgot one component in the equation: This is LSU baseball. Pressure is normal.
This is a young team with only two seniors, a theme that seems to be running through all LSU sports.
This season will hinge on how a young team will respond to the pressure of simply participating in LSU baseball.
Their biggest test will come just four weeks into the season, when the team will have a weekend series at home against No. 8 Cal State Fullerton before going on the road to face No. 1 Florida. We’ll find out quickly how this team responds to pressure.
I’m expecting this to be an eventful season that could see a few downs before this young team gets it together. In other words, it could be a season just like 2008 with a team that struggled in Southeastern Conference play before making the run to Omaha.
Do I think this team will make it to Omaha? Probably not.
But not many people thought the 2008 team would make it.
This team is filled with more power arms than any other LSU team Mainieri has had.
He estimated eight pitchers on the team can chuck their fastball in the 90s, a rarity in college baseball.
There’s nothing better than watching someone hit the mid-90s on a fastball — that will be something to watch out for.
I’m also excited about junior Tyler Hanover making a return to third base. Don’t get me wrong, he was a great second baseman, and he will likely play there at the next level, but LSU had way too many problems at the hot corner last year.
Placing Hanover at third will help the Tigers immensely on defense. Plus, Mainieri is the brains behind this move. I’ve learned not to question anything he does (for example, starting Austin Nola two years ago at the halfway point of the season).
Offensively, the big question will be how much effect the new bats will have on the “gorilla” brand of baseball LSU has been known for in the past.
I’ve always enjoyed the long ball, but I enjoy doubles in the gap just as much. With this LSU baseball team, it will be more like “cheetah” ball. The team is going to turn a good bit of singles into doubles and doubles into triples by pure speed.
I’m ready to get it under way. Baseball season is my favorite time of the year, and this is my last one at LSU.
As Mainieri put it, “the great tiger in the sky” has blessed us with perfect baseball weather this week.
I hope that same tiger smiles on me and delivers some good baseball in my last season as a student in Alex Box Stadium.
Andy Schwehm is a 21-year-old English and psychology senior from New Orleans. You can follow him on
Twitter @TDR_Aschwehm.
 
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Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected]