A little while back, LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri had a discussion with long-time friend and Chicago Cubs Assistant General Manager Randy Bush.
Per manager Joe Maddon’s instruction, Bush told Mainieri the Cubs didn’t take pregame batting practice for roughly 10-straight days last season. Instead, the Cubs just arrived at the stadium to play the games during the “dog days of summer,” Mainieri said.
“Sometimes, less is better in this sport because it mentally taxes you so much,” Mainieri said. “You got to give them a chance to relax.”
Chicago ended the 2015 regular season with third-strongest record in the major leagues and appeared in the National League Championship Series.
After an “intense” practice prior to a deflating midweek loss McNeese State, Mainieri, like Maddon, realized it was time to do something he’s done before ­­­­— keep things light.
After all, the Tigers (25-11, 9-6 Southeastern Conference) are coming off three straight SEC series wins, including a sweep versus Missouri.
Before every weekend series, the Tigers go through a football-like walkthrough, where situational baseball particulars aren’t usually emphasized.
“We have 20 games remaining in a 56-game schedule,” Mainieri said. “If we’re not good at that stuff by now, then something’s wrong. It’s more important, at this point, to have them energetic on game day, not so much where they burn up all their energy at practice.”
The relaxed, fun practice is something junior shortstop Kramer Robertson became accustomed to with the two previous LSU teams, experienced squads that were used to success.
“Everything is a lot easier when you win,” Robertson said. “It’s nice to have a light practice with shorts. We’re not taking it easy. It’s still going to be intense. It’s a lot less taxing. Good things happen when you win, so we’re going to continue to try to do that.”
Much like the Cowboys, the Lions (26-11, 13-2 Southland Conference) have proven to be no typical midweek pushover.
The fellow in-state opponent — which features the top hitter in the nation, Jameson Fisher — has a pair of wins against Tulane and a victory against Tennessee.
Despite a nonconference series defeat against No. 24 UL-Lafayette, Southeastern Louisiana pummeled the Ragin’ Cajuns in Game 2, 16-5.
“Although they may not be these massive, football-name schools that everybody kind of knows who they are,” said hitting coach Andy Cannizaro, “those are all outstanding baseball teams that are either winning their conference or they’re on the verge of going to the NCAA tournament. This team has played good competition all year long.”
Starting with no more than two innings from sophomore right-hander Doug Norman, Mainieri will use a handful of pitchers tomorrow against the Lions’ top-75 offense, hoping to get several relievers work that didn’t appear in the Missouri series.
LSU used as many pitchers (four) in Game 3 as did in the first two games of the series combined, which gives Mainieri reason to use right-handed relievers like junior Riley Smith, sophomore Jesse Stallings and freshman Caleb Gilbert.
“I think we would probably had a little bit different approach had we had to tax our staff,” Mainieri said. “But, really, the bigger challenge we had was just getting some guys some work this past weekend because, No. 1, all three starters went six innings and then, No. 2, we had two three-inning bullpen performances that were awesome. By the time we got to the seventh inning of Game 3, I had only used five pitchers.”