The LSU pitching staff may have the most bodies and depth in coach Smoke Laval’s three years at the helm of LSU baseball, but according to pitching coach Brady Wiederhold, this staff has a lot to prove.
“Right now we have more bodies and depth, but we’re a little untested,” Wiederhold said. “The other guys are a little untested until we can get them in the fire.”
The Tigers came into the season with the idea of starting sophomore Justin Meier on Fridays, junior Lane Mestepey on Saturdays and senior Nate Bumstead on Sundays. But a recent shoulder injury to Bumstead has thrown a wrench in the plan.
Bumstead, who went 11-4 with a 4.42 ERA in 2003, hurt his throwing shoulder during an intrasquad game and had an MRI of which the results have not been determined.
Bumstead’s status for the season-opening weekend against Central Florida is questionable and so is the role of Sunday starter.
“Sunday is kind of up in the air at the moment with Bumstead and trying to figure out what’s wrong with him and what the doctors have to say,” Wiederhold said. “He said during the last couple of days his arm feels much better. He feels like he can start tossing again now. Of course, we will not allow him to do that. We’re playing it cautious.”
Wiederhold said if Bumstead does not pitch against the Golden Knights, the role of Sunday starter will go to whoever was not used in the previous two games. Wiederhold said potential starters are Clay Dirks, Michael Bonura and Jason Determann.
Meier will open the season Friday night for the Tigers after being named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball in 2003. Meier went 8-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 2003.
“Starting as a freshman gave me some experience,” Meier said. “I had a good year obviously. It gave me a little more experience for this year. Now that I’m in my second year, I know I can do it.”
After Meier is where the questions of the Tigers pitching staff begins, specifically with Mestepey — who sat out last season recovering from arm surgery.
In his freshman and sophomore seasons, Mestepey was one of the best in the country. He finished 2002 at 11-5 with a 2.59 ERA.
“We’re definitely looking for a good year from Lane Mestepey,” Meier said. “We’re hoping he can come back and dominate like he did his first two years.”
Wiederhold said Mestepey is close to regaining the form that Freshman All-American honors in 2001 and First Team All-Southeastern Conference in 2001 and 2002.
“He’s feeling a lot more confident with his mechanics,” Wiederhold said. “He’ll never admit that he’s 100 percent yet, but he’s pretty darn close. I’m itching to see him get back out there. Hopefully, he’ll have that Mestepey magic when he steps back out there this weekend.”
As for the starter of midweek games, the philosophy used for the Sunday starter will be used in that it will go to whoever is available.
Determann, who went 7-0 with a 2.94 ERA last season as a freshman spot starter, could land that role along with Dirks or Bonura.
The role of closer could also go to Determann, Dirks or Bonura. Junior Collin Smith and sophomore Greg Smith could also be candidates.
“It’s going to be closer by committee to start it out,” Wiederhold said. “We’re just not sure who might have to be used. We could have four or five different closers throughout the year. It just depends on who’s hot.”
Dirks said success on the mound will come if every pitcher embraces his role, whatever it may be.