LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri isn’t shocked by what has transpired in his club’s first seven games.
He had to confront an almost complete turnover from last year’s College World Series lineup and planned for some experimentation and alterations from game to game. That’s why there’s been a different starter at all but three positions ­— center field, right field and second base — at some point during the first two weeks of the season.
The lineup shuffle will continue against Nicholls State tonight at 6 p.m. at Ray E. Didier Field, and for at least the rest of the week. New second baseman, junior Cole Freeman, will be flipping positions with new shortstop, junior Kramer Robertson.
For Mainieri, who is starting right-hand pitcher Austin Bain on Wednesday, he’s hoping to find some clarity about the future of the lineup with the midweek game against the Colonels (4-5) and a three-game home set against Fordham University this weekend.
“I told Kramer [Robertson] and I told Cole [Freeman] that we’re going to do this for the next four games, and at the end of the four games, we’re going to evaluate it and see if it’s the way we want to go forward,” Mainieri said. “The timing of it is right in terms of our schedule.”
Ideally, the 10th-year coach would have his best lineup cemented by the time the No. 6 Tigers (5-2) play Louisiana Tech on March 8, which would give that lineup six non-conference games before the opening Southeastern Conference series against Alabama.
Even if the games are just as important as the ones that will follow, “it’s worth a try” for Mainieri because of Robertson’s development. Robertson played shortstop in high school but played second base throughout his first two seasons in Baton Rouge.
Although he failed to command the position in his freshman and sophomore years, Mainieri is impressed with the way Robertson has blossomed as a leader despite it not happening as quickly as some of his predecessors. In fact, Mainieri said Robertson has played so well at second base that his coach was apprehensive to move him. Nevertheless, Mainieri exuded confidence about his newest shortstop.
“Until, really, the last couple of weeks, I wondered whether or not Kramer had the maturity, the poise, to be the shortstop at LSU,” Mainieri said. “But there’s no question in my mind, at this point now, he’s got it. I feel like I’ve got a coach on the field.”
Unlike Mainieri, there’s absolutely no apprehension on Robertson’s part after he received encouragement from former LSU All-American shortstop and current Houston Astros prospect, Alex Bregman.
Bregman’s message to Robertson was succinct.
“‘You’re ready for this,’” Robertson said Bregman told him. “‘You know how good you are … It’s simple — just catch it and throw it.’”
Freeman, on other hand, is embracing the chance to improve his versatility. Freeman played second base in his first two collegiate years at Delgado Community College but will be making his third start at a different infield position, which will take some adjusting, he said.
“You’d like to go out and run to the same position every time,” Freeman said. “But being versatile is something I going to have to do for the rest of my life, even after I leave LSU.”
With freshman O’Neal Lochridge having all but locked up third base, first base remains the final infield question. Mainieri hasn’t made any definitive decisions as he is considering both sophomores Bryce Jordan and Greg Deichmann, who will be the first baseman and designated hitter, respectively, against Nicholls.
Making his third start at the position, Jordan provided two leaping, error-saving snags at first base on Sunday against Sacramento State, making up for Mainieri concerns about his lack of height. He hadn’t played much first base prior to this season, and the biggest transition hasn’t been stretching or jumping for errant throws, he said.
“Just staying down and knowing that you have a lot of time there,” Jordan said. “Not to come up [too quickly] or do anything that will let the ball roll under your legs.”
You can reach James Bewers on Twitter @JamesBewers_TDR