Now that the recruiting is over (Geaux CLM! Great class!:geauxtige ) I am ready to get into the baseball season. Anyone else excited? Can't wait for this weekend. Anyways, I haven't followed the team in any detail in a few years, so I have been collecting info for a couple of weeks from the sight and other places and trying to consolidate it. Basically I have a word document that I will take with me to games and use to make people think I am smarter than I am! Hopefully I got most of the information people have already posted, but if anything is wrong or you want to contribute, I will update it with anything that I can get my hands on. Y'all can probably figure out what I was trying to get at, and what info I was trying to collect, so...do your worst! Props in advance to JayB, tirk, and Bengal Buddy. I used their posts for alot of this info. Coaches: Paul Mainieri Lettered as freshman outfielder at LSU in ‘76 Previous head coach at St Thomas (Fl) University (179-121-1, ’83-‘88), Air Force Academy (152-158, ’89-‘94), and Notre Damn (533-213-3, ’95-’06) At Notre Damn, 11 40-win seasons, nine conference titles, ’02 CWS appearance. Hustle, balls to the wall, all-out play will be the personality of this team and any future ones under CPM. More running, west coast style team, in the dirt. Geuaxrilla ball is dead. Stickler for eliminating stupid mistakes, team being well conditioned. Very open with information on players, goals as a team, and his philosophy. Terry Rooney Notre Damn’s pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for past 3 seasons. Advocate of “offensive pitching”; focuses on aspects that the staff can control - being mechanically sound, working to advantage counts, high first-pitch strike percentages and controlling the running game. Concerned with three stats: walks, first-pitch strike percentage and throwing two of the first three pitches for strikes. Roster: C (CPM said this is the best group of catchers in 25 years of coaching college) Robert Lara (9) | So. | Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Nova HS) Nation's elite defensive catchers as a high school senior. Solid frame with tremendous blocking ability and power. Sean Ochinko (14) | Fr. | Parkland, FL (Douglas HS) JT Wise (21) | So. | Apoka, FL (Apoka HS) 1B Sean Ochinko (14) | Fr. | Parkland, FL (Douglas HS) A solid, all-around hitter with great contact. Baseball America's Top 300 High School Players of 2006. Jordan Mayer (11) | Jr. | Alexandria, LA (Alexandria HS) Started 30 games at first base and 24 games at DH in 2006. LSU’s primary designated hitter in 2005 when he earned Freshman All-SEC recognition. 2B Chris Jackson (5) | Jr. | Haughton, LA (Haughton HS) 2005 Freshman All-SEC Team Underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in January 2006 (For injury from Vandy ’05 game) Very good defensive baseman Buzzy Haydel (2) | So. | Gonzales, LA (East Ascension HS) Can play shortstop, second base or third base Nicholas Pontiff (18) | So. | Metairie, LA (Jesuit HS) SS Michael Hollander (7) | Jr. | Mandeville, LA (Jesuit HS) 2006 Second-Team All-SEC Started 96 games over the past two seasons for Tigers Excellent defensive player with a major league arm 3B JT Wise (21) | So. | Apoka, FL (Apoka HS) 2006 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American 2006 Freshman All-SEC Extremely gifted power-hitter Watch List for the 2007 Brooks Wallace Award Started 58 of the Tigers’ 59 games in ‘06 Jeffrey Garidel (6) | So. | Baton Rouge, LA (Catholic HS) LF Steven Broschofsky (54) | Jr. | Metairie, LA (Jesuit HS) Started 7 games in ’06 at left field Blake Dean (34) | Fr. | Crestview, FL ( Crestview HS) Baseball America's Top 300 High School Players of 2006. Will see action in the outfield and out of the bullpen as one of the Tigers' top left-handed arms. CF Steven Waguespack (38) | Sr. | Thibodaux, LA (E.D. White HS) 2006 First-Team All-Louisiana Delgado CC transfer in ‘05 Started 44 games in ’06 and had team best batting avg. (.321) Jared Mitchell (3) | Fr. | New Iberia, LA (Westgate HS) Highly rated outfielder/athlete (Plays WR for football team) Tuned down offer from Twins after being selected in the 10th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft Baseball America‘s No. 3 high school athlete for 2006 (43rd-best overall for baseball) Probably start on bench, need to improve hitting Rated as #27 true freshman in nation and #4 newcomer to SEC RF Jeffrey Garidel (6) | So. | Baton Rouge, LA (Catholic HS) Tallahassee Community College transfer Redshirted in 2005 at Tulane Led the Purple team to a Game 2 win in the Purple vs. Gold World Series this fall with a two-run double. Blake Dean (34) | Fr. | Crestview, FL ( Crestview HS) Jared Mitchell (3) | Fr. | New Iberia, LA (Westgate HS) DH-LH Ryan Schimpf (16) | Fr. | Covington, LA (St. Paul’s HS) DH-RH Jason Lewis (17) | Jr. | Crawfordville, FL (N Florida Christian HS) P-LH Starters Charlie Furbush (48) | Jr. | S. Portland, MA (S. Portland HS) Transfer from St’ Joseph’s (Maine) College, two years of eligibility left 2007 Roger Clemens Award Watch List No. 1 southpaw pitching prospect in ‘06 Cape Cod League 94mph fastball, deceptive changeup and curve Clay Dirks (13) | Sr. | Herando, MS (Hernando HS) 15 starts in ’06 (5-4) 4.70 ERA in 88 innings, 19 walks, 84 SO Led the team in innings pitched, starts and strikeouts Relievers Ryan Byrd (10) | So. | Denham Springs, LA (Denham Springs HS) Seven games as reliever in ‘06 6.2 innings with 3 walks and 6 SO Blake Dean (34) | Fr. | Crestview, FL ( Crestview HS) Middle Relief Kyle Beerbohm (25) | Jr. | Terrytown, LA (Shaw) Transfer from Delgado CC in ’06, two seasons left of eligibility P-RH Starters Jared Bradford (27) | Jr. | Hueytown, AL (Hueytown HS) Shelton State CC Transfer ’06, two years of eligibility left Hard dropping sinker (~85mph) One of top JUCO prospects Potential No. 1 pitcher Louis Coleman (29) | So. | Schlater, MS (Pillow Academy) 6.14 ERA in 13 starts 33 walks, 50 SO in 80 innings Relievers Nolan Cain (39) | So. | Cantonment, FL (Tate HS) Redshirted in 2005 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow 6.31 ERA in 25 innings, 11 walks 21 SO Michael Bonura (28) | Jr. | Destrehan, LA (St. Charles Catholic HS) Medical redshirt in ’05 (Tommy John, right elbow) Three pitches 4.40 ERA in 30 innings, 13 walks and 26 SO Middle Relief Chris Sorce (24) | Fr. | Pace, Fl (Pace HS) Paul Bertuccini (44) | Fr. | Metairie, LA (Rummel) Redshirted in ‘06 Others Chris McGhee (32) | So. | Alexandria, LA (Alexandria HS) Very fast, primary pinch runner in ‘06 Very raw talent, could crack lineup at 2B or OF Jordan Mayer (11) | Jr. | Alexandria, LA (Alexandria HS) Started 30 games at 1B and 24 at DH in ‘06 Could content for 1B, OF, or DH position Challenged to get into shape by CPM Other stuff Young team (4 sr, 10 jr, 24 fr& so) In a completely different direction, I have a question for anyone that regularly attends baseball still. When I used to go alot my freshman/sophmore year, they would not let you in with a beer, but if you had it in a cup you could go in. We would leave an icechest in the shade outside and go refill our cups between innings. Can you still get away with this?
Just stick some rum in the pants and buy a coke, save time running in and out...never want to miss a pitch!:tigbas:
I read an article in the advocate a few days ago that Jared Mitchell is the starter at CF. Here I found the article: http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/5543051.html
I can't wait for opening weekend. I have my tix and I'll be driving from Funroe and may miss the first 2 innings Friday, but I need to see something that's NOT LSU basketball. I can't wait to see how LSU plays in TODAY's college baseball environment (dominant pitching, small ball) and not yesterday's (gorilla ball). I like manieir and I haven't even seen them play yet.
excellent article and what a great opportunity for jared mitchell to land a starting role if her performs well in these early games. Looks like CPM was going to work him in slowly then realized when bogany left he may as well let him learn now. He will have a hard time at the plate Im sure but his defense should be spectacular. Havent had a great CF since rios imo. baby steps. I agree. that'd almost be enough for me as well. actually the pitching is going to be a big improvement just because its the strength and focus of this staff. Louis Coleman has won the 2nd spot in the rotation. with jared lee flying all over the outfield, I suspect he will be everything bogany was supposed to become. At least defensively.
