The Tigers are not doing as well as I anticipated/hoped this season. I have not been able to follow them as closely as I would have liked. Also, I am not a great student of the game, but from my untrained eye and my limited following, it does not seem the team is showing marked improvement as the season wears on. Am I wrong? I noticed today's starter pitched a pretty good complete game. Do we have any up and coming pitchers that might be around a couple of seasons? :tigbas:ldskule:
This is a young team and we have more talent on the way. I'm highly optimistic for the next few years because this team has made mistakes that are correctable. The post-season format change (48 to 64 teams & super regionals) raised the importance of having 2-3 quality starters and reduced the value of having "gorilla ball" hitters. When you had six teams in the regionals and the CWS used a pure double elimination format, you could score with power as most teams didn't go 3-4 deep in their pitching rotation. Now you can win with two quality pitchers if they stay on a roll. Pitch both in the first two games of the reional...rest...use one or both in the regional final...rest...use both in the super regional...rest...use both in the first two games of the CWS...rest...use 1-2 to make the CWS final...then use them to play the final. If we can find those two "special" pitchers, we'll find our way back to Omaha. We'll have the offense and better defense (with experience) and enough quality opponents to be prepared for the CWS.
we are a much better team than last year. we aren't getting killed and we have a better record than last year at the same point. we're stronger, hit a little better, and we're faster. we just have to fix some kinks and we'll start winning with more regularity. i think next year will be a breakout year for the tigers
I was in Oxford and attended the first two games. The first game was a good pitching duel which we only lost 2-1 to a good Ole Miss squad in their park. Games 2 & 3 were similar (7-1 & 8-2) with each team splitting. Considering that Ole Miss has recently been hot (I believe they had won nine in a row before today.) and had huge crowds this weekend (spring game / Eli Manning / Patrick Willie) LSU fared well even in losing the series.
