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LSU Baseball: 2009 Team vs. Gorilla Ball
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:46 pm
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:46 pm
Don't get me wrong, b/c I loved Gorilla Ball, but imo the 2009 LSU baseball team is, far and away, the most versatile and most complete team LSU has ever had. This 2009 team can hit, hit w/ power, run, pitch, and plays good defense.
Even Skip Bertamn used to talk about the fact that "Gorilla Ball" wasn't pure baseball. Because of the live bats, that era called for big, strong dudes who could swat 3-run HR's with regularity. Yes, there were a lot of players....like Todd Walker....who were also excellent baseball players. But, to be honest, a lot of those players from the 90's weren't even close to being complete players. Their only option after their college days was to play slowpitch softball.
Look at the current team. Have we ever had a better SS than DJ LeMahieu? Have we ever had a faster, more athletic outfield? Have we ever had a better Catcher than Micah Gibbs (offensively & defensively)? Not to mention guys like Blake Dean, who might just be the best hitter in the SEC, Ryan Shimpf, etc.
Meanwhile, the pitching is probably comparable to most of the good teams LSU has had in the past. These guys, except for Coleman and one or two others, are young. But, Ranaudo, Ross, and others look like they will combine to form an outstanding pitching staff this year.
Like I say, I loved Gorilla Ball....but, this is better baseball, and the 2009 LSU Tigers just might be the best team LSU has ever had.
Fire away!
Even Skip Bertamn used to talk about the fact that "Gorilla Ball" wasn't pure baseball. Because of the live bats, that era called for big, strong dudes who could swat 3-run HR's with regularity. Yes, there were a lot of players....like Todd Walker....who were also excellent baseball players. But, to be honest, a lot of those players from the 90's weren't even close to being complete players. Their only option after their college days was to play slowpitch softball.
Look at the current team. Have we ever had a better SS than DJ LeMahieu? Have we ever had a faster, more athletic outfield? Have we ever had a better Catcher than Micah Gibbs (offensively & defensively)? Not to mention guys like Blake Dean, who might just be the best hitter in the SEC, Ryan Shimpf, etc.
Meanwhile, the pitching is probably comparable to most of the good teams LSU has had in the past. These guys, except for Coleman and one or two others, are young. But, Ranaudo, Ross, and others look like they will combine to form an outstanding pitching staff this year.
Like I say, I loved Gorilla Ball....but, this is better baseball, and the 2009 LSU Tigers just might be the best team LSU has ever had.
Fire away!
This post was edited on 3/4/09 at 12:48 pm
13
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:48 pm to Summer Grove Tiger
The 1997 team hit like 2.69 homeruns a game. This team isn't very far off that pace.
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:49 pm to Summer Grove Tiger
Bludgeon ball
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:50 pm to Summer Grove Tiger
quote:
the 2009 LSU Tigers just might be the best team LSU has ever had.
I'm going to go out on a limb 8 games into the season and agree with you. This team is flat-out loaded. I think our backups at each position as a team could challenge for at least the SEC West title.
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:50 pm to The Boat
quote:
The 1997 team hit like 2.69 homeruns a game. This team isn't very far off that pace.
That's right....if this team had the live bats they were using back then, it would be scary. But, they aren't just relying on hitting HR's. I don't ever remember seeing an LSU team stealing bases at anywhere near this pace.
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:51 pm to Summer Grove Tiger
quote:
That's right....if this team had the live bats they were using back then, it would be scary. But, they aren't just relying on hitting HR's. I don't ever remember seeing an LSU team stealing bases at anywhere near this pace.
It's a team version of the five-tool player.
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:51 pm to The Boat
People need to calm down IMO. I love how everyone's getting excited about the team, but it's WAY to early for this. We've played horrible teams so far. Ive been to 6 of the 8 games this season, and yes, I think this team is special, but lets not get ahead of ourselves....if theyre still playing like this in mid-April then you can go ahead and start, but the season just started.
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:52 pm to Meursault
It's more like Blitzkrieg Ball.
This team, I think, will just keep coming at you relentlessly from all directions, up and down the lineup, with a varied assortment of offensive weapons -- power, speed, hitting, big innings, consistency, etc.
It's long season, but it's plain to see that this team could be very special.
This team, I think, will just keep coming at you relentlessly from all directions, up and down the lineup, with a varied assortment of offensive weapons -- power, speed, hitting, big innings, consistency, etc.
It's long season, but it's plain to see that this team could be very special.
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:54 pm to Summer Grove Tiger
whoa people need to calm the frick down. Its really early to be comparing this team with greats from the past. This team definitely has the potential to be the best, but to already make the statement that they're better is insane
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:55 pm to Summer Grove Tiger
I commented about this last night during the game. The way this team is playing baseball is probably the most exciting that I have ever seen in an LSU team. The hit and run, playing small ball,having power hitters, the pitching is solid, and they even have some very good back-up players. I am really looking forward to the meat of the schedule this year. Mainieri seems to have built a heck of team in the time that he has been here. I was a bit skeptical of the #1/#2 ranking that they got in the beginning of the season, but it seems all the parts are in place for a great season.
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:55 pm to am4titansandlsu
quote:
People need to calm down IMO. I love how everyone's getting excited about the team, but it's WAY to early for this. We've played horrible teams so far. Ive been to 6 of the 8 games this season, and yes, I think this team is special, but lets not get ahead of ourselves....if theyre still playing like this in mid-April then you can go ahead and start, but the season just started.
I understand that, and I thought about that before I posted this. But, I already believe that we are going to experience a great, great year for LSU baseball. The competition will get much tougher, but I also don't think that this team is even close to maxing out right now.
Also, speed and defensive ability are already apparent. Those are two areas that were often compromised during the Gorilla Ball era, in order to get the 3-run HR guys into the line-up.
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:55 pm to Summer Grove Tiger
quote:
and the 2009 LSU Tigers just might be the best team LSU has ever had.
, this is a ridiculous assumption made after 8 games against less than average competition, no doubt they can be special thoughPosted on 3/4/09 at 12:55 pm to BilJ
quote:
whoa people need to calm the frick down.
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:57 pm to am4titansandlsu
So your saying that there is a possibility that all the preseason No. 1 and all-American hype could be a little overblown?
I don't give a damn if you are playing a high school team, 99-21 in the first eight games is impressive.
I don't give a damn if you are playing a high school team, 99-21 in the first eight games is impressive.
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:57 pm to Summer Grove Tiger
quote:
I don't ever remember seeing an LSU team stealing bases at anywhere near this pace.
This is the most surprising thing of all about this season, I just love the finer aspects of the game, you can tell when a team is well coached and all the players are on the same page. In the past we have always relied on power hitting to carry us. This year seems to be different.....
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:57 pm to am4titansandlsu
quote:
People need to calm down IMO. I love how everyone's getting excited about the team, but it's WAY to early for this. We've played horrible teams so far. Ive been to 6 of the 8 games this season, and yes, I think this team is special, but lets not get ahead of ourselves....if theyre still playing like this in mid-April then you can go ahead and start, but the season just started.
Exactly!
You're talking about 8 games...slow down. This team hasn't won anything. You all sound like ESPN annointing USC/Oklahoma as the best team ever.
Posted on 3/4/09 at 12:58 pm to Ice Cold
just saying.....
after LSU raped Va tech a few years back this board was littered with folks heaping praise on them as possibly the best team ever, the ebst D in school history, etc. They ended up as NCs of course, but I don't think you'll see anyone making those arguments today
after LSU raped Va tech a few years back this board was littered with folks heaping praise on them as possibly the best team ever, the ebst D in school history, etc. They ended up as NCs of course, but I don't think you'll see anyone making those arguments today
This post was edited on 3/4/09 at 12:59 pm
Posted on 3/4/09 at 1:01 pm to BilJ
Posted on 3/4/09 at 1:01 pm to am4titansandlsu
quote:
We've played horrible teams so far
We played horrible non-conference teams back then, too.
Those of us fortunate enough to watch those great teams of the 90s know this team is starting off like they often did. They would beat the crap out of non-conference teams and hit a ton of HRs. Of course the competition will improve and we won't beat everyone 19-3, but this start sure does remind me of what baseball use to be at LSU.
This post was edited on 3/4/09 at 1:03 pm
Posted on 3/4/09 at 1:02 pm to JustSmokin
I'd like to see our pitching go up against a team with a pulse before I declare this the greatest team in the history of baseball
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