I doubt it happens, but if we won the first two games against Auburn with Walker and Marceaux going somewhat deep, do you throw the midweek assortment on Saturday and hope for the best (or willingly accept a possible L) in order to save Hilliard for game one of the SEC tourney? If you win game 1 of the tourney with Hilliard you would set up Walker and Marceaux to pitch on six days rest.

Certainly getting ahead of myself here... we have to win the Auburn series to have any shot at a host site, then probably nail down a quadrant 1 win or two in the tourney.

This post was edited on 5/15/19 at 8:49 am

2 ...

Report Post

Posted by Hold That Tiger 10

Member since Oct 2013

21271 posts

Posted on 5/15/19 at 8:52 am to SM6

quote:
I doubt it happens, but if we won the first two games against Auburn with Walker and Marceaux going somewhat deep, do you throw the midweek assortment on Saturday and hope for the best (or willingly accept a possible L) in order to save Hilliard for game one of the SEC tourney?

I don't think LSU has the luxury of saving anybody for anything. Need to win every game you possibly can. Let's assume Mainieri goes with Walker and Marceaux in games 1 and 2. If we have a chance to win those games then you are using Hess, Peterson, Fontenot, Hilliard (probably in that order). So, how many of those guys you need, how long you use them, all will factor into who starts Saturday.

On the flip side, if we are down by a good bit Thursday or Friday, then you see the midweek guys in that game, in order to try to give you the best chance to win Saturday. It sucks, but our depth isn't there. And I don't think you can come up with a concrete plan of what to do. The games will have to dictate that.

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by ccox11

Member since Sep 2014

901 posts

Posted on 5/15/19 at 9:38 am to SM6

7 of our 20 pitchers are currently out: Cole Henry, Jaden Hill, Trent Vietmeier, Caleb Gilbert, A.J. Labas, Nick Storz, and Easton McMurray.

That leaves 13 pitchers available. Clay Moffitt, Will Ripoll, Aaron George, Chase Costello, Riggs Threadgill, and Rye Gunter are all basically "long relievers" or "emergency" pitchers in an SEC weekend series based on how they have been used and/or their stats. In other words, I don't think Mainieri "wants" to pitch any of them in an SEC series unless he doesn't have anyone else or the game is out of hand.

That leaves 7 pitchers. Zack Hess, Todd Peterson, and Devin Fontenot can probably be counted on for 3 innings each, whether that's 3 in 1 game or 1 in 3 games. The same probably goes for Matthew Beck although he's probably more of a middle relief guy whereas the other 3 are more back end guys.

That still leaves 15 innings for Landon Marceaux, Eric Walker, and Ma'Khail Hilliard. Personally, I don't think Hilliard is much different than Beck. I don't think you "want" to throw him more than 3 innings on the weekend whether that's 3 in 1 or 1 in 3. If that's the case, you have to hope to get 6 out of both Marceaux and Walker.

I would call Marceaux the #1 right now based simply on ability and his last outing. But, like others have said, I don't think he's getting moved up 2 days to Thursday. I'll agree with most everybody else and say that Walker and Marceaux will likely both be moved up a day to Thursday and Friday, respectively. If LSU wants to win all 3 games, I feel like it's pretty important for those 2 to pitch a combined 12 innings.

Thu - Walker
Fri - Marceaux
Sat - TBD

This post was edited on 5/15/19 at 1:22 pm

2 ...

Report Post

Tiger Rant - Replies to Post

Return To Board

Page 1

Return To Board