Ok guys, looks like I'll be doing this for another year. Before I start the information passed on here is purely opinionated and is meant to get information out to those who don't have to opportunity to follow the baseball team everyday along with those who closely follow the baseball program. I'm still waiting to hear back from Chcken on the blog, but for now this will have to do. Enjoy

The schedule set for the next week.

Shortstop
DJ LeMahieu (So.) *
Austin Nola (Fr.)
Chris MeGhee (Sr.)
Every once in a while you stumble upon a kid, one who seems to work their way in between the college game and pro ball. The one scouts know will be great in time, but need time to polish. LeMahieu the top player in the state of Michigan as a senior in decided to attend LSU instead of signing a pro contract with the Detroit Tigers for an upwards up $250,000. So far he has reaped the benefits and is projected to be a first or second rounder in the upcoming draft. The way DJ is built at 6-4’ he can range over to balls no other college shortstops can even dream of reaching. His bat work which was displayed showed he could hit for power to the opposite side of the field if he had to. In most likely hood he will be gone after this year, however another powerful shortstop with the name Austin Nola will take the reins. If LeMahieu can reproduce what he did last year while limiting his early season errors LSU will not only have the best middle infield in the SEC, but in the entire nation.

Grade: A

Third Base
Derek Helenihi (Sr.) *
Austin Nola (Fr.)
Wet Delatte (Fr.)
While it may be tough to replace the arm strength and leadership abilities Michael Hollander possessed, Helenihi has a chance to do things that surpass last year’s stats. After searching for a starting position in the beginning of the 08 season, Helenihi was given a chance the first Sunday series and never looked back. Getting off to a hot start, Derek switched in and out of positions before landing a spot in RF where he had one of the strongest arms at a position not familiar to an average infielder. What a season can change as Helenihi is back to his natural side of the infield where he showed incredible glove work and touch fielding ground balls. No body’s for sure what the slump toward the end of the season had on his mental aspect, but Helenihi says he’s more ready about the start of this season than he ever has been in his entire career. Backing him up looks to be done by a mixture of youth including names such as Austin Nola and Wet Delatte. Nola a High School All-American has a major league body with plenty of room to fill out coaches say.

Grade: B-

Second Base
Ryan Schimpf (Jr.) *
Tyler Hanover (Fr.)
Chris MeGhee (Sr.)
Standing at 5’8, Ryan Schimpf, may not look like your ordinary powers number type of guy. However if you watch closely there’s really not anything this kid can’t do from the left hand side of the plate. After leading the Tiger’s in triples last season and finishing third on the team in HR’s you’d think he would stop there. However, Schimpf also is one of the primary threats on the base paths has the green light nine times out of ten in pretty much any situation. What makes Schimpf the vital asset to the team is how fancy he can eat up ground balls in the hole and throw across his body in a matter of split seconds. He did not record his first error of the entire season last year until midway in conference play while playing up the middle of the infield. Tyler Hanover a coveted infielder from the heart of North Carolina was a steal in my book. The likely hood two years ago that he would get away from the Tar Heels and the MLB draft lead me to believe he’s going to be special after he learns the ropes and becomes Schimpf’s heir once he passes on the torch. I essentially believe that the competition Hanover puts on Schimpf everyday at practice will in turn make both players better at this respected position and if Hanover is not able to see time at second base Mainieri will make room for him someplace else.

Grade: B+

First Base
Sean Ochinko (Jr.) *
Matt Gaudet (Sr.)
Beau Didier (Fr.)
Unlike in years past Ochinko has garnered himself a starting position according to third year head coach Paul Mainieri. Known for his elusive glove work and strong leadership qualities Mainieri hopes Ochinko will be a mainstay in the 2009 campaign. With a talented mix of youth and college experience brought in to replenish older players in 07, Ochinko found himself caught in the mix. However, Sean has the upper body strength of a true power hitter that can drive the ball 400ft to opposite field at anytime. The thing that has plagued Ochinko’s progress throughout his career at LSU has been the inability to hit right handed pitching consistently. Look for Ochinko to bat anywhere from the four hole in the lineup all the way down to seven. Matt Gaudet, whom I believe will serve backup to Ochinko is a JUCO transfer from the epic 07 class that sat for the latter half of the season in 08 due to an injury he received on his lower back. While Gaudet and Ochinko have the capacity to both hit 10+ HR’s in 09 both need to take advantage of pitch counts vs. right handed pitching in order to draw fastballs instead of the low and away curve or change which for right handed power hitters can be feast or famine. Again based on the play from the Catcher position Beau Didier may serve a role at first base in mop up duty.

Grade: C+

Catcher
Micah Gibbs (So.) *
Grant Dozar (Fr.)
Beau Didier (Fr.)
Kevin Farnsworth (Jr.)

One year off, another year gold. That of which best describes Gibbs freshman campaign in which he lead LSU along with 3 everyday freshmen to college baseballs ultimate pinnacle, Omaha. Maybe it’s the cannon of an arm or the switch hitting capabilities that make players of his caliber so rare. In 35 stolen base attempts by opposing teams last year only 17 reached base safely, a number that jumps off the charts according to scouts. Throw in full confidence by head coach Paul Mainieri and you come up with this. “Micah Gibbs, after his junior year in two seasons, will be a solid first or second round pick”. With the departure of Matt Clark in the everyday lineup Gibbs is going to be counted on power wise to help drive in runs in either the four or five hole. One thing about this kid is that he has line drive capabilities from both sides of the plate. With Ochinko expected to start at first base, Grant Dozar a talented and athletic infielder in high school will serve some time as backup. I believe, Beau Didier, the heralded prep player out of Washington (WA) will switch in an out at Catcher along with certain infield positions including first base.

Grade: A-

This post was edited on 2/10/09 at 5:46 pm