re: Reflections from the 1st weekend of SEC ball

This not the typical "the umps were terrible" rant, but the strike zone, for both teams, all weekend long was totally unpredictable. There was more than a few occasions, again, both teams, where I thought the batter was going to be rung up, only for the pitch to be a ball. All credit to the players, as except for a few occasions when an aggie made a face, the batters were pretty stoic. There was one pitch where Morgan took a questionable called 3rd strike & as he turned to the dugout, CJJ simply shook his head & motioned Morgan back to the dugout. Fron LSU's perspective, a few called strike 3's at certain game situations & the pitchers' stats would have looked a lot better.

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Nah that’s not always true. The experiences of doing each are markedly different.

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It would always be true if the mental aspect wouldn't be a part of things. It's a huge advantage as a pitcher to know you only have to get 1-6 outs maybe as a reliver and likely not face the same guy twice vs. facing a lineup 2-3-4 times through. Anyone's strikeout numbers, walk numbers and ERA would simply be better all mental side/physical side things equal if you got to live as a reliever over a starter.

In the end right now to me it's simply about Floyd has been able to extend plenty of times in the past, Shores hasn't and is struggling some with his WHIP in comparison to Floyd. Shores will get there, just not right now.

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This not the typical "the umps were terrible" rant, but the strike zone, for both teams, all weekend long was totally unpredictable. There was more than a few occasions, again, both teams, where I thought the batter was going to be rung up, only for the pitch to be a ball. All credit to the players, as except for a few occasions when an aggie made a face, the batters were pretty stoic. There was one pitch where Morgan took a questionable called 3rd strike & as he turned to the dugout, CJJ simply shook his head & motioned Morgan back to the dugout. Fron LSU's perspective, a few called strike 3's at certain game situations & the pitchers' stats would have looked a lot better.

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It was most definitely not a pitcher friendly weekend for most part (batters at times as well). When you're questioning a ball or strike almost every AB it really messes with pitchers, it CLEARLY got to Floyd and was bugging him a few times.

Skenes was the ONLY starting pitcher all weekend who didnt struggle between both teams. Dettmer for A&M might have went 6 innings but he still gave up 4 walks in the process. Every other starter got ran after less than 4 innings.

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Getting to close with Auburn, Mississippi State, and Georgia is going to make for a fun May.

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Alabama before Auburn as well in late April, not the worst way to close out the regular season.

If we can come out the first 3 weekend 6-3 @ A&M, Ark and UT...we would really be setting ourselves up well.

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As for Floyd, I still think he should be moved to the bullpen. How much of a luxury would it have been to go to him yesterday? I think he pitches better being thrown into the moment, and in short spurts. As a starter, he throws too many pitches and has always had issues with walks. He isn't going to go deep into games to begin with.

- Which brings me to my next thought, Chase Shores should replace him in the rotation.

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I just don't think you put the freshmen who struggles with walks in the starting rotation in the first half of the SEC Schedule. I just see him getting either long relief out of the bullpen or a second closure role for the first half of the SEC Schedule at the minimum.

It would not shock me to see him get into the rotation in the back end of the SEC schedule but I don't see Jay making that switch until hes logged some meaningful SEC innings

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For sure, but i just saw a lot of people holding it against him in the game thread. That is almost an impossible situation.

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And he nearly got out of it. If it wasn't for letting the pitches get away from him after the back to back K's they would have been praising both Little and Jay. That walk just kind of derailed things. That one at bat the difference between praise and blame. But Little still looked good and I would wager when he comes in that situation again, he gets out of it.

Great stuff - pitching may end up being the Achilles heel of this team.

I 100% agree with everything you said. I hardly ever do that. I hope Dugas is seeing the ball well. Lost eye contact one game, wore goggles/ glasses next game and no glasses third game. I agree he will never be a great 2nd baseman but is serviceable. Thompson is much improved at fielding. We have great potential. The problem we had with A&M was relief pitchers walking and hitting batters. That’s why we lost game 3. Should have swept them. I also agree that coach Jay puts too much trust in Cooper. I think it may be a bit of favoritism. I hope not

Can't find much to argue with. As long as people realize Shores is going to be a work in progress as a starter it is not a bad option to move him to Sunday and Hurd to Saturday.

My biggest take away from the weekend was Pearson's bat finally waking up.

Big boost to the line up if he keeps hitting.

Great write up baw