June 16, 2016
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High School
Ugh! How wrong was I?! LSU did not regain the form that made them into a surprise national seed.
Defensively, pitchers gave away free bases, the infield made errors, LSU could not control their opponent’s running game, and other miscues allowed Coastal Carolina to score runs without stringing together hits. Give Coastal credit, they took advantage of every miscue. They answered when LSU scored runs or jumped on LSU when the Tiger did not take advantage of scoring opportunities.
Offensively, weak pop ups, poor base running decisions, and other issues led to LSU outhitting, but not outscoring Carolina. The strength of this offense was putting pressure on the defense with solid contact, mostly on the ground. Unfortunately, the Tigers made it easy on the Chanticleer defense until late in game 2.
The reality is this team made things hard on themselves all year. Even in the possum era, LSU often did not perform well for the first 6 innings in many games. Amazingly, the Tigers showed tremendous mental toughness to overcome these flaws the last month of the season and give fans many tremendous memories. These Tigers weren’t always pretty, but they sure knew how to win by the end of the year.
To be clear, I love what this team did this year. I love their fight, their belief, and toughness. I am sure, (as his mom said on local radio) that Kramer Robertson’s leadership playing through injuries helped in many instances including Paierski and Fraley staying in the last game despite obvious pain.
It was a quality team, but the draft showed LSU did not have the elite talent of Florida, Louisville, and Texas A&M. Even more surprising was that Louisville and Texas A&M did not make the CWS either. LSU’s coaches did a tremendous job keeping the team together through the tough times.
As fans though, we see the opportunity that has developed in Omaha. With so many elite teams falling by the wayside, the National Championship appears to be a two horse race. Miami and Florida are the clear favorites to make it to the Championship round. I certainly like the chances for the Gators to win their first CWS title.
The SEC needs someone to step up. Actually, very few of the favored teams won. I don’t have the reason why, though I have some theories.
My first theory is that the more talented teams had more distractions with the MLB draft. You have to have great focus to perform at this time of the year and logically, there is no way someone can be at their max focus at the same time as the draft. The second theory is that conference tournaments wear down teams from the power conferences as they use their pitching staffs extensively. My third theory, is that my first two theories are pretty weak. All teams have players involved with the draft, and the conference tournaments have not been an issue other years. I really think that this is just one of those crazy years. Baseball is especially prone to oddities.
I actually have one real theory, though. Without doing research, my hunch tells me that MLB baseball teams are drafting more college baseball players, and more high school baseball players are choosing to attend college. There are many reasons, but the main one is that college baseball has great coaching everywhere due to a greater commitment from universities. As a result, college baseball is the better option for prospects to develop than A baseball. Therefore, there is a larger pool of quality baseball players entering college baseball than 20 years ago because players are going straight from high school to pro baseball. The result is parity. If someone wants to research those numbers for me, I will pay you the same that I pay my editing staff.
To close, I have to mention, the SEC deserved the seeds and the host sites they were awarded. The results do not matter. What was the other option? Reward a Pac 12 team that could not finish.500 in their conference and had an RPI of 80? No. Just because teams are capable of winning, does not mean they are deserving of a high seed.
Personally, as someone who chooses to write about sports with an emphasis on Louisiana, LSU missing out on the CWS is extra difficult to handle. Finding summer topics is a challenge, and any week where I could have written about a sport in progress is a gift. I am grateful the Tigers at least made it to the Super Regional so I had a couple weeks of material.
BY DENNIS DEARIE
VETERAN LOUISIANA HS REFEREE
Well we’re just a few short months away from the start of the 2016 football season. Before we kickoff those first “SPECIAL” games right now is the time when every fan feels as though his team will be playing for the National Championship. I’d like to commend Coach Les Miles, his staff and the SEC for taking a huge gamble by opening the season with a nationally ranked team in Wisconsin. They’ll be kicking it off from Green Bay’s Lambeau field before a national audience on ABC.
Let’s take a quick glance at the “pros ‘n cons” of such an endeavor. First off this type of a game is one in which you’d like to play at the later stages of the season. Expecting his team to be in mid-season form could backfire and derail the Tiger’s chances of playing in the final game of the season. Even with the massive financial benefits of playing a top notched team so early I’d just as soon be playing this team in a bowl game.
The “pros” are that it’s a big payday for the schools no doubt. That’s the complete total of “pros” for scheduling another championship caliber team that LSU will no doubt find in Wisconsin. They don’t play the same caliber teams up north compared to the teams LSU faces year in year out in the SEC. The “Mad Hatter” better have his team hitting on all cylinders or this could be a huge embarrassment not only for the Tigers but the entire conference.
The “cons” are too many for me to begin to list but the one at the top of my list is injuries. Injuries are a huge part of every team’s season and LSU knows all too well how tough the SEC is even when playing with a full deck. Lets hope Les can keep his players out of the many “watering” holes that surround the Baton Rouge campus. Yes, I know he’s come out and put such places as off limits but let’s just cross our fingers on that one. For the life of me I just can’t figure out what some players are thinking when they frequent these establishments.
The law says you’ve got to be 21 to drink but too many times that little bit of information is ignored. If ever there was something everyone on this team should abstain from its patronizing bar rooms and consuming alcohol. Nothing and let me repeat, NOTHING good can come of such behavior. Yes, I know boys will be boys but can anyone tell me what good or benefit players will get out of frequenting such establishments besides the constant attention from other patrons and owners wanting them there to make some dollars. And no doubt these kids will run into trouble because some will be made out to be FOOTBALL GODS and will fall to the temptation.
Its (Drinking alcohol) a right of passing so to speak in south Louisiana but common sense should always be exercised when you are playing a sport on a national stage. If the NCAA wants to be seen as doing some good it would put into its rulebook that no matter the age of the player(s) if caught consuming or being found inside a bar room will result in the automatic forfeiture of all remaining eligibility. No ands, ifs or butts. One and done, no grey area, your college playing days are over!
The SEC is hands down the number one conference when talking football. This year is no different from any other in that no less than four and possibly six of its teams could and will contend for the National Title. Stumble once and your season could be done as far as the title goes. LSU will again be facing the likes of Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas and Tennessee. Each of those teams can rise up and dash your hopes of a successful season. So why gamble your team’s chances of a winning season by getting in a fight or chancing a DWI charge?
Let’s just hope we can get off to a fast start by winning the season opener in Cheese-Land. If the Tigers do pull off this early season challenge then maybe with a little luck Les Miles and the Tiger Nation will be calling themselves Nation Champions.
Til next week… … … … … …
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