Last Night's Experience

[jllanclos]

Not sure about wisdom, but this is my take ...

#1 I would not say the Cajuns have the edge tonight. Poche is a very capable pitcher. I think that it is an even game. But if the Cajuns pitch, hit, and play defense like they did last night (which will be a task), they have a good shot. I certainly like their chances better tonight than I did last night.

#2 UL does not have the deeper pitching staff ... not even close. LSU has considerably more depth ... more quality arms. But this is not a six team double elimination regional. It is a best of three format and what you need is three quality starters and enough pitching in the pen. Quality over depth in this format. There will be several good pitchers on both sides that will not see the hill, whether this goes two games or three.

With Poche, you have a left-hander that has decent command and good control. He has a nice 12-6 breaking ball, though not nearly as devastating as Lange's. His fastball generally sits about 88-90. He yields few free passes, but does give up more hits than most #2 starters. He had an excellent outing in the Baton Rouge regional title game vs. UNCW, throwing 8 2/3 innings of shutout ball and yielding only one free pass and 6 hits. But he has struggled in the prior three outings ... against Auburn in the SEC Tournament opener (1 inning, 5 R, 2 ER, 3 hits, 2 BB), vs. South Carolina the week prior (6 innings, 6 R, 5 ER, 9 hits, 0 BB), and against Missouri prior to that (3 2/3 innings, 7 hits, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB). If Poche does falter, Manieri does have a deep and reliable bullpen he will not hesitate to use. But forcing them to use that pen tonight will help us tomorrow.

A note about rest ...
Coach Robichaux has managed Gunner Leger closely, ensuring that he gets the rest that he needs. This is why Marks started last night and Leger goes tonight. Manieri was upset with the NCAA last weekend because they elected to push the title game to Monday (from Sunday). Part of the reason was competitive advantage (vs. UNCW). Part of the reason was the desire for another day of rest for Jared Poche. Will this be a factor tonight? Note that six days rest is normal for weekend starters.

Gunner Leger
Thursday 5/14 -> 103 pitches
[5 days rest]
Wednesday 5/20 -> 92 pitches
[3 days rest]
Sunday 5/24 -> 102 pitches
[6 days rest]
Sunday 5/31 -> 77 pitches
[6 days rest]
Sunday 6/7 -> ?

Jared Poche
Friday 5/8 -> 73 pitches (poor outing)
[5 days rest]
Thursday 5/14 -> 107 pitches (poor outing)
[5 days rest]
Wednesday 5/20 -> 35 pitches (poor outing)
[11 days rest]
Monday 6/1 -> 121 pitches (stellar outing)
[5 days rest]
Sunday 6/7 -> ?

Will this play a role for either or both pitchers tonight? Remember that Leger was gassed in the 6th inning of last Sunday's game at Houston (77 pitches). Those innings accumulate and arms can get tired this late in the year.

But also note how Poche has fared above on 5 days rest. Not so good. All three of his bad outing in the last month have come on 5 days rest. Tonight he pitches on 5 days rest.

Brian

If Mainieri has so many capable arms, why does he leave his pitchers in so long? And why didn't he just run one of his other capable arms out there tonight and have Poche on full rest if it doesn't work?

I'm just an idiot on a message board, but that dude is scared to go to his pen when it matters most. Otherwise, he would've taken Poche out and run out one of his capable arms so Poche would be ready for the Super. He was in the winner's bracket. He had that option, if he really trusted anyone else.

He knows. If Poche can't win this, they're not going to Omaha.

But what do I know? LOL

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[GoneGolfin]

If Mainieri has so many capable arms, why does he leave his pitchers in so long? And why didn't he just run one of his other capable arms out there tonight and have Poche on full rest if it doesn't work?

Because Poche is still a starter, with starter's stuff, and a starter's mentality. He is the next best starting arm for LSU ... and is a cut above LSU's #3 starter (which has not really been established). But he will go to his deep pen if Poche gets into trouble.

As for Lange last night, he went with Lange in the 9th because the opposition does not do what the Cajuns did to him last night. He honestly thought Lange could finish. But Bugg was good when he came in with no outs in the 9th. The Cajuns had the momentum and they could not get another runner on base.

Look ... this LSU team has nine pitchers (minimum double digit innings) with a sub 3.00 ERA. They have 13 pitchers that have logged more than 15 innings this year. LSU has a deep and quality bullpen ... but not unbeatable.

Brian

[jllanclos]

Because Poche is still a starter, with starter's stuff, and a starter's mentality. He is the next best starting arm for LSU ... and is a cut above LSU's #3 starter (which has not really been established). But he will go to his deep pen if Poche gets into trouble.

As for Lange last night, he went with Lange in the 9th because the opposition does not do what the Cajuns did to him last night. He honestly thought Lange could finish. But Bugg was good when he came in with no outs in the 9th. The Cajuns had the momentum and they could not get another runner on base.

Brian

Quit squashing my hope with your "facts," killjoy. LOL

[tetragrammaton]

I also lucked out and was able to attend Saturday's game. I didn't really have a negative experience. Most fans, inside and out of the Box, were cool to us, and just happy to have us there (or they faked it well). I encountered two drunks who felt like showing off or talking smack, but even in their stupidity, I was able to just laugh them off.

Overall, I was impressed with the Box (my first time).

And Saturday's game... I will remember that game for the rest of my life. The overall consensus seems to have been how I felt - you'd expect to feel as if you were gut-punched, but I didn't. It was disappointing, but I was by no means depressed. I walked out of the Box that night knowing I had just watched a great baseball game (and we had put the fear of God into those folks). That was worth it.

Admittedly, I'm a latecomer to the sport of baseball... but the more I watch these Cajuns, the more I appreciate the sport. It really is the Perfect Game.