LSU, what is it about in state mid week games?

quote:

---

Using your #4/#5 types in the bullpen for weekends?

---

quote:

---

Experimenting with the lineup?

---

These two. Usually go pitcher by committee and giving younger pitchers set pitch counts to show what they have to see if they'll be useful come SEC play. Let non-weekend starters play to get at bats. This is nothing new. Skip Bertman regularly lost midweek games to shitty teams as well. We have always treated them as practices, and they have never mattered when it comes to seeding. All that matters is taking care of business on the weekend and more importantly during SEC play.

Paul experiments with lineups and pitching rotations during mid-week games.

He knows losing a few of those each year is worth having an optimal lineup later on. His teams generally peak at the end of the year, partially due to this.

Last year we lost a bunch and went to the NCAA finals in Omaha.

Paul has never cared about mid-week games, makes sense since the weekend is what really counts, we still win the vast majority of mid weekers by far. He really likes to use them to meddle with the lineup, rest starters here and there, and ride struggling pitchers. He'd gladly trade a loss mid-week for an extra weekend win.

Couple that with this game being the world series for many opposing teams who occasionally will throw weekend guys, etc...

Well at most of the in state schools, the majority of the players weren’t even offered by LSU so when they play LSU, they treat it as their biggest game of the year and they come out ready to play LSU. Also most of the players at in state schools are kids from Louisiana so they take not getting offered by LSU to heart. LSU will also usually pitch young pitchers to get them experience in games so they are bound to make lots of mistakes.

Bottom line is smaller state schools treat the LSU game as their World Series and LSU treats the games as games to give other players playing experience so they can be ready for the next year when they play in weekend series. It really isn’t that big of a deal to lose a few midweek games to in state schools but the in state schools will troll LSU really bad when they beat LSU

quote:

---

2018
L - Louisiana 3-4
L - Southeastern Louisiana 4-5 (expected to be a good team)

2017
L - McNeese State 4-5 (36 win club)
L - New Orleans 4-7
L - Tulane 6-7
L - Tulane 6-9

2016
L - Lamar 11-12 (no quite LA, but closer to Lake Charles to HOU)
L - Tulane 1-7 (good team)
L - McNeese State
L - Tulane 1-4 (good team)

---

One thing to consider is that our instate schools are not that bad. ULL/USL/Louisiana faced us in a Super a few years back and has hosted regionals in recent years. SLU has been in the tourney 3 of the last 4 years. These are terrible teams to lose to and the games have been incredibly close.

Now take into consideration that we are throwing freshmen and throwing 4-5 guys and they are using their weekend staff to secure the win and it kind of puts the games into perspective. In no way am I ok with us losing, but it is not the end of the world. SEC play is coming and we hit our stride then. These losses also help other Louisiana programs get into the tourney as well so I'm cool with that.

Those teams have LSU circled as their Superbowl. LSU doesn’t give a rats arse about em. They play super hard, LSU doesn’t. Pretty straightforward imo. It is weird considering they don’t have a single win, you’d think they’d outtalent most of those teams.

2018
L - Louisiana 3-4 (Away)
L - Southeastern Louisiana 4-5 (expected to be a good team) (Away)

2017
L - McNeese State 4-5 (36 win club)(Away)
L - New Orleans 4-7 (Away)
L - Tulane 6-7
L - Tulane 6-9 (Away)

2016
L - Lamar 11-12 (no quite LA, but closer to Lake Charles to HOU) (Away)
L - Tulane 1-7 (good team)
L - McNeese State
L - Tulane 1-4 (good team) (Away)

Tulane and ULL are post season regulars. Southeastern has been good the last few years, last year I think they were the only non power 5 school with an at large bid. McNeese State was the conference champion in Southeastern's conference so they were pretty good.

Good convo, gents.

This went over a lot better than I expected.

So we should just act like the 19 wins over in state team, plus Lamar, didn't happen?

it seems louisiana (like texas) has some pretty good mid major teams. in fact, id be surprised if any other state outside of cali has more quality programs. florida has the big 3 but doesnt seem to have as much depth.