5 takeaways after LSU loses to Ragin’ Cajuns
To put it kindly, LSU is not playing its best baseball right now. The Tigers are struggling mightily with starting pitching, injuries and defensive woes.
LSU squeaked by a good Kentucky team in The Box last weekend, but the Ragin’ Cajuns came knocking last night and landed a haymaker ala Muhammad Ali. Louisiana gave LSU the George Foreman/Joe Frazier treatment.
We’re going to look at five things I see going on with LSU baseball right now. We will talk about starting pitching, errors, Tommy Tanks, Thatcher Hurd and how the conference schedule gets easier from here until the SEC Tournament.
Starting pitching is becoming an issue
The Daily Advertiser
The last time an LSU starting pitcher other than Paul Skenes went at least five innings in a ballgame was Ty Floyd in Game 2 against Tennessee on March 31.
Since then, no starting pitcher, other than Skenes has lasted longer than 4.2 innings. Christian Little, Floyd and Thatcher Hurd have not been getting the job done recently and injuries have sidelined other good pitchers.
In conference series alone, LSU has a 6.27 ERA. That ranks eighth in the SEC.
Error count is growing
The Daily Advertiser
I bragged about LSU’s defense at the start of the season because it was No. 1 in the conference at that time. Not anymore. LSU has since dropped to sixth in the conference in fielding percentage (.979). In just conference games, LSU is now ninth in fielding percentage (.972) and tied for sixth in errors (13). Those numbers won’t win you a national championship.
Tommy White is on fire
The Daily Advertiser
Tommy Tanks won SEC Player of the Week after he hit .385 (5-for-13) in the Kentucky series with three doubles, one homer, eight RBI, and four runs scored. He carried that momentum into the game against ULL where he finished 4-for-5 on the evening. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to win the game.
Thatcher Hurd is struggling
Jay Johnson on getting Thatcher Hurd back on track: “We’re on our way. The presence, the poise was there. He’s going to pitch a lot. I feel good about when he’s out there.”#LSU
— Glen West (@glenwest21) April 17, 2023
Since April 1, 2023, Thatcher Hurd has pitched a total of 3.2 innings. During those innings, he gave up 11 earned runs with eight walks and four strikeouts. If you are wondering, that is an ERA of 30.94. He hasn’t had a good game since he pitched against Samford on March 12. Hopefully, he can turn things around.
Conference schedule is getting easier
The Daily Advertiser
LSU is not playing its best brand of baseball right now but thankfully, its conference schedule is getting a little easier. From here until the SEC tournament, LSU does not play a conference series against a ranked opponent (at Ole Miss, vs. Alabama, at Auburn, vs. Mississippi State, at Georgia) That schedule will help a team that is struggling.
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