1: A star emerges …
One thing that has been a consistent theme on LSU’s Omaha teams is a new or unheralded player developing into a star during the course of the season. Sometimes, they burn bright and furious and outshine everyone else, like Zack Hess last season, Alex Lange in 2015 or Alex Bregman in 2013. More often, they serve as important complements to the established stars, like Eric Walker and Zach Watson last season, or Austin Nola in 2009. Does LSU have that guy this season, or a collection of them? For one, freshman outfielder Daniel Cabrera has the look of a freshman All-American.
2: Hess proves he can hang.
If Zack Hess does not dazzle in his new role as a starting pitcher, sure, put him back in the bullpen where he is one of the best in the nation. But for LSU to be its best version of itself, it needs Hess to prove he can dominate a lineup two or three times through the order. As valuable as Hess proved to be in those late game situations last season, that value is diminished if LSU does not have a lead for him to protect. If LSU can get 100 innings of Hess missing bats and stalking around the mound rather than 50 or 60, that benefits LSU.
Predicted order of finish with 2017 record in parentheses.
3: Carpe Sunday.
Last season should have proved the value of a trustworthy third starter. With ever-steady Eric Walker going wire-to-wire in the Sunday spot, LSU went 11-3 in the final games of regular-season weekend series, including an 8-2 mark in the pitching-rich Southeastern Conference. Half of those 14 games were decided by one or two runs. It was a huge advantage for LSU. Walker essentially ran the anchor leg, swinging series in LSU’s favor all season. Whether it is Todd Peterson, Cam Sanders or someone else, the Tigers need to find someone to seize that Sunday spot and perform like they will not let it go.
4: ID, please.
LSU had a good backup plan when hitting coach Micah Gibbs suddenly became unable to perform his on-field duties just weeks ago. Sean Ochinko was in town, was willing and had experience working with much of the team. He inherits what should be a pretty healthy offensive club, but it will be interesting to see what identity the lineup will have this season and how much of that is a result of having Ochinko coach them. Gibbs was a thinking coach, Ochinko is more in the vein of former LSU hitting coach Andy Cannizaro. If Ochinko can get his players to buy in to his approach early, LSU should be in good shape.
5: Fast relief.
LSU has 17 new players, and most of them are pitchers (11 or 12 , depending on if you include Cabrera, the starting left fielder who will also pitch some). That is a bit of a scary notion. It means the Tigers are going to go into this season having seen less than half of their pitching staff in a real, live college baseball game. It may take some time for LSU to feel out which players fit best in which roles, particularly in the bullpen. It is much more difficult to see LSU returning to the College World Series in 2018 without it identifying quality options out of the bullpen late in games.