LSU dominated West Virginia in Game 1 of the Super Regional Round.
The game lasted what felt like an eternity. Tigers’ games do seem to drag out to that 4-hour mark.
But the heat was too much for the Mountaineers who got beat up.
Let’s get our 5 takes.
5 TAKES AS LSU BEATS WEST VIRGINIA IN OPENER
1. Lineup changes worked – Give Jay Johnson credit. The skipper shuffled the lineup quite a bit to start this Super Regional – something that is quite unconventional to do this late in the season. But it worked. He moved Josh Pearson to the lead off spot. He hit a dong. He moved Derek Curiel to the 7-hole. He hit a dong. Walks helped. Hit batters helped. But to score that many runs is a treat when you are this far into the dance.
2. Mountaineers don’t want any part of this heat – The heat was a factor on Saturday. With a 1 p.m. game on a Saturday with 100+ degree heat indexes, the Mountaineers were cooked – literally. Their pitchers couldn’t hang at all. Burn, baby burn. Can’t handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen and host your own Regional and Super Regional.
3. Mountaineers’ bullpen is big bad – We complain and get frustrated about the LSU bullpen and rightfully so. But West Virginia is markedly worse. Poop in a bag, take the bag and put it in the sun for about 3 days, then take that bag, put it in a garbage bin and light it on fire. That is what the West Virginia bullpen was today: a stinking hot dumpster fire. They walked guys, they hit guys, they gave up the long ball. They did everything you want not to do and wrote a book on ineptitude. Some of it was because they were behind and pitching the B-squad. They better hope they have better options than that.
4. Not Anderson’s best – Kade Anderson was not at his best on Saturday. He got line-drived early in the game and he did recover, but he just wasn’t as sharp as we are used to. Give West Virginia credit for that. They put some good swings on some balls. And the situation of the game where Anderson was pitching more to the fat of the plate. But that’s excuses. It wasn’t his best, and West Virginia squandered a good chance. It’s not often you score 9 runs on a day he’s pitching.
5. A helmet on for a mound visit? – I will not elaborate on this much, but if you wear a helmet when going out for a mound visit, you’re a clown. OK, on to the next point.
6. Hernandez took a beating – Man, Hernandez took a beating at the plate today, wearing a ball off his kneecap and then also off his foot. It was a good move by Coach Jay Johnson to get him off his feet in the late innings. On a hot day, that’s a good gesture and should save some of the fuel in the tank.
7. 1 win away from Omaha – The Tigers are now 1 win away from another trip to the College World Series and the pitching is lined up beautifully with Evanson set for tomorrow and still Evans and Cowan both unused out of the bullpen. It’s looking pretty good, but as we saw last weekend – anything can happen and let’s not count the chickens too soon before they hatch.
8. Monster is big-time – Steven Milam has been a little bit hit or miss down the stretch of the season. But there’s just no one I trust more in a big spot and in a big game than ‘The Monster.’ He got a big dong for LSU in the win and I trust that he will finish the season strong and have even more big moments before it’s all said and done.
9. Enough with William Schmidt – I get what Jay Johnson is trying to do. He’s a freshman. He’s trying to get him some NCAA Tournament reps. He’s trying to prep for the future. All that. But William Schmidt doesn’t have it. At least not right now. I would much prefer to see one of LSU’s other relievers at this point. You’re going to break the freshman’s spirit at this point. He’s not been good in every, single big game he’s been in this season. It’s not a midweek game against UNO anymore. There’s just 16 teams left in the dance. Dance with the girls who can get you there today, not the ones who can maybe get you there 2 years from now. Spare me the “this is what LSU did with Kade Anderson last year” crap that some fans say. Kade Anderson was actually effective as a freshman. William Schmidt is not. Anderson is better in every, single last stat – including when he pitched effectively 2 times in one day last year at the North Carolina Regional.
