LSU will host Florida State in the Super Regional Saturday in Baton Rouge. There are a total of 16 teams playing nation wide and the eight winners will advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., with the winning team becoming National Champions of 2019. The regional format is the best two out of three games. LSU is no stranger to hosting the regional playoffs in Baton Rouge at the "BOX" and should enjoy the advantage.
The LSU baseball team was ranked #1 in the preseason poll but that fizzled. Their recruiting class was also ranked #1 in the nation but failed to win the SEC championship. This writer is not a fan of preseason polls or trying to predict the outcome of recruiting. The head coach and his staff are a better barometer in judging a teams progress and of course a players capabilities once he reaches college is subject to proof and performance.
This writer also believes the playoff system of college baseball needs to be changed. Too many teams to begin with (64) and many that don't belong. Why should teams that don't win a division, a conference championship and or payoff or some other title designation qualify for the NCAA playoffs and a chance to play for a national championship? The real answer is to put more money in the pockets of the schools and the T.V. networks. The system does not encourage competition as some claim and of course the teams lose many players to the major league draft before they even graduate.
LSU will go into Saturday's game with an over all record of 40 - 24. Only 3 teams out of the 16 have a worse won-loss record. Duke 34-25; Ole Miss. 40-25; and Auburn 36-25. The four top teams with winning records are: UCLA 51-9; Vanderbilt 52-10; Stanford 45-12 and Mississippi State 49-13. This writer will be looking to see how many teams live up to their rankings and their won-loss record. As a follower of LSU sports for over 50 years, the last five or six years have been very unpredictable for the "Tigers" and this super regional is no different. But there is always hope.
So GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TIGERS
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
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