The baseball weekend was not kind to LSU as Florida State eliminated the Tigers and qualified to play in the college world series and a chance to win a National Championship. The Seminoles defeated LSU 6-4 and 5-4 on Sunday. Both teams had their chance to break the games open with a big inning and allowed the opportunity to slip by with too many mental lapses that killed the potential rally.
So LSU completes another baseball season with a lot of question marks for next year. This writer, a follower of LSU sports for over 50 years in an article in PolitiDose a few years ago and expressed the opinion that LSU has never replaced the level of talent they lost six or seven years ago despite some top recruitment years. And during the last several years some of LSU's top recruits did not live up to their potential and be productive.
And LSU has not had a coaching staff that has come close to former coach Skip Bertman's coaching skills or his knowledge of the game and his judging of talent or his players. That is part of LSU's problem today and it shows on the field. It has been awhile since LSU has had an exciting player who was also a consistent performer the team could depend on. I know those who follow LSU surely remember those players I speak of.
For the fans, there is always hope for next season, for that is what sports is all about. But fans also have to be realistic in their judgement and not get caught up in all the clichés and the polls. And most of all understand a top recruitment class has its best production when they have a top head coach or manager, as he is called in baseball.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
