by Chris Macaluso
LSUsports.net
(2/9/01)
LSU Baseball Coach Skip Bertman enters the last season of his illustrious career with what he believes is a team as talented as any he’s ever had.
That’s saying a lot considering in his 18 years he’s won five national championships in 11 trips to the College World Series, recorded nine 50-win seasons and watched 26 players pass through Baton Rouge on their way to Major League careers.
But, Bertman cautions, talent isn’t the only thing necessary to win championships. Fortunately or unfortunately, Bertman said, past success means anything less than a championship is seen as a disappointment at LSU.
“Even though we’ve been there many times, it’s still very difficult to get there,” Bertman said. “The pressure is huge, unrealistic. I’ve never said ‘this is my last time around, or win one for the Gipper.’ There’s too much pressure as it is.”
Last year’s national championship team handled the pressure with ease, winning all 13 of its post-season games with players who had seen and won it all before. The 2001 team has abundant talent, but Bertman said, lacks the experience that made last year’s squad so successful.
Gone this year are Brad Cresse’s national-leading 30 home runs and 106 RBI’s, Brad Hawpe’s .362 average and 36 doubles, the excellent all-around play of outfielder Jeremy Witten and the leadership of team captain Blair Barbier. Pitchers Brain Tallet, who led the Tigers in 2000 with a 15-3 record, Hunter Gomez, who was second on the team in wins with nine, Ben Saxon and Trey Hodges, who was the College World Series Most Valuable Player all left for the pros or graduated.
The Tigers are hoping to replace all their lost starting talent with a host of freshmen, transfers and reserves from last year’s squad. LSU’s middle infield is the same as last season’s. Junior Ryan Theriot returns to shortstop after batting .305 in the lead off spot in 2000. Sophomore second baseman Mike Fontenot had off-season wrist surgery and won’t return to the line-up until early March. Freshman Aaron Hill, who batted nearly .400 in fall drills, will fill in at second early in the season.
Tiger hitting coach Turtle Thomas said Zeph Zinsman, who takes over at first base for Hawpe, has the potential to lead the Southeastern Conference in home runs after two years of junior college ball in California.
Sophomore Wally Pontiff replaces Barbier at third after splitting time in the outfield and at DH last season while transfers Matt Heath and Chris Phillips look to fill the hole left by Cresse and Ryan Jorgensen at catcher. Heath, a switch hitter, should start after coming to Baton Rouge from the University of Florida. Phillips transferred after two seasons at Northwestern St.
Todd Linden, LSU’s most highly touted newcomer, will fill the void left by Witten in left field and, according to Thomas, should replace most of the offense lost after last year. Linden, who transferred from University of Washington, bats from both sides of the plate, hits for power and has worked himself into a fine outfielder, Bertman said.
“Todd (Linden) is probably a high-round draft pick,” Bertman said. “He played in the Cape Cod League last year and did very well in a tough wooden-bat league. For us, he’s been as advertised.”
Joining him in the outfield will be junior David Raymer in center and Ray Wright in left. Raymer returns after breaking his collar bone early last season. Wright returns a hero after what may have been a game-saving catch in last year’s national championship game.
Bertman said there are capable back-ups at nearly every position, something he has not had in past seasons.
“This club has as much talent as last year’s did and other team that have won,” he said. “But they’re missing the one important ingredient: gamesmanship. We’ll have to grow into that. This year, most of the players are new and we’ve got to grow some unity.”
Setting a pitching rotation will be Bertman’s biggest challenge early in the season with a number of freshmen and junior college transfers battling team veterans for a spot. Seniors Jason Scobie and Tim Nugent, juniors Shane Youman, John Zamora and Billy Brian, sophomore Bo Petit and freshmen Lane Mestepey and Brain Wilson should all see time in the starting rotation. Junior closer Weylin Guidry is expected to keep his job while sophomore lefty Brad David could fill the bullpen spot left open by Youman.
Scobie is expected to start the season opener against Kansas State Friday. Youman will take the hill in game two Saturday.
“We lost a lot of leadership, not only Blair Barbier, Brad Cresse, Cedric Harris, Jeremy Witten but many senior pitchers as well, ” Bertman said. “But, naturally, we are hoping to do real well and jump out to a good start.”
Bertman’s Tigers get underway this weekend with a three-game series against Kansas State at Alex Box Stadium in front of what should be the first of many packed houses this year. Bertman said he expects the going away presents and the gag gifts to pile up as the season progresses and he makes his way around the SEC. But he said he hopes none of that overshadows what this year’s team is trying to accomplish.
“This will be the first summer in my life, since I was eight years old that I won’t be playing or coaching baseball,” he said. “I’m excited about my final season. When we go on the road trips, coaching friends are going to pull out the afghans and the rocking chairs, but a lot of it’s sincere. I’ve made a lot of friends along the way.”