Baseball Weekend Preview: #10 LSU vs. #6 MSU

Without exception, I hate Mississippi State more than I hate any other baseball team in the SEC.  Remember when Clanga made the CWS final and lost to UCLA? That was a great day. And I was in a bar full of Clanga fans. That made it even better. I laughed my ass off the entire time. The hatred is strong with this one. And they're good this year, which means the entire rivalry gets doused in some extra gasoline. It's gonna be fun.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Record: 25-12-1, 8-7 SEC

Rank: 6^th, D1baseball.com

RPI: 17^th

ISR: 18^th

Recent Form: Swept by Texas A&M in Starkville, Beat ULM 1-0 in 14 innings, took 2/3 from Florida

A lot is on the line this weekend for LSU. We currently sit second overall in the west and State is only one game behind us.  We need to win the series to hold on to second place and catch A&M.

State is reeling a little bit coming into the Box. Being swept by Texas A&M isn't really that big of a deal, but letting that happen at home is downright perplexing. Then State goes to a neutral site and takes 14 innings to put away ULM.  All of this comes on the heels of State taking two of three from Florida.  From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows I guess.

Clanga Bats (SEC stats)

State comes into this series with the fifth ranked offense in the SEC.  Jake Mangum has been absolutely on fire for the Bulldogs and will fight like mad to get on the base. Mangum almost always puts the ball in play and puts pressure on the defense. Don't expect him to walk or strike out much this weekend.  Humphreys has been the Clanga long ball guy in conference play and can pretty much blast a ball wherever he pleases.

As a team, State relies mostly on putting the ball in play and not taking a lot of chances on the base paths. They don't bunt or steal at all, so they rely on working counts and putting the ball in play. They also don't strikeout much at all, ranking second to last in strikeouts behind only LSU.

Clanga Arms

State's pitching staff looks a lot like LSU's.  State has some really good, sometimes dominant starting pitching, but a bullpen that is a complete enigma.  Dakota Hudson has had a great season so far. He's been roughed up in his two starts against Florida and A&M, but he is still one of the biggest arms LSU will face all season.  Let's hope the Dakota Hudson of the last two weeks shows up and not the one that pitched complete games against Vanderbilt and Ole Miss.  State's bullpen looks like a train wreck outside of Ryan Rigby.  Rigby is the only bullpen guy State has with an ERA under 3.00. LSU needs to get to the State bullpen early and often.

Should you be worried?

A bit. These are two very similar teams who just go about their business a bit differently. LSU puts pressure on opposing pitchers and defenses by trying to swipe bases and hit and run.  State relies on constant ball contact and power.  Both teams have good to great starting pitching, but unreliable bullpens. The series will come down to which ever team's bullpen has the better weekend.

How's the weather going to be?

It's going to be perfect. If you can, try and make it out to the Box.

Best Logo I Found of Google Image Search

I actually don't care about their logo. I like Bully. He's the only good thing State has going for them.

Prediction

LSU takes 2-3 and holds on to second place in the SEC West.