LSU Baseball: Coach Jay Johnson tipping his hand on starters?

We all have become accustomed to Mainieri tinkering well into the season. I have a theory on this. Mainieri watched players in practice and games and use his wealth of baseball experience and knowledge to decide who should start and where. This caused a lot of experimenting with different scenarios.
I don't think this will be the case at all with Johnson. I believe Johnson will study enough tape and analysize a lot before he sees the players in action. Johnson will already have a good idea of where he wants these guys before they practice.
I'm not saying adjustments won't be made, or there won't be split time decisions or even getting playing time for other players. I just feel Johnson already has a good idea of who is starting and where.
For example, Crews has only been playing CF. This doesn't bode well for Gio being our starting Center fielder. Right now I would say it is LF Dugas, CF Crews and RF Drost. I'm not counting out Stevenson, Pearson or even Gio challenging that in the Spring, but right now that is the most likely starters in the outfield.
On the infield, it is Morgan, Doughty, Thompson, Berry and Merrifield battling for 4 spots. Berry could move to DH to play all five, personally I think that is our strongest team.
Berry has not played anywhere but 3B. Merrifield has played a lot there, because Johnson knows Berry might not stick as a starter. There is a, Lester Earl, theory of Doughty at 3B and Merrifield at 2B, which is very viable but I'm not buying it.
If I were to name starters for the 2022 season right now. I would say split time C Milazzo and C McManus. 1B Morgan, 2B Doughty, SS Thompson, 3B split Merrifield and Berry. DH Berry, Leto and Jobert. LF Dugas, CF Crews, RF Drost.
There are some injured players, Bianco, Simon and Leto that may change things in the Spring, but we will tackle that when we get there.
There will be competition in the Spring but I don't believe it will be a secret of who is in the running and where. The starters we take into game one will likely be the same starters at the end of the year. There could be injuries are playing time for the other guys but tinkering is a thing of the past.
As for pitching, Johnson has admitted he isn't close to deciding and I believe that.

I feel much more optimistic than in years past. This change was so needed to inject new energy in program. First time long time I’m looking forward to opening day.

He has been moving people around a lot
Dugas played some RF this past weekend and they are really high on Pearson as well and he has primarily played LF
You better have defense in CF especially during SEC play
A lot of tough decisions to be made position player wise
Berry is not sound defensively at 3rd so at a minimum he is your switch hitting DH

I think you will see some position players hit the portal after fall ball evaluations unless he can convince some of the freshman to wait their turn and stick it out

From a pitching standpoint I believe you will see quick hooks when pitchers struggle, starters/relievers he can mix and match until he's comfortable. Right now, identify and rank the staff ignoring any labels.

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There are some injured players, Bianco, Simon and Leto that may change things in the Spring,

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Simon is out till next year. May get cleared in the summer.

Baseball lineups are so interesting because it’s the balance of top hitters vs top fielders. With the addition of a top-5 hitter inserted in with our two stud freshman last year, this team is loaded.

LSU baseball is back with a vengeance this season.

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Leto was in a sling the first weekend of practice. By the second weekend he was suited up and out of the sling. He looks good but not practicing. Reading between the lines, I don't think the injury would keep him from playing in 2022. I think it has more to do with Johnson figuring out a way to keep more than 40 players.
You know more about this stuff than me, but I think in Jan. they will discuss things like players playing a percentage of time in the first half of the season and then taking a redshirt.

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Mainieri watched players in practice and games and use his wealth of baseball experience and knowledge to decide who should start and where. This caused a lot of experimenting with different scenarios.

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coughHelmerscough

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Is there a chance he's not in the lineup?

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Barring injury or just a huge slump, I don't see any scenario where Berry won't be in the lineup. Whether he plays defense or just DH is the only question.

Right now I think Berry is considered possibly the first pick in the draft for 2022. There could be an argument that he was the best player in college baseball last year. He hasn't torn the cover off in fall yet but is been hitting decent. I don't think you ever take his bat out of the lineup. I don't think you want him full-time at DH either because that will rob other players a shot there, Pearson, Drost, Leto, Jobert, etc... I think he will play his share of 3B but when it really counts I think you will see someone else there.

I actually like Stevenson more than Pearson. Stevenson is better defensively than Drost and Pearson. He doesn't possess the same power in his bat but his offense has not been lacking in the summer or fall.