LSU's Mainieri has interesting ways

First things first, LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri is hamstrung with his pitching staff. Former coach Smoke Laval did Mainieri no favors when it came to leaving quality arms in Baton Rouge.

But if anyone can explain to me exactly what Mainieri's rationale has been with his rotation in conference play, please tell me. After Charlie Furbush on Friday nights, the next two games of the series have been started by seemingly anyone and everyone on the LSU staff.

Granted, Mainieri wanted to have Jared Bradford, who is the Tigers' best arm and so far savior, in the bullpen to close out games. That plan has been scuttled and then some. Bradford has pitched on Saturdays and Sundays and has been LSU's most reliable starter since the not-so-distant days of Nate Bumstead and Greg Smith.

Mainieri isn't pitching with a full deck, but his decisions have left several, if not many, LSU observers shaking their heads. It's time LSU settles on a conference rotation and gives itself a better chance to keep its perfect attendance mark at the SEC Tournament intact.