When LSU began fall baseball practice last September, coach Paul Mainieri's main task was putting together a pitching staff.

That job was well accomplished by Mainieri and pitching coach Alan Dunn. Led by Freshman National Pitcher of the Year Alex Lange, the Tigers led the Southeastern Conference in earned run average. The results of the year were excellent - a SEC title and an appearance in the College World Series.

Mainieri has a totally different task when this year's fall practice starts Sunday. He must find replacements for eight everyday starters. The only returning position starter is junior leftfielder Jake Fraley. Obviously, much of fall practice will be spent on determining the 2016 lineup.

"I tried to put on a positive face before last season when we had to develop a new pitching staff," said Mainieri in an exclusive interview with TigerBait.com. "Given the choice, I would rather have experienced pitchers than an experienced lineup.

"You know that you can be competitive in every game with good pitching. But, to be competitive with good pitching, you better have a pretty good defense to play behind the pitchers."

Junior Kramer Robertson is the only player in the mix for an infield starting spot with any real experience. The other four players in the competition for the three infield spots are sophomore Greg Deichmann, junior college transfer Cole Freeman and freshmen Trey Lawson and O'Neal Lochridge.

"When we start practice Sunday, we'll look at three guys at shortstop," Mainieri said. "Dawson and Robertson will be the starters in the first intrasquad game at shortstop. Freeman, who will start the first intrasquad game at second base, will also play some at shortstop.

"Eventually, I want to narrow it down to two at shortstop. That would allow the other guy to join the competition at second or third. Two-thirds of the way through the fall, I want to have figured out who is the starting shortstop. Then, the other player could also move to either second base or third base."

Decihmann and Lochridge will be the two starters at third base for the first intrasquad game. Freshman Chris Reid will be the other starting second baseman during the fall scrimmages.

"Dawson looks good taking ground balls," Mainieri said. "All three guys have the ability to play shortstop. They have the hands, the feet and the arm strength. This is not terribly unlike three years ago when we had Alex Bregman, Christian Ibarra and JaCoby Jones line up at shortstop in fall practice.

"Lochridge has shown well in the individual drills. Deichmann has improved as a hitter. He swung the bat really well the second half of the summer. Greg just needs to make contact. He runs really well. Will Greg's defense be strong enough at third base or does he have to find another position?"

Mainieri will be keeping open first base for one of the players who lose out in the competition for the other three infield spots. Sophomore Bryce Jordan and junior college transfer Bryce Adams will be the primary first basemen during fall practice. Bryce Jordan is also the No. 3 catcher.

Mike Papierski and Jordan Romero are in a two-way race to be the starting catcher. Mainieri feels sure that both Papierski and Romero will be ready to play in the SEC.

"Papierski's hitting has really improved," Mainieri said. "We have made some changes with his swing. Romero can really throw from behind the plate. Both of these guys throw as well as anybody, so we will be able to stop the running game."

Mainieri will give Fraley an opportunity to win the starting assignment in centerfield. But, it would not be surprising to see freshman Antoine Duplantis in centerfield and Fraley in rightfield. Sophomore Beau Jordan and freshman Brennan Breaux will compete for the starting job in leftfield.

"We'll try Fraley in centerfield and see what he looks like," Mainieri said. "I would love for him to play centerfield in his draft eligible year. I am really high on Duplantis and Breaux. They have really stood out in the individual drills."

Junior college transfer Cody Ducote has not able to throw because of a sore shoulder. He also cut his hand which is preventing him from swinging a bat. Ducote may end up being a designated hitter. Freshman Brody Wofford is also working in the outfield.

Even though Zac Person is the only pitcher not returning from last season's staff, Mainieri and Dunn have one big goal - identifying a No. 3 and even a No. 4 starter. LSU's last two postseasons ended due to the lack of starting pitching depth. The days of pitching midweek games by committee may be over.

"When we got to the third game (in the College World Series) last year and the fourth game (in the regional) the year before, not having that one starter has hurt us," Mainieri said. "We have had to mix and match. But, if just one or two of the guys have a bad day, you are going to lose.

"Not having a third or fourth starter hasn't been as successful for us in the postseason. I don't know if it's because the quality of the opposition is better or the kids have had bad days. One of our main goals in the fall is finding two other starters. We want somebody established as a third and fourth starter."

Four pitchers will get a long look as potential third and fourth starters behind Lange and junior Jared Poche - senior transfer John Valek, sophomores Jake Godfrey and Doug Norman and redshirt freshman Jake Latz. Mainieri will have these four pitchers go as long as five innings in fall scrimmages.

According to Mainieri, Latz is healthy. Austin Bain had surgery for a bone spur in his shoulder and he will miss fall practice. Mainieri expects Bain to be ready for practice in January.

Dunn must set up roles in the bullpen. The three pitchers expected to pitch at the end of games are juniors Parker Bugg and Hunter Newman and sophomore Jesse Stallings. Two newcomers have impressed Mainieri in individual drills - junior college transfer Riley Smith and freshman Caleb Gilbert.

There is no doubt that the burden of success will fall upon the Tigers pitching staff in 2016.

"Expectations are always high at LSU," Mainieri said. "The more experience you have, the more things you can do. These guys (pitchers) are smart. They know we lost eight of nine everyday starters. The pitchers have to carry the load. To win in the SEC, you have to dominate on the mound."

INFIELDERS

No. Name Hgt. Wgt. Class Hometown

3 Kramer Robertson 5-10 165 Jr. McGregor (Tex.)

4 Bryce Adams 6-4 210 Jr. Baton Rouge

7 Greg Deichmann 6-2 185 So. Metairie

9 O'Neal Lochridge 6-1 200 Fr. Lafayette

10 Trey Dawson 6-1 185 Fr. Hurricane (W.Va.)

17 Chris Reid 5-10 185 Fr. Baton Rouge

22 Cole Freeman 5-9 185 Jr. Mandeville

25 Bryce Jordan 5-9 205 So. Lake Charles

OUTFIELDERS

No. Name Hgt. Wgt. Class Hometown

5 Cody Ducote 5-9 190 Jr. Kenner

6 Brennan Breaux 6-0 180 Fr. Scott

8 Jake Fraley 6-0 185 Jr. Middletown (Del.)

14 Brody Wofford 6-2 180 Fr. Rome (Ga.)

20 Antoine Duplantis 5-11 180 Fr. Lafayette

24 Beau Jordan 5-9 205 So. Lake Charles

CATCHERS

No. Name Hgt. Wgt. Class Hometown

2 Mike Papierski 6-3 205 So. Lemont (Ill.)

28 Jordan Romero 6-2 225 Jr. Baton Rouge

43 Trent Forshag 5-9 185 Fr. New Orleans

PITCHERS

No. Name Hgt. Wgt. Class Hometown

12 Hunter Devall 5-8 180 Sr. Clinton

16 Jared Poche 6-1 205 Jr. Lutcher

18 Austin Bain 6-2 185 So. Geismar

21 Doug Norman 6-3 190 So. Fort Mill (S.C.)

23 Jake Godfrey 6-3 215 So. New Lenox (Ill.)

27 John Valek 6-0 175 Sr. Parkland (Fla.)

29 Nick Bush 6-1 175 Fr. Leesburg (Ga.)

30 Collin Strall 5-10 170 Jr. Suwanee (Ga.)

32 Alden Cartwright 6-0 190 Jr. Baton Rouge

33 Cole McKay 6-5 230 Fr. Spring Branch (Tex.)

35 Alex Lange 6-3 200 So. Lee's Summit (Mo.)

37 Jesse Stallings 6-2 195 So. Colfax

38 Troy Whitty 6-5 230 So. Easton (Mass.)

40 Ryan May 6-1 155 So. Baton Rouge

41 Caleb Gilbert 6-2 180 Fr. Hoover (Ala.)

44 Riley Smith 6-2 180 Jr. Lufkin (Tex.)

45 Russell Reynolds 6-2 185 Jr. Baton Rouge

46 Parker Bugg 6-6 210 Jr. San Diego (Cal.)

55 Hunter Newman 6-3 195 Jr. Bloomingdale (Ga.)

67 Jake Latz 6-2 200 Fr. Lemont (Ill.)