Dubois: A lineup that should change

• By CARL DUBOIS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Apr 22, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:20 a.m.

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You won’t find suggestions below for a lineup, pitching rotation and substitution philosophy for LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri. He’s received plenty of those already.

More are out there, whether painstakingly designed or drawn on a napkin.

My to-do list for Mainieri is different.

1. Return the display of SEC pennants at Alex Box Stadium to the order of the conference standings for the weekend series with South Carolina.

2. Figure out how to get the LSU flag closer to the front of the line than the back without compromising that tradition at the Box.

If Mainieri doesn’t think longtime fans have noticed the pennants flying in alphabetical order this season, he’s underestimated their attention to detail about things they hold dear.

They’re used to seeing them in order of the SEC Western and Eastern Division standings. They’ve been known to bring it to someone’s attention when the order is incorrect.

They’re suspicious of the reasons for the change.

Early this year, the crew in charge of raising and lowering the pennants explained it as trying something different this season. Pressed for more details, they said Mainieri didn’t like seeing LSU’s pennant near the end of the line for the SEC West.

The way LSU’s most baseball-savvy fans would prefer that problem be solved is to win more conference games and earn a more desirable spot for LSU’s pennant.

Switching to alphabetical order? That won’t fly with the kind of fans who cheer gutsy pitching and outstanding plays — for either team — and respect the game and tradition.

The Tigers are five one-run losses and a tie away from being pennant No. 1 in the West. Instead, they are fifth on that now-imaginary row, 11th overall in the conference.

The fans who made the Box what it was in the glory days — and still come despite the prospect of a third consecutive season without a postseason — have a high standard. The tradition of flying the pennants from best to worst is a powerful symbol of that standard.