| The old Boston Braves once had a saying: "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain." The adage meant pitch future Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, then Johnny Sain, then pray for rainouts because the Braves didn't have anyone else as good to pitch. The LSU Tigers employed a similar approach in their SEC Tournament opener Friday in Hoover, Alabama. The No. 1-ranked Tigers started Friday night ace Kade Anderson, then brought on typical Saturday starter Anthony Eyanson in relief for the first time this season. The result, unconventional as it may have been, was a 4-3 victory over Texas A&M. The win propelled LSU (43-13) into an uncertain pitching future starting with Saturday's semifinal matchup against Ole Miss. But at least the Tigers are in the semis. Speaking of the semifinals, Saturday's play was moved up about two hours because of the threat of rain in Hoover, Alabama (there's that praying for rain thing). LSU and Ole Miss are slated to start about 1:30 p.m., but probably later, after the first semi between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at 11 a.m. In other LSU news, the school has decided to retire the No. 4 jersey of Charles Alexander, the Tigers' running back great of the 1970s. This isn't retiring his number, but his jersey. Still, it is an exceedingly rare honor and a deserving one for "Alexander the Great." That's all for today folks. Enjoy the SEC Tournament, and have a great sports weekend. Scott Rabalais | 