Recapping UCLA's Weekend In Pullman

some of which can’t be pinpointed. No doubt the new coaches played a part in it because the players are adjusting to a new style and mindset. The team is also working a lot of new guys into the lineup who haven’t played much before. I guess looking back on it, the guys who left last year did leave a bigger hole than expected. I expected there to be some issues, but I don’t think anyone expected a dropoff like this.

The team was also going to have questions offensively, but what has killed them is their top of the roation pitching. Gavin Brooks was supposed to be the ace. That didn’t work out so Rasmussen became the ace, only that didn’t work out either. Now we have a freshman throwing on Fridays and that’s never a good thing. If we had a legitimate ace like we expected then we’d be one arm deeper throughout the rotation and have the best staff in the Pac 10. Instead, we have a good staff that will give you a chance nearly every game, but they won’t go out and steal wins for you, which is what we need with our offense. Throw in a defense that has been worse than expected and there are your issues.

In terms of expectations, I think it’s a tough question. The problem is where do you balance a history of mediocrity and a lack of commitment from the Morgan Center and fan base with playing in a talent rich region at a university that sells itself? I don’t really know the answer. Yeah, the Morgan Center should support the program more and the team should have a respectable facility instead of a piss poor one. Yeah, we should be near the bottom in the Pac 10 attendance every year with a fan base that lends little support. Fact is though that those are the realities for UCLA baseball and they’re able to counter that because they are recruiting to UCLA in a region stocked with talent that can, and does supply over a dozen programs with talent every year.

For me, I’d say that my current expectations and being in a regional every year and being the host from time to time so they can have the opportunity to advance farther. I think if that were the case, you could build to that next step of making it to Omaha semi-often and competing for a national title. College baseball is a game where a program is pretty consistent from year to year. Fullerton is always there with pitching and defense. When they can throw a powerful offense out there they go from Omaha team to national title favorite (like this year). LSU is and always has an offense that hits for absurd power and just asks their pitchers to eat up innings and don’t get rocked so the offense can win.

Most of the top programs have an identity and ride it year in and year out. UCLA doesn’t have an identity and a confidence about them from knowing they’re doing what past successful UCLA teams have done. It’s easy to put your ego aside when you show up at Fullerton and are asked to lay down a bunt because that’s what they do. It’s proven to be successful there and you have confidence that what you’re doing is the right thing.

UCLA needs to establish that identity so that players come to Westwood knowing that this team will be in a regional and that this team can play with anyone. They need to know that what their coaches are asking of them is the right thing to do because they have a track record at UCLA of success. Right now the program doesn’t have that because it’s always so up and down. The coaches need to establish that identity because that is what they’re going to have to sell and win with. I’ve given up on the Morgan Center making the necessary moves and the Bruin fans supporting just about any non-football/basketball teams the way they should. This program is going to have to win anyways. So with that said I"d say expectations are a regional every year and a top 25 program. Once that’s established then you can build, but for now I’d call that the level of success.