UCLA Going For 19-0: Baseball Open Thread

They usually come out for at least one on the USC games when they’re at JRS and sometimes one other. I hope they make it out
for ASU.

But that’s the only one mentioned on the band website.

I’ll answer your questions then.

Recruiting

The majority of recruiting is done in the offseason. There is travel ball and showcases and scout teams and a ton of times for coaches to get out and see players. The top players, who are the ones a school like UCLA is going after, are actually better evaluated not in the spring.

In the spring, players play with the high school teams, which means they’re not always going against the best competition. In the fall, winter and especially summer, there are tournaments where most of the teams in the tournament are absolutely stacked with pro and college talents. Seeing recruits against that competition is the best.

During fall practice, it’s not unusual for coaches to give the players a day off here and there because they’re off recruiting at important tournaments and showcases. I know that one day this fall I went out to see what was going on and there was no practice because Coach Vanderhook and Savage were in Florida at a tournament. All I got to see was a couple dozen players who got together for a batting practice of their own.

Throughout the year, coaches are in constant contact with their top targets. Even during the season, they’re talking with recruits and selling them on UCLA. There will be a few games this year with a half dozen recruits in attendance, all of whom got a tour of the campus earlier in the day from a coach. Coaches also have people that they trust to help with their evaluations, either high school coaches, observers who know their stuff or MLB scouts. They do rely on those people to a certain degree as well too. The coaches do the bulk of their own evaluation and recruiting in the summer and fall though.

Staying Sharp

It’s definitely a concern when players don’t get much playing time and that’s why it’s so important that they put their own time in. They have to work in the batting cages and make sure that they’re making the most of their bullpen sessions. Because of classes and NCAA limits on coaches time with players, those who need the extra work because they’re not playing are somewhat left on their own. The players do their best to get into game situations when they can after the few practices they have.

In the summers, there are a ton of leagues out there. The Northwoods and Cape Cod Leagues are definitely the two major ones, but there is the New England Collegiate Baseball League, California Collegiate League, Alaska Baseball League and another six or seven as well. There are plenty of summer leagues out there and there are also a ton of local leagues and games where college players take part so they can get work in there too.

into the top of the 8th

Been a while since any Bruins team was 19-0.

They always seem to take advantage of what’s given them.

That really sucks. Wish I wasn’t 2 hours away, I would love to go to a game or two.

Should also be a good contest.

http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/w-wpolo/sched/ucla-w-wpolo-sched.html