[Updated] Bruin Baseball Regular Season Review

Echoing T in the comment thread I also want to thank Rye on behalf of the entire BN for the way he has kept us apprised of Bruin baseball. GO BRUINS. -N

Update [2007-5-28 12:42:13 by ryebreadraz]: The Bruins have been given the #2 seed in the Long Beach Regional where they will take on Pepperdine. I will have a postseason preview up on Tuesday. I'm going to try and do some research on all 4 teams in the region before I write it up.

The UCLA Bruins baseball team entered the 2007 season with high expectations coming off a 2006 season in which they started 6 freshman and still reached a regional. However, the Bruins lost their top 2 starting pitchers to the MLB draft and their leading hitter, So. 3B Jermaine Curtis was academically ineligible until conference play started. This left an otherwise bright outlook somewhat dim and the Bruins struggled early in 2007.

The Bruins got off to a 3-0 start, but they began to struggle soon after, culinating with a pathetic streak in which they lost 10 of 12. The Bruins' record was 8-14 at that point and it looked as if the season was over with their talent wasted. However, their turnaround began their next game, fittingly with a remarkable come from behind him. The Bruins trailed 8-1 in the 8th inning versus lowly Pacific, but the Bruins came back by UCLA pounded out 14 runs in the 8th inning to come back and win 15-8. UCLA would then win their next game to improve to 10-14 as they entered Pac 10 play with Curtis returning from ineligiblity. The Bruins swept Stanford to open conference play and took 2 of 3 from Washington the next weekend leaving their record at 15-15. After falling to UC Irvine in a midweek game, UCLA continued their Pac 10 dominance by sweeping USC at Dedeaux Field to clinch the Gauntlet and improve their record to 18-16 overall and 8-1 in conference. The Bruins then beat Pepperdine in a midweek game and swept Cal State Northridge to win their 7th straight game. UCLA lost their next game, but stayed hot and won 6 of their next 8 to move their record to 28-19.

The Bruins would then travel to Arizona St. for a machup of the Pac 10's top 2 teams. The Bruins played well, holding a late lead in all 3 games, but a faulty bullpen and some bad luck saw them drop all 3 games as the Bruins began to struggle due to some poor pitching. UCLA then went to Washington St. where they lost 2 of 3 before returning home to conclude the regular season versus Oregon St. After losing the Friday and Saturday game the Bruins pulled out a good win on Sunday giving themselves a 30-26 record and 14-10 conference record. This left the Bruins in sole possession of 3rd place in the Pac 10 and a lock for a regional birth.

The season proved both the Bruins inexperience and their potential. While some see the Bruins as a darkhorse to make the College World Series in Omaha, others see them as a team poised for a quick exit from their regional. UCLA was led on the mound this season by Brummett who finished with a 9-5 record, 3.60 ERA and was named to the All Pac 10 team. After projected Saturday starter Fr. RHP Charles Brewer was set back by mononucleosis and missed the majority of the season, the Bruins starting centerfielder So. LHP Tim Murphy took the mound for UCLA on Saturdays. He responded well, especially during conference play where he earned Pac 10 honorable mention for his work on the hill. Sunday's starter, Fr. LHP Gavin Brooks was up and down all season, but finished the season strong, getting a complete game victory in the season finale versus the Beavers. A combonation of Fr. RHP Garrett Claypool, Jr. RHP Brant Rustich, Sr. RHP Kevin Brophy, So. RHP Jason Novak and following his return, Charles Brewer have given UCLA a solid bullpen.

At the plate, the Bruins were led by their sophomore class, as well as Jr. 2B Alden Carrithers and Fr. OF Gabe Cohen. Following his return Curtis moved into the leadoff roll and batted .316 with a .399 OBP. Carrithers batted second with a .351 average and team-leading 49 runs scored. The Bruins best hitter, So. SS Brandon Crawford batted 3rd and led the Bruins with 53 RBI and had a .342 average and 7 homeruns. The projected top 10 pick in the 2008 MLB draft will be counted on heavily in the NCAA tournament to produce. UCLA's biggest power threat So. 1B/DH Cody Decker batted cleanup for the Bruins and finished with 52 RBI and a team-leading 13 homers. Batting 5th is Cohen who led the Bruins in batting with a .357 average, while Sr. OF Will Penniall batted 6th with a .311 average. The projected 7 hitter in the postseason is Sr. 1B Tim Stewar who missed the majority of the season with a broken finger, however he returned this weekend and had 7 RBI. Batting 8th and playing centerfield was a platoon of Fr. OF Justin Uribe and So. OF Brady Dolan. Batting 9th is So. C Ryan Babineau, who provides power at the bottom of the order and is one of the best defensive catchers in the nation.

Looking towards the postseason, the Bruins figure to get a #3 seed in a regional and likely will play close to home. However, keep in mind that the Bruins are not a lockto make a regional. Everyone expects them to get in, but selection committees have done weirder things. The NCAA announced the 16 regional hosts today and the 2 that seem most likely for the Bruins to land in is either Long Beach or San Diego. Long Beach St. is the host in Long Beach and they will host their regional at their home facility, Blair Field. Meanwhile, USD is the host in San Diego, but to do an inadequate facility, they will host at San Diego St.'s Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Bruins seem likely to end up in either Long Beach or San Diego where they will be the #3 seed. The #1 seed would be the host school and the #2 seed will likely be either UC Riverside or UC Irvine.

The Bruins have had a rocky season, but the talent that was there at the beginning of the season is still there now as they head into postseason play where all the teams' record are erased and everyone has an equal shot. The tournament selection show, "The Road To Omaha" will be on Monday at 9:30 am PST on ESPN so tune in and see where the Bruins end up then check back here on BN where I'll post a postseason preview. Go Bruins!!!