Bruins Head North To Battle Huskies
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 25, 2008 6:34 PM PDT
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PrintBumped. GO BRUINS.-N
Sorry for not updating the results of the Bruins' games last weekend versus Stanford (they lost the first two games then won the series finale) or the midweek game versus UNLV (they won in 11 innings). I'll have regular updates from now on so on to this weekend's set in Seattle.
The Bruins have five Pac 10 series remaining as they head north this weekend and will need a strong finish if they want to make it to a regional. The first step to a strong finish is a series win versus a mediocre Washington club. Washington 24-14 on the year (against a weak schedule) and are tied with the Bruins at 4-5 in conference play. Despite being tied for 7th place, the Bruins are not in bad shape in the conference race. All the teams are tightly bunched together and the Bruin find themselves only 2.5 games out of first place.
The series opener (6:30 pm PST) matches UCLA's LHP Tim Murphy against Washington's RHP Jordan Merry. Murphy held the Stanford offense in check and gave the Bruins a chance to win last weekend, however his offense generated just one run in the UCLA loss. Murphy is 3-4 on the year with a 3.45 ERA, which is solid, but doesn't match Washington's Merry. Merry is a stellar 5-0 on the season with a 2.10 ERA. Merry's gaudy statistics aren't a product of Washington's weak schedule as his best starts have come against the Huskies toughest competition (nine innings, one run versus Oregon St.).
Saturday's tilt (2 pm PST) will pit UCLA's RHP Charles Brewer against Washington's RHP Cam Nobles. Brewer got off to a good start last weekend versus Stanford, shutting out the Cardinal in the first four innings, but it all fell apart in the fifth. Stanford struck for six runs in the fifth inning and Brewer was pulled after getting only two outs in the inning. This has been an issue for Brewer all year as he's made a habit of starting strong, but struggling in the middle innings. The sophomore has a 4-4 record and 5.90 ERA on the season. For the Huskies, Nobles has been nothing better than mediocre, but has done just enough to give the Huskies a chance to win. The sophomore throw in the high 80's and doesn't have excellent stuff, but throws strikes. Nobles is 3-2 on the season with a 4.14 ERA.
For Sunday's series finale (1 pm PST), UCLA will send LHP Gavin Brooks to the hill. Brooks has been the Bruins' best pitcher of late, stringing together three straight strong starts. The southpaw has given up two earned runs in each of the past three starts while going 8.1 innings, 8 innings and 6 innings, all Bruin wins. Brooks' resurgence has been keyed by improved command in his curveball and the tweaking to his fastball grip which has given the pitch some more cut. Opposite Brooks, the Huskies' send LHP Nick Haughian to the bump. Haughian has been solid for the Huskies all year, putting together a 4-3 record and 3.45 ERA. Last season, Haughian was the Huskies' ace and when Washington came down to Westwood, Haughian was roughed up badly. He didn't make it out of the second inning and allowed five runs and two home runs.
At the plate, Washington has struggled all season. The Huskies were a below average hitting team last season and lost their best hitter Matt Hague when he transfered to Oklahoma St. This season, Washington has only three players batting over .300 and two don't even start regularly. Their best hitter is LF Aaron Russell who is batting .429, but has only started in 13 games this year. The Huskies second best hitter also doesn't start regularly. 3B Brian Pearl is batting .343 on te year and is third on the team with 22 RBI, but has started only 17 games. The Huskies aren't overly aggressive on the basepaths either as nobody on the club has more than five steals on the year.
If you want to keep tabs on this weekend's games, you can follow it on GameTracker via the official site.
Bruin 2B Alden Carrithers, who has been the Bruins best hitter all season long, has been named to the Dick Howser Trophy watch list. Carrithers, a senior, is batting a sensational .401 with a .459 on-base percentage, 30 runs, 34 RBI and 14 stolen bases.
Pac 10 Standings:
1)Stanford- 8-4 (----)
2)Cal- 7-5 (1 GB)
Arizona St.- 7-5 (1 GB)
4)Arizona- 6-6 (2 GB)
Oregon St.- 6-6 (2 GB)
Southern Cal- 6-6 (2 GB)
7)UCLA- 4-5 (2.5 GB)
Washington- 4-5 (2.5 GB)
9)Washington St.- 3-9 (5 GB)
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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Status of the Bruins
So what is the take on the Bruins? Seems like lots of injuries, but I had believed that Savage had the depth to withstand that this year. Is there an on-the-field coaching issue?
Bill
Depends who you ask
They've been unlucky with injuries. Losing so many pitchers took a toll on their rotation and bullpen. Then their offense has been a disappointment, with players like Cody Decker, Jermaine Curtis, Gabe Cohen, Ryan Babineau and a host of others struggling at the plate.
Some have attributed this to coaching, specifically to hitting coach Brain Green. He is being criticized by a number of those close to the program for being too hands on. They say he's overcoaching and getting into the kids' heads, instead of just letting them go out there and hit. They say he's calling for hit and runs and other plays just to insert himself in the game (which seems likely considering some of the questionable play calls this year). Some have criticized Coach Savage for being too uptight. They say he hasn't handled the expectations well and that has trickled down to the players. Savage's teams have struggled the couple times there have been high expectations this season and at Irvine so this is possible.
On top of that, it seems like the baseball gods are working against them. They'll pitch well one game, but not hit. Then they hit well one game, but don't get pitching. They'll finally get both going the same game then get a bad bounce or bad call.
With seemingly everything going against them, the fact that the Bruins are 20-16, in contention in the Pac 10 and have a shot at making a regional just speaks to their outstanding talent.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 25, 2008 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Most agreed we were overrated at #1
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 26, 2008 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Quoting a BN member,
Bruins split the first two
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 26, 2008 5:38 PM PDT reply actions
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