A new Pac-10 season has just begun, and the UCLA baseball team
hopes that it brings a fresh start.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, though, the Pac-10 doesn’t
appear like it will cooperate easily.
The conference has a strong argument for being the deepest in
the nation. Six of the nine conference teams have appeared in the
Baseball America Top 25 this season, and all but UCLA and
Washington State are well above .500.
“It’s the same as it always is,” junior first
baseman and co-captain Brett McMillan said. “We feel that the
Pac-10 is one of the top conferences if not the top conference in
the country. Playing top teams can make us a better
team.”
However, that strategy hasn’t worked thus far. Despite low
expectations, UCLA began the year surprisingly well, winning seven
of its first 11 games.
But the Bruins (7-18, 0-3 Pac-10) have lost 14 straight games
since then, including nine against top-25 teams.
Thanks to a 16-day break in March, the streak means that the
Bruins haven’t won since Feb. 25.
Thus, UCLA coach John Savage has had a long time to try to fix
the Bruins’ many problems.
“We’ve tried a lot of things,” Savage said.
“We’ve really gone back to fundamentals. We’ve
also had a sense of urgency in practice and made sure everyone is
accountable.”
“The season is long from being over.”
Last season, the Bruins made a dramatic playoff run for former
UCLA coach Gary Adams’ 30th and final season. Along with
Adams’ departure, 10 players signed pro contracts, leaving
few returners with much experience.
New life will be pumped into the program next year with Savage
signing what some publications are calling the top recruiting class
in the country.
That has left the program in somewhat of a rebuilding mode right
now.
“We knew there would be a time of transition,”
Savage said. “I think you’re seeing that right
now.”
Still, this year’s team is not ready to give up hope.
Despite digging themselves a three-game hole in conference, there
are still 21 conference games to go and enough time in the eyes of
the Bruins to make a turnaround this season.
“Everything is kind of tumbling on top of ourselves right
now,” junior catcher and co-captain Chris Denove said.
“The Pac-10 does present the opportunity for a fresh start.
We have the other seven teams to look forward to. We’ll be
ready.”
During its early season success, UCLA’s pitching staff,
led by ace sophomore Hector Ambriz, stifled opposing lineups and
the Bruins’ small-ball offense was able to generate enough
runs to win.
Recently, though, Savage points to the team’s pitching and
defense as two areas that have faltered.
“We’ve been giving the other team more than three
outs an inning,” Savage said. “And we don’t have
the power arms to get the strikeout in the big
situations.”
The long losing streak has probably cost a chance for returning
to the playoffs this year. At this point, though, the playoffs are
far from the Bruins’ minds, as they struggle to find a win
anywhere on their schedule.
Still, all optimism is not lost. However hard the Pac-10 is this
year, it still holds the potential for a new beginning.
“Losing is contagious,” Savage said. “If we
put a couple of good ball games together and get in the win column
our fortunes can turn just as quickly.”