There are leaks in the piping, but no need to call a plumber.
Ping! Alden Carrithers, newfound left fielder and leadoff man, rockets a fastball half way to the 405 freeway.
The house may be shaky, but no need to summon the wrecking ball.
Thwack! Brandon Crawford, shortstop extraordinaire, snatches away a sure base hit with a spectacular dive, whirls, and fires a frozen rope to first.
Leaks plugged, housing repaired. Or is it?
Whiff! Six Bruins strike out against Cal State Northridge, falling 4-0 on Tuesday night.
Nevertheless, this is not the time to panic.
UCLA baseball, winner in four of its last six games (despite Tuesday’s loss), has slowly begun to work its magic again, with shaman John Savage, the wizened veteran manager, leading the way.
After preseason publications deemed an upstart Bruin squad the best in the country, it the team’s legs may have shaken under the weight of expectations. An injury here, an error there. Bad starts and bad swings led to speculations of a disappointing season by once-hopeful Bruin fans. It is clear, however, that there is no need to sound the alarm just yet.
Just last season, after beginning the season 8-14, the Bruins tore through the Pac-10 conference to reach the Super Regionals, falling just one round shy of the College World Series. The recent upsurge in play, including a sweep of UC Riverside last weekend, indicates that this year’s model may be ready to do the same.
In order to rebound, the Bruins must avoid the Jekyll and Hyde mentality that has plagued the team offensively. If UCLA hopes to build a second consecutive turnaround season, Savage, the contractor, will need to draw up the proper blueprints. Carrithers and Crawford must provide a solid foundation and framework upon which the rest of a winning structure is based.
Carrithers is a prime example of the Bruins’ turnaround: playing hard, doing as he is told, helping the team to win in whatever way possible. In an effort to spark the offense, Carrithers was bumped to the leadoff role and has responded tremendously, batting at a scorching .392 clip. In many ways, Carrithers typifies the type of player that makes the game great: tough, hardworking and talented, with a dazzling glove and a stroke of power to boot.
Crawford is slick, smooth and stylish with bat and with glove. Perhaps the best major league prospect on the team, he has rebounded from a slow start to spark a resurgent offense with the type of power and patience that was expected of him to start the season.
For the Bruins to complete their resurgence, however, the remainder of the team will need to continue contributing to that winning structure. Spark plug third baseman Jermaine Curtis provides electricity as well as foot-speed on the base paths. A throwback in looks and in his rugged play, Curtis and his knee-high socks have the potential to change any game. The pitching staff behind front-line starter Tim Murphy must harness some of the workload as well. Sophomore Gavin Brooks, who dazzled in the postseason a year ago, appears to be emerging as a southpaw sensation, while Arizona-born fireballer Charles Brewer has the talent to become an ace.
There is much work to be done if the Bruins are to feel comfortable about securing an at-large bid to the postseason, but hard work is this team’s calling card. Savage can only hope that when all is said and done, he’s built a champion.
E-mail Salter at ksalter@media.ucla.edu.