MarkLA
Joined: 12/06/11 Posts: 2,850
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Posted Thu, May 26 5:53 pm
(Edited Thu, May 26 5:53 pm)
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In response to Baseball: UCLA survives and advances w/ 14-8 win over UW (Woochifer)
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I thought they might pull Tredwell after an inning with such a big lead to save him for tomorrow. But, as you say, perhaps winning the tournament isn't the endgame here.
I didn't catch why Schrier was out today. Any insight? |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Fri, May 27 5:49 pm
(Edited Fri, May 27 5:52 pm)
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In response to Baseball: UCLA survives and advances w/ 14-8 win over UW (Woochifer)
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The elimination game between UCLA and Cal has started. Kelly Austin will start on the mound for the Bruins. He pitched just over an inning last night in relief. Still no sign of Max Rajcic, which is worrisome because if he's out with an injury then that would be the 5th Bruin starting pitcher unavailable.
Also, Palmer is starting in the leadoff spot, substituting for Schrier again. Gotta now wonder if indeed Schrier is injured. Even though he's only a freshman, Schrier is one of the Bruins' most reliable and consistent hitters.
But, Cal is starting a converted position player on the mound, making only his 2nd appearance of the season. So, looks like both teams are really thin in their pitching corps. That could result in a long high-scoring game, which neither team will want going into a potential elimination doubleheader against Oregon State on Saturday.
UCLA is off to a promising start in the 1st. Bases loaded with 1 out.
And just as I write that, Karros hits into an inning-ending double play. Yet another bases loaded opportunity squandered. Hope the Bruin pitching holds up.
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Sat, May 28 1:33 pm
(Edited Sat, May 28 1:40 pm)
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In response to Baseball: UCLA survives and advances w/ 14-8 win over UW (Woochifer)
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The Oregoninan reported this morning that James Hepp would start. This would be his first start of the season and only his 5th appearance overall. He lasted 2 innings, allowing 2 runs. But, so far the Bruin bats have been getting it done, scoring 7 runs in the first 2 innings. However, it could be even more of a blowout if not for the Bruins leaving the bases loaded in both innings.
If the Bruins are dropping as far back as James Hepp for a starting pitcher, I have to wonder who might start a second elimination game tonight if the Bruins win the early game.
Reading through some of the other fan forums, it sounds like Max Rajcic is nursing some aches and pains but he'll be ready to go for the regionals. Savage does not plan on using him for the Pac-12 tourney.
UPDATE: And just like that, Josh Hahn comes into the game in the 3rd and gives up 4 runs. The game is now 7-6. The Bruins do not need the bullpen battle that's shaping up. And it could get even worse if they indeed pull out the win in the early game and play the second game tonight. The Bruins can't really afford to burn out their pitching staff with the regionals looming next week. Yet, if they keep winning, the Pac-12 tournament will be a 5-day, 6-game slog for the Bruins. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Sat, May 28 4:40 pm
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In response to Baseball: UCLA survives and advances w/ 14-8 win over UW (Woochifer)
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The UCLA-OSU game is now approaching 4 1/2 hours, and it's not even an extra inning game. The Bruins are down 19-12 and likely to be eliminated today.
I understand the logic of going with a double elimination conference tournament. It emulates the NCAA double elimination format for the Regionals, and so it's a good way of preparing the Pac-12 teams for the postseason, right? After this inaugural tournament, my answer is an emphatic NO!
The Bruins had to start a freshman pitcher today who had appeared in only 4 games this season, and then dig deep into the bullpen for whatever arms are still available. The Bruin pitching staff has thrown 221 pitches through 8 innings. The OSU pitching staff is also scraping the bottom of the barrel. They've used 7 pitchers so far, and have thrown 211 pitches.
The double elimination format includes an "if necessary" game today. Suppose that UCLA somehow comes back in the bottom of hte 9th to win the game. Both teams have basically run out of pitchers. Who would they play in an elimination game? And for the winner of that game, who would be available for the championship game?
The current format is 5 days, with teams potentially playing up to 6 games during that stretch. Yes, it uses the same double elimination format as the NCAA Regional. But, it also burns out those teams that have to play 6 games in 5 days. Not exactly a formula for Pac-12 success in the NCAA Regionals.
Why not go with a single-elimination format? For the top 8 teams, that's up to 3 games in 3 days -- a normal weekend workload. In that format, the tournament could also include the bottomfeeders like Southern Cal and Utah in an early play-in game.
The Pac-12 tournament will be with us for at least the next 3 years, so why not make it actually work for the conference, rather than burning out the best teams going into the NCAA Regionals? |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Sat, May 28 5:05 pm
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In response to Baseball: UCLA survives and advances w/ 14-8 win over UW (Woochifer)
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I still think the Bruins are better off just taking their batting practice and getting out of town. But, the Bruin hitters had something else to say. They were down 21-12 going into the bottom of the 9th.
They've now scored 8 runs in the bottom of the 9th. Winning run is now at the plate. Unbelievable. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Sat, May 28 5:26 pm
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In response to Baseball: UCLA survives and advances w/ 14-8 win over UW (Woochifer)
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This is an absolutely nutty game. The Bruins scored 9 in the bottom of the 9th, and had the winning run on 1st with only 1 out. But, a strikeout and a groundout later, we're now in extra innings.
Savage has put Tredwell in. Probably the best option, but also the one pitcher that Savage did not want to use in this game. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Sat, May 28 5:43 pm
(Edited Sat, May 28 5:48 pm)
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In response to Baseball: UCLA survives and advances w/ 14-8 win over UW (Woochifer)
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Unbelievable. OSU scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th against Tredwell.
But, the Bruins got a single and double to start the bottom of the inning. An intentional walk of Kyle Karros loaded the bases with nobody out, and the OSU pitcher balked the tying run in. The next batter was freshman Tommy Beres who hit walkoff 3-run homer for the win.
https://twitter.com/UCLABaseball/status/1530726697531715584
The teams play again in 45 minutes. This is crazy. I have no idea if either team has any pitchers available, or if we're going to start seeing more converted position players. |
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Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
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Posted Sat, May 28 9:39 pm
(Edited Sat, May 28 9:46 pm)
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In response to Baseball: UCLA survives and advances w/ 14-8 win over UW (Woochifer)
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Man, I have to say this Bruin team is too young to know that big comebacks like these are not normal! In the 2nd elimination game of the day, the Bruins went down 5-0 in the 2nd inning. But, they've chipped away at the OSU lead, and they've taken a 7-6 lead in the top of the 7th.
Unbelievable resiliency shown by this Bruin team today. No quit in these guys.
The Bruins started Caedon Kottinger, a transfer only making his 2nd appearance of the season. When he gave up 4 runs in the 1st, Savage turned the game over to Jack Filby, another converted position player. Both pitchers came into the game with ERAs north of 20.00. That's how depleted this pitching staff is.
In the 3rd, Savage turned the ball over to Luke Jewitt, who pitched 4 strong innings to give the Bruin offense a chance. UCLA has the lead, and the game has been turned over to another converted position player, senior Jake Moberg. Moberg was originally taken in the MLB Draft as a pitcher in the 34th Round. But, at UCLA he has only played in the infield. This is his first pitching appearance as a collegian. Hold on tight, this could be a bumpy ride. |
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