33. UC SANTA BARBARA

2008 RECORD. Overall: 35-21. Conference: 14-10 / 3^rd in Big West Conference.

Coach: Bob Brontsema (406-400, 17^th year).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 22 vs St. Louis at Bakersfield, Calif.

 

OVERVIEW: UCSB has largely been lost in the shuffle in the powerful Big West Conference in recent years as Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State and UC Irvine, and even UC Riverside and Cal Poly, have seized more of the national spotlight. But the Gauchos narrowly missed out on an NCAA regional berth last year and have an experienced group of returning players, along with some prime recruits, and could easily bump the magic 40-win mark this spring. Pitching is the team’s obvious strength, and the projected rotation of junior RHPs Mike Ford and Joe Gardner, and sophomore LHP Mario Hollands all have 90-plus arms and proven track records—especially in summer competition. Freshman LHP Kevin Joyce, a 10^th-round pick in last year’s draft, has the raw stuff to be a future impact talent but he may have to wait his turn initially, and work more in a mid-week role. Senior SS Shane Carlson and senior OF Brian Gump give UCSB offensive talent and experience in the middle of the field.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Marty Mullins, Jr. (.357-5-46 at West Valley, Calif. , JC).

1B: Eric Oliver (3), Sr. (.315-5-35).

2B: Steve Cook, Sr. (.250-3-13).

3B: Robby Cummings (4), Sr. (.295-2-9).

SS: Shane Carlson, Sr. (.349-6-53).

LF: John DeAlba, Sr. (.297-2-18).

CF: Brian Gump (1), Sr. (.318-4-36, *25 SB).

RF: Mark Haddow, So. (.231-1-8).

DH: Matt Valaika, Jr. (.333-2-5).

1/Starter: Mike Ford, Jr. (6-4, *2.96, *94 IP/*76 SO).

2/Starter: Mario Hollands, So. (7-3, 4.03, 82 IP/61 SO).

3/Starter: Joe Gardner, Jr. (5-6, 5.20 at Ohlone, Calif. , JC).

Closer: Clayton Edwards, Jr. (0-2, 7.50, *3 SV, 18 IP/13 SO).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Brian Gump.

Best Overall Hitter: Eric Oliver.

Best Power Hitter: Robby Cummings.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Eric Oliver.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Brian Gump (6.67 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Brian Gump.

Best Defender: Matt Valaika.

Best Infield Arm: Shane Carlson.

Best Outfield Arm: Mark Haddow.

Best Fastball (velocity): Joe Gardner/Mike Ford (93 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Joe Gardner.

Best Changeup: David Meals.

Best Command: Mario Hollands.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Chris Joyce, lhp. Joyce turned down a 10^th-round offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers last June in favor of attending UCSB. Pitching against college competition will be nothing new to Joyce, who spent the last two summers pitching for the California Collegiate League’s Santa Barbara Foresters, the 2008 National Baseball Congress World Series champion. Joyce isn’t overpowering, but he can touch the low 90s with good running action on his fastball and has a quality curveball.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Mario Hollands, lhp: The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Hollands red-shirted in 2007 because he wasn’t ready to pitch at the college level, so he will be draft-eligible this June. Hollands is very athletic and that has enabled him to make major strides over the last two years to a point where he is now a three-pitch southpaw with solid pitchability. His fastball touches 90 mph.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Mike Ford, rhp / Joe Gardner, rhp. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Ford has led the Gauchos in innings and strikeouts in his first two seasons, but his finest moment came last summer when he pitched his hometown Santa Barbara Foresters to the NBC World Series title, spinning a five-hit shutout in the championship game for his third win of the tournament. Ford returns as UCSB’s Friday-night starter. He can bump his fastball up to 93 mph and uses a hard split-finger pitch to get many of his strikeouts. Gardner also excelled in summer ball, going 8-0, 0.83 overall while pitching in Alaska . Despite his size, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound JC transfer isn’t a true strikeout pitcher. He has good command of an 89-92 mph fastball and his success stems more from his ability to locate his fastball down in the zone and the excellent movement he gets on his heavy, two-seamer, which induces a steady stream of ground balls. His slider and changeup are also effective weapons, especially the slider.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Brian Gump, of. Gump was drafted by the New York Mets in the 44^th round in 2008 and should improve on that slot significantly with a strong senior season. He’s a plus runner (25 steals in 2008) with very good arm strength from center field and has some gap power from the left side.

--DAVID RAWNSLEY