[Hulk01]

Top Ten college baseball teams, consensus ranking (four services)
UCLA, 4
Mississippi State, 9
Stanford, 11

Vanderbilt, 19
North Carolina State, 20
Georgia, 21

Oregon State, 29
Arkansas, 33

Many astute voters (all two) and  coaches
know Vandy has killed in recruiting in the last two classes;
they have not played like #4,
but may have the  talent.

Oregon State is riding last season’s success to this ranking.
The bottom of their order is bad.
Their top long reliever and catcher are superb. 

UCLA is real.
Their two returning all conference every day players,
Ydens and Toglia, haven’t launched yet and the Bruins still drive the ball.
Stanford, with Tawa and Stowers relatively dormant, has been similar,
but UCLA has shown the superior offense.

Stanford’s relief pitching, and a breakout from our quiet pair
may key that series--perhaps the series of the decade in Stanford baseball.

[Hulk01]

Top Ten college baseball teams, consensus ranking (four services)
UCLA, 4
Mississippi State, 9
Stanford, 11

Vanderbilt, 19
North Carolina State, 20
Georgia, 21

Oregon State, 29
Arkansas, 33

Many astute voters (all two) and  coaches
know Vandy has killed in recruiting in the last two classes;
they have not played like #4,
but may have the  talent.

Oregon State is riding last season’s success to this ranking.
The bottom of their order is bad.
Their top long reliever and catcher are superb. 

UCLA is real.
Their two returning all conference every day players,
Ydens and Toglia, haven’t launched yet and the Bruins still drive the ball.
Stanford, with Tawa and Stowers relatively dormant, has been similar,
but UCLA has shown the superior offense.

Stanford’s relief pitching, and a breakout from our quiet pair
may key that series--perhaps the series of the decade in Stanford baseball.

[Hulk01]

Offense
Batting average:  UCLA .278, Stanford .251
Isolated Power:  UCLA .155. Stanford .124
Isolated On Base:  UCLA .102, Stanford .093
Total:  UCLA .535, Stanford .468

Pitching
Batting average:  UCLA .188, Stanford .212
Isolated Power:  UCLA .082, Stanford .070
Isolated On Base: UCLA .089, Stanford .073
Total: UCLA .359, Stanford .355

Margin over opponents: 
UCLA .176, Stanford .113

Not revealed here is the Maverick Effect.
But UCLA's catcher is excellent, too.
 
RPI ranks UCLA's schedule slightly tougher.

[Hulk01]

Offense
Batting average:  UCLA .278, Stanford .251
Isolated Power:  UCLA .155. Stanford .124
Isolated On Base:  UCLA .102, Stanford .093
Total:  UCLA .535, Stanford .468

Pitching
Batting average:  UCLA .188, Stanford .212
Isolated Power:  UCLA .082, Stanford .070
Isolated On Base: UCLA .089, Stanford .073
Total: UCLA .359, Stanford .355

Margin over opponents: 
UCLA .176, Stanford .113

Not revealed here is the Maverick Effect.
But UCLA's catcher is excellent, too.
 
RPI ranks UCLA's schedule slightly tougher.

[StanfordMatt]

What makes UCLA’s start even more impressive is that they’ve risen to the top spot while battling their share of injuries. We’re a little lucky to catch them early in the conference schedule this year. Ydens, who led the PAC-12 last year with a .406 average, has been out since March 1 with a fractured finger and probably won’t be healthy in time for their trip to Stanford next week.

[StanfordMatt]

What makes UCLA’s start even more impressive is that they’ve risen to the top spot while battling their share of injuries. We’re a little lucky to catch them early in the conference schedule this year. Ydens, who led the PAC-12 last year with a .406 average, has been out since March 1 with a fractured finger and probably won’t be healthy in time for their trip to Stanford next week.