In response to my friend Chris Webb’s question on twitter this week, I gave my very early prediction for next year’s field in Omaha just a couple hours after South Carolina laid Rosenblatt to rest.
Now that I’ve had a little more time to think, I’ll elaborate on my picks here. For everyone who doesn’t follow me on twitter, my eight are UCLA, Florida, Texas, TCU, Cal State Fullerton, Oregon, Virginia and North Carolina.
I’ve given this a lot more thought since I rather rashly tweeted my picks (But what else are you supposed to do on twitter besides act rashly?). I’ve wondered if UCLA, Fullerton, Texas and TCU can actually all make it to Omaha because of the way Super Regionals tend to work. That group sent only two teams to the College World Series this year because they composed two Super Regionals, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to find those same matchups next year.
I feel pretty confident UCLA and Fullerton won’t be matched up in Super Regionals next year, because I anticipate the Bruins being the No. 1 national seed and the Titans will probably get a better draw than that. Texas and TCU however, that might be replayed in 2011. I think I can speak for college baseball fans everywhere when I say I hope the Longhorns and Horned Frogs don’t see each other before the College World Series.
Anyway, I’ll leave it to the committee to keep UCLA, Fullerton, Texas and TCU separate before the final eight. I just want to see them all in TD Ameritrade Stadium next summer. Now for a closer look at my predictions.
UCLA
I picked the Bruins to take home the title this year because of their two phenomenal sophomore aces. That was before I was blown away by Trevor Bauer for two weeks in Omaha. Nothing I had been told or had seen in limited viewings of the right-hander prepared me for his dominance in two outings at Rosenblatt.
Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole and the UCLA lineup didn’t disappoint either. The Bruins went home without a championship, but you can be sure they are hungrier than ever and with a bit of experience. UCLA will be the preseason favorite by just about every publication, but I’m sure it will handle the pressure just fine.
Florida
When you really break down the job Kevin O’Sullivan did this year, it’s nothing short of amazing. Sure the Gators had plenty of talent, but they were also full of freshmen and sophomores in key positions. I personally can’t wait to see Preston Tucker, Austin Maddox and Nolan Fontana all back in the infield next year. Florida’s entire rotation comes back and while the team had a disappointing two and out in Omaha this year, that experience will be valuable come next spring.
Texas
The Longhorns probably won’t have the nation’s best rotation anymore and even that wasn’t enough to get them to the College World Series this year. They’ll have to replace Kevin Keyes and Cameron Rupp as well. And yet, I’ll go with Texas.
Taylor Jungmann should give the Longhorns an unbeatable Friday starter and I’ll trust Augie Garrido from there. If Texas can find a couple of bats somewhere, it should find itself as a national seed once again.
TCU
This year’s College World Series’ darling won’t take anyone by surprise next year. Matt Purke, who was nothing short of dominant this year, is one of the elite pitchers who could turn in a breathtaking 2011. Coupling Purke with Kyle Winkler should give the Horned Frogs the tandem they need to make a return trip to Omaha, even if they have to go through Austin again.
Fullerton
The Titans are probably wondering what happened a few weeks ago. Fullerton found itself one out away from a trip to the College World Series when all of a sudden UCLA snatched it from under its nose. You can beat the Titans are eager to get another crack at Omaha.
Replacing first-rounders Christian Colon and Gary Brown in the lineup won’t be easy, but Fullerton did play the final stretch of the year without Brown. The Titans’ returning pitchers will allow them some time to figure the lineup out starting with Noe Ramirez, who outdueled Cole in Super Regionals.
Oregon
Yes, in just the third season after some very long, baseball-less winters in Eugene, I think the Ducks will make it to the College World Series. Oregon is a young team, but it knows how to play baseball. The Ducks won 40 games this year and finished second in the Norwich Regional. With the pitching staff Oregon will be able to throw every weekend, I think Omaha is a very reachable. It will have to manage high expectations, but this team ought to be ready for them now.
Virginia
Like so many of my other picks, the Cavaliers are led by a top-flight pitching staff. Danny Hultzen is one of the best Friday starters in the country and has big game experience. The Cavaliers will have to find a replacement for Jarrett Parker at the top of the order. But now that UVA has the experience of making it to Omaha and a disappointing Super Regionals loss, it should have the seasoning to stand up to expectations all season and return to the College World Series.
North Carolina
They can’t all be easy picks, and I’ll go out on a limb a little bit here. The Tar Heels had a very disappointing 2010, barely making Regionals. They lost Friday starter Matt Harvey to the Mets, but team USA invitee Greg Holt is a good piece to build around, as well as Levi Michael, who led the Heels in batting average this year. I’ll trust North Carolina not to miss the College World Series two years in a row.
This is the pick I’m least sure about, but you have to take someone from the Carolinas and I don’t feel good about any of the rest of those schools. So I’ll stick to may rash, mid-June prediction.
