re: UCLA wins 2013 CWS (Unsticky Please)

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20-80 grading scale, 50 is average:

LOUISIANA STATE (No. 4 national seed)

Record: 57-9. Preseason ranking: 10. Ranking at end of regular season: 2.

Season In A Nutshell: LSU got off to a torrid 33-2 start en route to the SEC West title. The Tigers lost just one series all year, and they enter the CWS red-hot. After losing to Arkansas in their second SEC tournament game, the Tigers ran through the losers’ bracket to capture the SEC title, and they have not lost since.

Who’s Hot (NCAA tournament numbers):
• So. RHP Aaron Nola (2-0, 0.00, 12-3 K-BB in 16 IP)
• Sr. OF Raph Rhymes (.444/.524/.500 in 18 AB)
• Fr. SS Alex Bregman (.400/.455/.650 in 20 AB)

Who’s Not (NCAA tournament numbers):
• Jr. 3B Christian Ibarra (.105/.261/.158 in 19 AB)
• Fr. OF Andrew Stevenson (.214/.389/.214 in 14 AB)

GRADING THE TIGERS

Hitting
Preseason: 60
Revised: 70

The Tigers rank 15th in the nation in batting and 12th in doubles, a reflection of their ability to pepper the gaps with hard line drives up and down the lineup. They also rank 13th in walks—every hitter in the lineup can work counts, and most of them are difficult to strike out.

Power
Preseason: 55
Revised: 60

Katz, Bregman, Ibarra and Jones can all hurt opponents with the long ball, although only Katz (15) has more than six homers on the year. LSU excels at stringing together hits and racking up doubles rather than sitting back and waiting for the three-run homer, and that makes the Tigers a good fit for TD Ameritrade Park. They rank in the nation’s top 30 in home runs and slugging.

Speed
Preseason: 70
Revised: 60

LSU doesn’t run a lot, ranking 204th in the nation in stolen bases per game, but that doesn’t mean the Tigers lack speed. Stevenson and Mark Laird have blazing speed in the outfield, where their wheels are a real asset. Jones and Bregman also run well, and both are savvy basestealers.

Defense
Preseason: 65
Revised: 70

Paul Mainieri has repeatedly said this LSU team is the best defensive college club he has ever seen. The Tigers have standout playmakers at every position on the diamond—even Rhymes has become a quality left fielder, fielding 1.000 on the season. A converted catcher, Bregman plays shortstop like a pro, not like a freshman. LSU did make five errors in a regional game against Sam Houston State, but that bizarre game accounted for about 10 percent of the team’s errors in 66 games this season. LSU’s .980 fielding percentage ranks fifth in the nation.

Starting Pitching
Preseason: 60
Revised: 60

Nola has a strong case as college baseball’s best pitcher, and he is coming off a two-hit shutout against Oklahoma in super regionals—his fifth complete game of the year, and third shutout. Nola by himself makes this an above-average rotation, and with the CWS spread out over a week and a half, he could conceivably impact three games in Omaha. Eades has electric stuff but inconsistent command, and he has not labored in the postseason (5 BB in 6.1 IP). Cody Glenn gives the rotation a solid lefthander with a low slot who could present a tough matchup for a lefty-leaning team like North Carolina or UCLA.

Bullpen
Preseason: 60
Revised: 65

Cotton isn’t a typical flame-throwing closer, with an 86-88 mph fastball, a good changeup and a solid curve. But he has been a rock at the back of the bullpen thanks to his impeccable command, as evidenced by his 45-3 K-BB mark in 44 innings. Rumbelow, LaMarche and Joey Bourgeois give this unit a trio of power options from the right side, while lefty Brent Bonvillain and righty Kurt McCune are useful swingmen.

Experience/Intangibles
Preseason: 60
Revised: 70

No holdovers remain from LSU’s last Omaha team in 2009, but upperclassmen like Katz, Jones, Ross and Rhymes have plenty of postseason experience. The Tigers, perhaps motivated by their super regional loss a year ago to Stony Brook, have demonstrated a knack for coming through in big spots all year, and Mainieri is a premier coach who knows how to push the right buttons. Bregman has special leadership qualities; he is the kind of player that championship teams are often built around, like Darwin Barney or Scott Wingo.

Baseball America OFP
Preseason: 60
Revised: 70

LSU heads to Omaha as the favorite to win the national championship. The Tigers are a complete club without any major weaknesses, and they are playing their best heading into the CWS.

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