Close Calls

The music booms from the loudspeakers, guitar chords wailing, as the relief pitcher trots in from the bullpen.

Only this isn’t Dodger Stadium and it’s not Eric Gagne making a grand entrance to the blaring Guns N’ Roses’ song “Welcome to the Jungle.”

The song is Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile”; the pitcher Blair Erickson, UC Irvine’s ace closer.

High-voltage introductions, it seems, are no longer limited to the major leagues.

“I can’t imagine what the opposing hitters are going through when the music comes on,” Erickson says. “I know it’s an adrenaline rush.”

When Erickson performs, it’s usually in front of hundreds instead of tens of thousands. But the sophomore’s dominance -- a 1.06 earned-run average with 10 saves and 51 strikeouts in 34 innings -- is an indication of why the closer’s role is becoming as important in college baseball as it is in the majors.

Teams such as Irvine, USC, Long Beach State, Pepperdine and defending College World Series champion Cal State Fullerton are in contention for postseason berths in part because they all have dependable closers.

“Closers have been around, but not to this extent,” said Long Beach Coach Mike Weathers, who has two top relievers in seniors Neil Jamison and Brian Anderson. “It isn’t new, but everybody seems to groom one now.”

One of the reasons USC failed to make the postseason the last two years was its inability to find a reliable finisher. This season, Coach Mike Gillespie turned to sophomore Paul Koss, who has a 2.97 earned-run average and 10 saves, and the Trojans are 35-18 and appear bound for the playoffs. Fullerton sophomore Vinnie Pestano, Pepperdine junior Steve Kleen and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo senior Mike Bille, a South Torrance High product, are also having strong seasons.

“Not everyone has one and it’s a luxury if you do,” Gillespie said. “But it’s certainly clear when we play somebody and we know they’re able to make it a seven-inning game. That’s a little intimidating.”

Only recently, major league teams have begun using high draft picks on pitchers who have been used exclusively in a relief role. In the last two drafts, Chad Cordero, Ryan Wagner, David Aardsma and Huston Street have been taken in the first round. Craig Hansen, a hard-throwing junior from St. John’s, is expected to go early in next month’s draft.

For teams with limited payrolls, it is cost-effective to draft a pitcher with a live arm who can quickly be groomed for a bullpen spot on a 25-man roster. That’s one reason why Cordero, a former Cal State Fullerton All-American, was the Montreal Expos’ top pick in 2003.

Making $346,500 in his second pro season, Cordero has 10 saves and an ERA of 0.86 for the Washington Nationals -- numbers better than two of the best closers in the business, Mariano Rivera and Billy Wagner, who are being paid more than $9 million.

Cordero set a career saves record with 34 in three years at Fullerton, but he said he never imagined being a first-round pick. “You think of starters being the ones who are No. 1 draft picks,” he said. “But now you’re starting to see that happen, especially with guys like Aardsma and Wagner.”

Ryan Wagner needed only 46 days to make the jump from the University of Houston to the bullpen of the Cincinnati Reds. Cordero became the Expos’ closer less than a year after signing. Street, an Oakland A’s rookie and a former star with the Texas Longhorns, is being groomed as the successor to Octavio Dotel.

Logan White, scouting director for the Dodgers, said Irvine’s Erickson is in the mold of Cordero. With a low-to-mid-90s fastball and a biting slider, he might be a first-round pick in 2006.

“A closer doesn’t have to throw more than two pitches,” said Irvine Coach Dave Serrano, who worked with Cordero at Fullerton. “The main thing is, he has to have command of his pitches and has to compete. I watch Chad Cordero pitch on TV and he is not doing anything different than what he did at Cal State Fullerton.

“In the case of Blair, at times he is off the charts. Not discounting what the other guys [I’ve coached] have done, but his stuff can be electrifying.”

Whereas college closers were rare until recently, scouting director White worries that too many coaches are using pitchers solely in one- or two-inning save situations and are limiting their development.

Coaches such as Weathers and Fullerton’s George Horton say that is a legitimate concern.

“I do worry about that,” Horton said. “Pacific has a great closer [Josh Schmidt]. I think they were entertaining the thought of starting him because he’s not getting save opportunities.You don’t want to waste one of your best pitchers.”

Said Weathers: “Some organizations look at it differently. Some people like that [a guy] has a fresh arm or that his arm isn’t burned out.”

Big league organizations have their own plans, but Erickson is set on remaining a closer as long as he’s allowed.

“The way I look at it, it’s my goal and my dream to play in the big leagues,” he said. “Looking at the latest trends and because there’s a need for college closers, if you do well you can move up fast and that’s what I want to do.”

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This weekend

Highlights of upcoming collegiate events:

*--* SOFTBALL

*--*

* NCAA super-regional at UCLA’s Easton Stadium, Georgia vs. UCLA, 6 p.m. today; 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. (if necessary) Saturday -- UCLA (34-17) went 4-0 against Georgia (54-13) when the teams met in February tournaments. Pitcher Anjelica Selden, a freshman, threw shutouts in three of those games, giving up nine hits and striking out 43 in 21 innings.

*--* BASEBALL

*--*

* West Coast Conference championship series, Pepperdine at Loyola Marymount, 3 p.m. today; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (if necessary) -- Coast Division champion Loyola Marymount (30-25), winner of 14 of its last 16 games, lost a playoff to Pepperdine in two games last season. West Division champion Pepperdine (36-21) would have a strong case for an at-large NCAA playoff berth even if it loses this series. The Waves have victories over highly ranked Cal State Fullerton, Tulane, Oregon State and Long Beach State.

*--* TRACK AND FIELD

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* NCAA West Region championships at Eugene, Ore., today and Saturday -- The top five finishers in individual events and the top three relay teams will move on to the NCAA championships in Sacramento in two weeks. UCLA’s women’s team, the defending national outdoor champion, is led by sprinter Monique Henderson, thrower Jessica Cosby and jumper Candice Baucham, all seniors. Bruin Jon Rankin is having a breakout season in the 800 and 1,500 meters. USC’s top performer has been hurdler Virginia Powell.

-- Eric Stephens