With a new baseball season upon us, changes in player training, rule adjustments, and season predictions are at the forefront of discussions.
Coaches and players alike are weighing in on what’s different, what should return, and which teams are poised for success.
Baseball has long been associated with skill and strategy, but the modern game demands more from its athletes
Asst. Baseball Coach Juan Maldonado highlighted how conditioning has transformed the sport.
“I think you have to treat your body more like an athlete now. Baseball isn’t just a fat guy sport anymore,” he said. “You have to be a lot more in shape than you used to be, and that means taking your training a lot more seriously. You have to be doing a lot more weight training, getting in better shape, and focusing a lot on explosion- not just sitting around doing nothing all day.”
Joey Traina echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of player training.
“I would say the biggest change in player training is getting more coaches on staff who are able to put our focus on certain positions,” he said. “If we have one coach designated to working with catchers, outfielders, and hitters, I think we got some really good coaches on our staff that are able to help them and elevate the kids’ skills in different aspects of the game.”
For players, the shift in training focus is just as apparent. Arvee A. Ford, a seasoned player, emphasized the role of fundamentals.
“I feel like as I’ve been playing for a long time, I’ve started to focus more on the fundamentals of the game, “ Ford said. “Before I focused more on how I looked and that didn’t really get me anywhere. But I feel like if you focus more on the fundamentals and the small steps it takes to be great, that’s what makes you a better player. The small fundamentals and mentality are a part of the game.”
With Major League Baseball implementing rule changes in an effort to modernize the game, not everyone is on board.
Juan Maldonado believes that the pace of play adjustments, such as the pitch clock, have altered the game unnecessarily.
“They’re trying to speed up the game too much. I think a lot of it is unnecessary,” he said. “Baseball is not meant to be played at 100mph all the time. Sometimes you need to slow down. For example, the pitch clock- I think that’s a little bit unnecessary. You don’t need it all the time. The pickoff rules- I don’t think those are helping a whole lot. I think you should let the game play how it’s supposed to be played.”
MHS Coach Joey Traina took a different stance, pointing on the impact of replay reviews.
“That’s a tough one, I’m gonna keep this one simple,” he said. “I think the game should go back to the old-fashioned way of how it used to be. Okay, if they have too many instant replays and are able to challenge the umpire’s call, I think it should go back.”
When it comes to championship predictions, one team consistently comes up- The Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Well I would like the Cubs to win the whole thing, but being realistic, the favorites are probably the Dodgers again,” said Juan Maldonado.
Ford agreed with the Dodgers’ dominance but remained loyal to his team.
“I’m going to go with the Yankees, you know, that’s my favorite team,” he said. “But if I’m being realistic, I’d probably say the Dodgers because they have a really good bullpen this year. They’ve only been adding to their bullpen, and yeah, I feel that’s probably gonna be the team to win it. But you know, I always want the Yankees to win it. But you know, I always want the Yankees to win,”
Coach Joey Traina, however, sees a different outcome. “The Boston Red,” he predicted.
As the season unfolds, fans will see if the changes in training, rule adjustments, and bold predictions hold true. One thing is certain- baseball season is back, and the excitement is just getting started.
