Inside an average day in the Major Leagues
Hello Everyone,
I hope all is well. This week I'm going to let you in on a day's work for us at the major league level when we are at home at Nats Park.
It starts earlier than most people think, as coaches show up to the park at around 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. The players start coming between 2:00 and 3:30 p.m. depending on the extra work schedule for that day.
Unless you are Slick (Nick Johnson), who gets to the park earlier than any player I've ever been associated with, here's how the rest of the day looks for us:
3:00 - Extra Hitting
3:30 - Extra work (players scheduled with their respective instructors) could be PFP (pitchers fielding practice), catchers throwing to the bases or blocking balls, extra ground balls to infielders, etc.
3:45 - Pitchers bunting and hitting
4:05 - Position Players Stretch
4:25 - Infield practice or individual skills work (something we don't do every day; we alternate with fundamentals) Individual skills work consist of infielders taking ground balls and making throws to different bases, turning double plays and charging slow rollers. The outfielders work on balls on the ground, going back on balls, footwork, etc.
4:45 - 5:30 - Batting Practice (3 groups at 15 minutes a group)
As coaches, we go to work on the scouting reports from the other club. Also, before the first game of a series, all kinds of meetings take place in different areas.
Hitters Meeting:
We take our hitters into the video room and go over the starting pitcher we are going to see that day. We also go over every one of their bullpen guys. While going over our hitting plan against them, we show a video of every one of their pitchers, so our guys can see their different pitches, deliveries and tendencies. We go over everything we have on any particular pitcher, and if any of our hitters is familiar with the guy, then he gives out more information.
Defense Meeting:
While we have our position players together for the hitters meeting, we take the opportunity to go over each and every one of their hitters, and let our outfielders and infielders know where to be positioned defensively against each of their hitters. We also let them know who is a bunter, a base stealer and who has a strong or a weak arm while on defense.
Pitchers Meeting:
Our pitching coach and our catchers go over the pitching plan designed for each of the opponent's hitters. We discuss strengths and weaknesses, and whoever has any extra information can throw it out there.
After that, we have a little pep talk - go get 'em type - then we grab a bite to eat and get ready for the game.
However, this is the preparation. We still have to go out and execute the plans that have been put in place. After all, the other club also has its own plans.
Quick story about the plan and execution: Tony Armas Sr, who played for Billy Martin in Oakland told me this funny story. One night after all the meetings were done, they had decided to pitch a particular left-handed hitter hard away and play him to the opposite field (pitched away - play away). Tony was playing RF so he was playing this left-handed hitter toward the gap in right-centerfield. Well, the pitcher threw the hitter a change-up inside, so he pulled down the RF line for a triple. When Tony came back to the dugout, Billy told him (obviously very mad and not completely serious); next time any of these guys do that again, stay there and don't go get the ball, let the hitter get an inside-the-park.
That's it for today, but I'll keep bringing you different topics every week; and please feel free to keep submitting your questions.
So long NatsTown,
MA
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Categories (click for archive)MASNblogs | Manny Acta |
Manny, the media is reporting that on home dates, the Nationals' infield takes only 16 ground balls -- four apiece -- and when on the road, takes no infield practice at all except on certain occasions. This is contrasted with the Phillies, who are reported to take 250 balls during infield practice. First, is this true? Second, as bad as our defense has been the past two seasons, why are our guys not out there practicing their butts off to get better?
Manny,
AT BEST....that is 30 mins of defense work at home only....THAT IS CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH.....it sounds like mostly it is 15 mins of defense for most guys on most days....at home....that is only half the days too.....How about 2 hours of infield outfield with pitchers running the bases...that is what a average high schooler is doing......too much for the worst defense in baseball two years running.....clearly you think so.
Hi Manny,
Thanks for your blog. It is really great to be able to get such a detailed insiders view of how things work.
From what you're saying here it sounds like the team takes 20 minutes per home night game for either infield work or fundamentals. Is that right? Wow ... that sounds like a lot less than I would expect a team needs to stay sharp. Judging by the number of errors (both officially and in my scorebook), as well as the fundamental mistakes, and failing to achieve the best results this team has a lot more to do than just stay sharp.
What does "Slick" Nick Johnson do with all his extra time at the Park? What players on this team have stepped up and asked for regularly scheduled additional practice (not just one spot session)? How does this schedule compare to what other teams do? The Phillies are world champions, what is their regular schedule like?
And, finally but perhaps most importantly, do YOU think that significant extra work and drills would have an obvious in-game impact? Why or why not?
Thanks Manny ... and GO NATS!
I wish more players had Slick Nicks work ethic. I get the sense that a lot of these players seem to think that just because they're wearing a major league team uniform, they've made it. They should realize and take Nicks example that you only get out of what you put into. Seems that most of these guys need to put a lot more effort into honing the little things that are costing this team games it could have won if those 'little things' had been more efficiently adhered to. If they think they're doing eneough, the results say otherwise.
It really sounds like the Nationals should come to work about 12:00 noon.They need alot more practice.