New England Baseball Journal’s The Base Path

Seamans Media
  • 4.8 (24)
  • BASEBALL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A comprehensive look at the baseball landscape in New England, tracking prospects, recruiting, college and more.

  1. 5D AGO

    Hardball legend: Central Connecticut's Charlie Hickey

    Dan Guttenplan interviews Central Connecticut State coach Charlie Hickey, the longest-tenured Division 1 coach in New England, about how college baseball has changed with the transfer portal, NIL, and accelerated recruiting. Hickey discusses CCSU’s late February start, training indoors during winter, and the challenges of recruiting in the Northeast. He shares what he looks for in players, balancing freshman development with experienced transfers, and replacing key pitching innings. They cover fall practice benefits, conference title expectations, and the difficulty mid-majors face in NCAA regionals vs. SEC/ACC depth. Hickey also critiques showcase velocity culture and injury risk. “Three Up, Three Down” explores fandom, clutch hitters and baseball’s golden age. Topics 01:00 30-Plus Years in College Baseball: What’s Changed (Portal, NIL, Longevity) 02:28 Opening Day Prep in New England: Snow, Travel and Gym Workouts 04:16 Recruiting in the Northeast: Finding the Right Fit 05:33 Showcases vs. Real Baseball: Traits Coaches Still Value 07:54 Transfer Portal Strategy: Balancing Older Transfers and Freshmen 09:59 Where to Evaluate Players: High School Coaches, Visits and Practices 11:35 Recruiting Timeline and Identifying Undervalued Prospects 13:30 What a D-1 Year Really Looks Like: Fall Ball, Winter Build-Up, Early Starts 17:43 Sustained Success at CCSU: Conference Titles, Scheduling and Replacing Stars 20:15 Can Mid-Majors Compete in Regionals in the NIL Era? 22:24 Velocity Obsession and Arm Injuries: Mixed Messages in Modern Pitching 25:53 Three Up, Three Down: Why We Root for Teams 29:20 Game 7 Pinch-Hit Draft: Who Gets the Clutch Base Hit? 31:15 The Golden Age of Baseball (and Can We Get It Back?) 35:16 Wrap-Up, Thanks, and Where to Subscribe

    32 min

  2. JAN 28

    Choate Rosemary Hall coach Andrew Dickson

    Dan Guttenplan speaks with Andrew Dickson, the coach at Choate Rosemary Hall, about his successful efforts to build a competitive baseball program in the Founders League. Coach Dickson shares insights into his priorities when he first took over the program, including increasing the number of college-bound players and establishing a strong team culture. They discuss the recruitment process, the impact of the transfer portal on college baseball, and the importance of player development. Additionally, Dickson talks about his experiences and mentors from his previous coaching roles and how these have influenced his coaching style.  Topics 00:40 Building a Competitive Program at Choate Rosemary Hall 03:03 Recruitment Strategies and Challenges 08:14 Establishing a Winning Culture 09:15 Personality Assessments in Coaching 12:06 Mentors and Influences in Coaching 14:03 Sustaining Success and Future Goals 25:04 "Three Up, Three Down": Fun Baseball Questions 30:31 Conclusion and Farewell

    31 min

  3. JAN 14

    Remembering Kevin Huber

    Dan welcomes assistant coaches James Simboli and Dylan Sanchez from the Salisbury School coaching staff. They discuss the legacy of their late coach Kevin Huber, who recently passed away. The conversation covers Kevin’s impact on players, his coaching style, and reminiscences from both coaches’ experiences. They also talk about how the team will move forward while honoring Kevin’s memory and the values he instilled in the program. The episode highlights the importance of togetherness and the continued support needed to uphold the program's foundation.   GoFundMe page for Kevin Huber: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-coach-kevin-john-huber   Topics 00:20 Remembering Coach Kevin Huber 00:47 Memorial Service Reflections 01:53 Personal Stories and Impressions 03:23 Coaching Style and Impact 12:51 Interactions with Assistant Coaches 15:42 Continuing the Legacy 18:02 Looking Ahead to the Season 24:02 Final Thoughts and How to Help

    27 min

  4. 12/03/2025

    Deerfield Academy Coach Pat Moriarty

    Dan Guttenplan interviews Pat Moriarty, head coach of the Deerfield Academy baseball team. Moriarty discusses his journey from coaching at Springfield Cathedral to Deerfield, where he turned a struggling program into a championship contender. The conversation covers recruiting strategies, building a strong team culture, and the importance of player development both on and off the field. Moriarty also reflects on the mental and physical preparation required for youth baseball players and shares his personal experiences with coaching his son's youth baseball teams. The episode concludes with insights into Deerfield's outlook for the upcoming season. Topics 01:12 Pat Moriarty's Coaching Journey 03:27 Building a Winning Program at Deerfield 05:57 Recruiting Strategies and Challenges 16:40 Player Development and Training 26:51 "Three Up, Three Down" Segment 34:40 Conclusion and Farewell

    32 min

  5. 11/26/2025

    Lowell Spinners Owner Marc Deschenes

    Dan Guttenplan sits down with Marc Deschenes, the new owner of the Lowell Spinners, a Futures Collegiate Baseball League team. Mark shares his journey from nearly missing out on baseball in Lowell to reviving the Spinners with a focus on community engagement and player development. He discusses the strategic assembly of the new ownership group, which includes notable baseball figures like Johnny Damon and Jonathan Papelbon. Mark also delves into his professional baseball career, touching on his experiences with the Cleveland Indians and his transition into business with Pison Technologies, a company that develops wearable cognitive training tools. The episode wraps up with a fun segment of baseball trivia and memorable moments. Topics 00:40 Background of the Lowell Spinners 01:33 Formation of the New Ownership Group 03:03 Building the Team and Community Engagement 04:36 Roster Development and Recruitment 08:49 Promotions and Fan Experience 14:31 Professional Baseball Journey 21:19 Career Decisions and Transition from Baseball 22:22 Introduction to Pison Technologies 23:44 How Pison Technologies Enhances Baseball Performance 26:56 Three Up, Three Down: Baseball Memories and Trivia 37:04 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up

    35 min

  6. 11/12/2025

    Northeast Baseball’s Scott Patterson

    Dan is joined by Scott Patterson, founder of Northeast Baseball, who discusses the intricacies and evolution of travel baseball programs in New England. Scott shares his experiences and insights from the recent WWBA tournaments, the pivotal Fort Myers and Jupiter events, and explains how these tournaments serve as major recruiting platforms. The conversation delves into the challenges of modern-day baseball recruiting, the importance of relationships in the recruiting process, and the impact of new recruiting rules. Scott also narrates the development processes for his players, touching on their off-season training, the significance of finding the right college fit, and the role of relationships with college coaches. The episode concludes with a fun segment 'Three Up, Three Down,' discussing quirky baseball moments, knuckleball pitchers, and memorable MLB events.   Topics 00:29 Overview of WWBA Events 01:37 Recruiting Focus at Fort Myers 02:12 Changes in Jupiter Event 04:37 Importance of Relationships in Recruiting 08:08 Challenges in High School Recruiting 16:49 Assembling Fall Rosters 19:57 Winter Preparations at NEB 22:54 NEB Facility and Culture 24:52 Developing Better Baseball Players and Human Beings 25:09 Prime Location and Diverse Training Opportunities 26:04 Success Stories of Young Athletes 28:42 Vision for a Travel Baseball Program 31:13 Three Up, Three Down Segment 31:54 Memorable and Unlikely Baseball Moments 39:05 The Art of the Knuckleball 43:19 Conclusion and Wrap-Up

    44 min

  7. 11/05/2025

    Walpole Coach Chris Costello

    Dan speaks with Chris Costello, head coach at Walpole High School and coach for the Northeast Gators travel ball team. They discuss Walpole's successful season, the team's journey and challenges, and Costello's coaching influences. The conversation also touches on Costello's perspective on high school baseball development, the role of travel baseball, and recruiting strategies. The episode concludes with a segment featuring controversial baseball rules and their implications, offering deep insights and personal anecdotes from Costello's extensive experience in the sport.   Topics 00:42 Reflecting on the Championship Season 01:36 Overcoming Past Challenges 03:01 Coaching Journey and Influences 04:22 The Talent of 2019 and the Super Eight Tournament 05:28 Cam Schlittler's Development 07:55 Northeast Gators and Travel Baseball 09:10 Recruiting Challenges and Advice 16:35 Team Massachusetts and the Omaha Experience 21:08 Specialization vs. Multi-Sport Athletes 24:14 The Importance of Playing Multiple Sports 25:56 Transitioning from Professional Baseball to Coaching 26:46 Building a Coaching Career in Walpole 28:15 Rivalries and Traditions in Massachusetts Baseball 29:22 Three Up, Three Down: Baseball's Controversial Rules 33:42 The Chase Utley Rule and Player Safety 36:53 The Ghost Runner Debate 41:19 Conclusion and Farewell

    42 min

  8. 10/08/2025

    Dom Driscoll’s Amazing Journey

    Dan dives into the remarkable story of Dom Driscoll, a sophomore baseball prospect from Middleborough High School, and his father, Bill Driscoll. Dom shares how he overcame a congenital heart condition, underwent multiple surgeries from birth, and defied medical expectations to become one of the top baseball prospects in the class of 2028. The episode delves into the emotional journey from diagnosis to recovery, the importance of support from family and mentors, and Dominic's unwavering determination to excel despite his condition. Also featured are discussions on favorite batting stances and memorable baseball cards, adding a touch of nostalgia and fun to the conversation.   Topics 00:23 Dom Driscoll's Early Life and Diagnosis 05:13 Overcoming Adversity: Dominic's Surgeries and Recovery 09:32 Dom's Passion for Baseball 10:52 Joining the Team and Early Challenges 13:57 Building a Home Gym and Batting Cage 18:27 Inspiring Others: The Greg Olsen Connection 19:55 A Dream Come True: Fenway Park Experience 20:49 Unexpected Banquet Surprise 21:10 Make-A-Wish Journey 24:04 NEB and Training Commitment 27:31 Three Up, Three Down Segment 37:27 Conclusion and Farewell

    38 min
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4.8
out of 5
24 Ratings

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A comprehensive look at the baseball landscape in New England, tracking prospects, recruiting, college and more.

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