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. 3D AGO

    Bridgewater-Raynham Coach Cam Fox

    Dan welcomes Bridgewater-Raynham head coach Cam Fox, also an assistant coach for Team Massachusetts, to discuss the start of the MIAA high school season, evaluating players in short indoor tryouts, and building a three-team program (freshman, JV, varsity). Fox emphasizes selecting coachable, hustle-oriented players who can be valuable anywhere, then placing them where they’ll get development and playing time, using scrimmages to refine decisions. He describes structured, efficient practices focused on doing simple things well—baserunning, pitching in the zone, and fundamentals—while balancing spring schedule challenges like weather and school events. Fox reflects on learning under longtime mentor Bill O’Connell at Braintree and the Super Eight experience, supports its return, and previews Team Massachusetts’ Omaha tournament with a win-first mindset. The episode’s “Three Up, Three Down” covers World Baseball Classic interest, favorite New England baseball venues, and MLB rule changes.   Topics 00:51 Settling In At BR 02:11 Tryout Tips For Players 04:35 Evaluating Indoors Fast 07:06 Practice Planning Efficiency 08:48 Leaving Braintree For BR 12:15 Team Massachusetts Omaha 14:14 Travel Ball Versus Legion 16:39 Recruiting Then And Now 18:48 Building BR Philosophy 19:09 Simple Baseball Standards 20:22 Aggressive Baserunning Drills 21:41 Super Eight Memories 22:58 Bring Back Super Eight 23:55 Three Up Three Down 24:24 WBC Reactions 27:07 Best New England Parks 29:26 Rule Changes Debate 33:22 Wrap Up And Thanks

    34 min

  2. MAR 25

    Groton School head coach Kevin Barnaby

    Dan Guttenplan interviews Kevin Barnaby, Groton School head baseball coach and Nor’easters Tewksbury program director. Barnaby explains that tryouts are less about results and more about earning coaches’ trust through controllables like showing up early, hustling, being coachable, communicating, asking appropriate questions, and dressing in neutral or school colors rather than other travel gear. He describes Groton’s fast, chaotic evaluation drills to test reactions to adversity, and outlines the team’s optional five-day Vero Beach trip featuring multiple practices, scrimmages and workouts. Barnaby discusses his public-school playing background, Groton’s academic draw and global student body, minimal overlap between Groton and Nor’easters, his shift toward administrative duties, and a college-placement approach prioritizing academic, financial and social fit amid transfer-portal dynamics. Topics 01:17 Tryout Tips: Trust Intangibles 02:56 Dress the Part at Tryouts 03:42 Earning Coaches' Trust 04:22 Chaotic Tryout Evaluations 06:31 Vero Beach Spring Trip 08:28 In-Season Development Plan 09:29 Coach Barnaby Background 10:21 Why Choose Groton? 11:38 Groton vs. Nor’easters Balance 12:51 Running Nor’easters Program 14:01 College Recruiting Guidance 16:00 When Recruiting Happens 17:34 Success Stories: Stewart Allen 18:41 Staying Connected After Graduation 20:28 ISL Pitching Depth and Rivalries 22:26 Keeping Underclassmen Engaged 24:25 Sponsor Break: Netting Pros 25:15 "Three Up, Three Down" 25:38 Ted Talk Coaching Philosophy 28:40 Who to Watch in MLB 2026 30:37 Weirdest Things Seen in Baseball 34:09 Podcast Wrap and Thanks

    30 min

  3. MAR 4

    Belmont Hill head coach David Cunningham

    Dan Guttenplan interviews Belmont Hill head baseball coach David Cunningham, who is entering his fourth season. Cunningham discusses preseason anxiety, returning players and using early March tryouts and scrimmages to build toward an ISL title after reaching last year’s championship game. He explains Belmont Hill’s intentional choice to stay north instead of taking spring trips, relying on indoor cages, turf fields and local scrimmages, and he describes his mentorship under legendary coach Mike Grant and his own emphasis on the mental side of the game. They cover the hectic ISL schedule, recruiting for Belmont Hill (including reclassifying), collaborating with club coaches and camps for college placement, ISL parity and the tournament format, and the value of multisport athletes. A “Three Up, Three Down” segment debates cold-weather baseball, Hall of Fame standards, and loudest stadium memories. Topics 01:10 Preseason Mindset 02:25 Motivation After Finals 03:43 Staying North For Prep 04:51 Indoor Turf Workarounds 06:05 Coach Mike Grant Legacy 07:56 Mental Game Coaching 09:46 In-Season Weekly Grind 11:18 Recruiting For Prep 13:29 College Recruiting Help 15:48 ISL Parity and Prep 18:24 Thoughts On ISL Tournament 20:10 Standing Out In ISL 20:56 Belmont Hill Values 21:38 Baseball Culture and Support 22:01 Boarding Limits Explained 22:39 Why Multi-Sport Matters 24:39 Recruiting Where to Watch 26:01 Video and Evaluation Tips 27:20 "Three Up, Three Down" 28:04 Is Baseball Too Cold? 30:52 Hall of Fame Standards 34:18 Loudest Stadium Memories 37:55 Final Thanks and Wrap

    34 min

  4. FEB 18

    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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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4.8
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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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