Alright, so this FSU baseball season preview thing, let’s walk you through how I actually put it together. Buckle up, because it involved more running around and head-scratching than you might think.
Getting My Rear in Gear
First off, I knew I needed more than just glancing at old stats. I wanted to get the feel. So, last Thursday, I grabbed my notebook and gear – old FSU cap included, for good vibes – and drove over to Dick Howser Stadium. Early bird gets the worm, right? Or in this case, maybe catches some BP before the real crowds showed up.
The Digging Starts
Just standing there didn’t cut it. I needed the inside scoop. Started pestering the grounds crew guys – you know, the ones who know everything. “Hey, how’s the mound holding up this year? Any new quirks?” Then chatted up a couple of assistant coaches after they wrapped drills. Casual stuff, like bumping into someone at the parking lot gate. Asked about who looked different coming back from summer league, who put on muscle, who seemed dialed in early. Jotted down names like Cam Smith and Jamie Arnold, noticing the serious vibe they carried.
Found a spot in the mostly-empty stands and just watched batting practice for like an hour. Kept track:
- Who was consistently making that crack sound with the bat? Not just power, but contact.
- Which pitchers looked smooth during their throwing sessions? Any wincing or hesitation?
- Any new guys just radiating confidence? You can spot ’em sometimes.
Took tons of messy notes, the kind only I could decipher later.
The Climbing the Ladder Pain
Next day? Reality check. Sitting down with my scribbles felt overwhelming. Transposing “hits ball hard” into something coherent? Yeah, right. Dived into the official roster changes, confirmed who transferred in and out – that portal thing is a mess every year. Cross-referenced summer league stats for key players, tried to figure out how that translated back to college ball. Mostly involved me muttering at my laptop screen about spreadsheets being dumb.
The Putting it Together Puzzle
Okay, so now I’ve got vibes, observations, and messy data. Time for my favorite whiteboard moment. Drew circles:
- Circle 1: Bullpen arms. Wrote down names based on who looked sharp + known performers. Debated who gets the closer nod this year.
- Circle 2: Batting Order. Tried plugging in the contact guys versus the power threats based on my BP notes. Middle infield defense thoughts went here too.
- Circle 3: The Big Questions. Who replaces key seniors? How freshmen fit in? That transfer pitcher’s adjustment period?
Erased stuff constantly. Felt like climbing a mountain made of eraser dust.
The Final Sprint
Once the circles made some sense, I translated them into actual sentences. Tried to capture that energy I felt watching them – the intense focus during drills, the loose vibe in the outfield during stretching. Didn’t want dry analysis; wanted the sense you get standing on those worn concourse steps, smelling the cut grass.
Double-checked names, positions, spellings – always manage to screw one up. Finally hit publish late Sunday. Felt like I’d actually run a baseline or something. Exhausting, but that good kind of tired. Mostly confident I captured what this season feels like brewing.