BP not just about HRs to Kernels

Back in the day of mega steroids and puffed up home-run hitters, fans clamored early to major league ballparks to watch batting practice before games. It was the "in thing" to watch Mark McGwire or Sammy Sosa hit baseballs 500 feet or more.

MLB's annual home run hitting contest came from this era. It's a huge deal, with David "Big Papi" Ortiz winning it just last week.

But if you want the true essence of BP, sneak into a minor league park early before a night game. Guys don't get a plethora of meatballs across the middle of the plate and swing as hard as they can to see how far they can hit a ball.

Every pitch, every swing is done with a purpose. Most of the time, that purpose isn't hitting a homer.

"That's the way it used to be," said Cedar Rapids Kernels hitting coach Brent Del Chiaro. "Now it's changed. It's the evolution of the game."

"It's all about routine and finding a routine that works best for you," said Cedar Rapids Kernels shortstop Jon Karcich. "You definitely need a game plan when you step into the cage. You always have to swing with a purpose."

The Kernels usually take BP around 4 p.m. for a 6:30 home game, but players actually arrive at the ballpark as early as 1 if Del Chiaro wants to work with them individually. They go through drills in the Veterans Memorial Stadium indoor hitting cages before ever getting onto the field.

BP is usually four to five rounds for groups of four to five players, with Del Chiaro, pitching coach Brandon Emanuel and Manager Bill Mosiello taking turns pitching. Kernels pitchers shag flyballs in the outfield or hit grounders to infielders who aren't in the cage.

This also is a time for guys to practice their baserunning.

“The first round of hitting is a situational round where we put down two bunts, do a hit and run, a get them over (from second to third base), five up the middle and a squeeze," Del Chiaro said. “The next three rounds will be five swings each, working on mechanical things that I've communicated with each individual. The last round is kind of like a bonus round. It's eight total bases.

"If they get eight total bases (on their swings), then they get another round of one swing. That's basically a home run round.”

This is basic batting practice, though Del Chiaro changes things up from time to time to keep everything fresh.

“The whole goal for me is for them to get somewhere close to 200 at-bats before game time," he said. "That's the goal.”

"You want as many swings as you can get," Karcich said. "But you also don't want too many swings to where you tire yourself out. Especially this time of the season."

Other clubs will use the same approach for batting practice, though things might be done slightly different. This is just what works for this team and organization, with Del Chiaro saying he picked up some of his hitting workouts from parent Los Angeles Angels minor-league field coordinator Eric Owens, a former Kernels hitting coach.

Once again, this isn't done to see how far a player can hit a ball. It's about learning to hit correctly in every situation.

Every swing is important.

"We work on situational hitting that wins ballgames," said Mosiello. "The difference between us and everyone else is monitoring. Everybody has programs. It's keeping on guys daily, getting their trust. Running the bases and playing hard every day. There's not an organization in baseball that doesn't want their guys to hustle. But who is willing to make them do it? Who is going to make them pay the consequence of 'Hey, you're out of the game if they don't do it?

"It's nothing that's just been invented, you know what I mean? Everybody wants their team to play a certain way. But who is willing to suffer some time when you do some dumb things?"