The Nationals Instruct

By Stephen C. Smith
Publisher
September 20, 2009

 

The Instructional League really isn't about evaluation. We evaluate the players during the season, in Spring, really all year long, and this League is about taking what we have seen, focusing on specific deficiencies we've spotted during the season, and working on them.

— Mike Rizzo
September 23, 2005
Then-Director of Scouting, Arizona Diamondbacks
Currently General Manager, Washington Nationals
Quoted on Scout.com

Yogi Berra, my favorite philosopher, once said, “It ain't over 'til it's over.”

This aphorism applies to minor league baseball, as it does to many aspects of life.

The minor league circle of life begins each March, when minor leaguers report to spring training. Those not released will report to a full-season team, or remain in camp to attend extended spring training. Known as just “extended” to those in the business, this runs from early April through early June, when the annual draft occurs and players are assigned to short-season summer leagues.

Most minor league seasons end around Labor Day, with playoffs running about two weeks after.

And then it's time for minor league baseball to hustle off the stage to focus the baseball spotlight on the major league playoffs and World Series.

Well, not quite.

Most organizations hold an instructional camp at their minor league complex that runs from late September into early October. A few years ago, this ran six weeks. Now it's four weeks, for those who participate.

Matt Forman of Baseball America reported in their September 21, 2009 issue that the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets chose not to hold instructional league camp in Florida this year.

The Cardinals said they “found the competition in Florida to be dwindling,” according to the article. Assistant general manager John Abbamondi told BA that “there has been a change in philosophy of younger players,” the article said. “Newly drafted players are becoming less interested in playing instructional league.”

The Mets will combine their instructs with their winter Dominican academy.

The Nationals are holding instructional league at their minor league complex in Viera. Players reported on September 18, and their first game is September 24 against the Tigers.

SpaceCoastBaseball.com has the Nationals' schedule and roster.

The Nats won't have many opponents, however.

With the Cardinals and Mets out, only three other teams appear on their schedule — the Lakeland Tigers, Orlando Braves and Kissimmee Astros.

There's also one game against Team Canada.

These games, like extended spring training, are informal. No official stats are reported because they're not kept, other than charts for internal use. You might see a team field a ten-man lineup with two designated hitters. You might see the DHs take the field mid-game, with position players becoming DHs. The bottom of the 9th might be played even though the home team has already won. A manager can “roll over” an inning if his pitcher is throwing too many pitches.

Someone once asked me at an instructional league game, “How do you keep score?”

The answer is, you don't.

The emphasis isn't on winning a game (although I once saw a manager tossed from an Arizona instructional league game). The emphasis is on instruction.

The fun part for a fan is that you have access to the instruction.

Because a minor league complex is open and free to the public, you can pretty much go whereever you want so long as you don't cross the line — don't go on the field, don't go in a batting cage or bullpen, etc. But you can stand alongside and overhear the instruction.

Last year, I was at the Angels' instructional league in Tempe, Arizona. They allowed me to film a baserunning drill. Click Here to watch the drill. (Windows Media Player and a broadband Internet connection are required.) I'm sure the Nats will have similar instructions — pitching, fielding, hitting, defense, baserunning.

If you want to learn more about the game, instructional league is a wonderful opportunity for you. You'll see and hear future major leaguers being taught how to play the game. When they reach the majors in a few years, you'll see them on TV and remember you learned what they learned all those years ago.