Take a look around the Roger Dean Stadium complex, and you’ll notice the Miami Marlins have some colorful accessories to help their players through practice.
Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. has yellow strings set up in front of catchers while working on bullpens. Infield coach Trey Hillman has red and blue paint coated on corners of bases to aid with baserunning techniques.
They might not be revolutionary tactics, but they’re reminders that the Marlins are stressing the basics.
And maximizing the basics will be critical for for a rebuilding team that needs any advantage it can once the season begins.