Alright, let’s talk about how I started keeping tabs on Caden Bodine and his baseball journey. It wasn’t anything super formal, more like a personal project, you know?
It started pretty randomly. I think I caught a college game on TV, Coastal Carolina was playing. Didn’t know many guys on the team, but Bodine, playing catcher, caught my eye. Maybe it was a specific play, maybe just his hustle, can’t quite recall exactly. But I thought, “Okay, this kid looks interesting, let me see what’s up with him.”
Getting Started
So, the first thing I did was just basic stuff. Looked up his name, confirmed his team, Coastal Carolina. Found their official team roster page to get some background, like his year, position, maybe hometown. Just trying to put a face to the name and the position I saw him play.
Then, I started making it a point to check their box scores after games. Wasn’t watching every game live, that’s too much time, honestly. But I’d pull up the scores the next day, specifically looking for Bodine’s line: how many hits, RBIs, did he strike out, did he walk. Also paid attention to fielding notes if they were available, like passed balls or runners caught stealing, since he’s a catcher.
Deeper Dive into Tracking
After a while, just looking at box scores felt a bit dry. You don’t get the feel for how they played. So, I tried to catch more highlights. Sometimes team social media accounts post clips, or sports news sites might show key moments from college games.
Here’s what I specifically looked for:
- His swing mechanics: Was it smooth? Powerful? Did he make adjustments?
- His approach at the plate: Was he patient? Aggressive early in the count?
- His receiving behind the plate: How did he handle pitchers? Blocking balls in the dirt?
- His throwing: Arm strength, accuracy on throws to second.
Didn’t use any fancy software or anything. Sometimes I’d just jot down quick notes on my phone or a notepad if I saw something stand out during a highlight or a game I managed to watch parts of. Like, “Good block on that curveball low and away” or “Looked fooled by that off-speed pitch.” Very simple stuff.
What I Noticed
Over time, doing this, I started to get a better picture than just stats. Saw he had decent pop in his bat. Seemed like a solid receiver, handled the pitching staff well from what I could tell through the screen. Like any player, had ups and downs. Some games he’d be locked in, others he’d struggle a bit. That’s baseball, right?
It became less about hardcore analysis and more just… following a player’s development. Seeing how he performed week to week, season to season. You start to root for the guy a little bit, even if you’ve never met him.
Where I’m At Now
So yeah, that’s basically my process. Nothing groundbreaking. Just started with a bit of curiosity, checked scores, watched highlights when I could, made a few mental or written notes. I still check in on his stats now and then, see how he’s doing. It’s just a low-key way I enjoy keeping up with the sport beyond just the big league headlines.
