5 Traits of Offenses That Are Paying Attention

Teaching their hitters to think critically while playing in games is perhaps the most important thing a coach can do. It allows hitters to understand the reasons for their outs and better commit to avoiding them like the plague. It allows them to recognize competitive advantages other players don’t see. Building a culture that prioritizes this is absolutely essential in a team fulfilling their potential. 

We’ve been writing extensively about what paying attention actually entails: 

4 Questions Every Hitter Needs to Be Asking explains a hierarchy of questions hitters need to habitually be asking/answering in order to understand why they make outs. 

Have a Plan of Attack on Every Pitch walks through Chris Colabello’s mindset in two MLB at-bats, exploring how in-game observations and information on pitchers informs the approach of a high level hitter. 

But what does this look like at a team level? Coaches should encourage this type of thinking by asking the right questions and setting standards, but how do they even know if they’re doing a good job? 

Great offenses don’t just rely on talent—they maximize every edge possible. The best lineups are locked in on the right details, creating a culture of awareness, discipline, and execution. 

These are 5 traits of offenses that are paying attention to what truly matters.

1. Every Hitter is Paying Attention from the Top Step

The difference between real engagement and just making noise is massive. A team that is truly locked in doesn’t just stand on the top step of the dugout to yell and “bring energy.” The volume of the dugout doesn’t change the game—the actions on the field do.

The best offenses are on the top step because they’re paying attention. Every pitch is a chance to gather intel:
✅ Pitch type & location – What pitches does the pitcher have? Do they have control? What is their “out” pitch?
✅ Sequencing trends – Do they double up on breaking balls? How do they set up their out pitch?
✅ Pitcher tells – Are they tipping?

For great hitters, this isn’t something that needs to be said—it’s just normal. But how do you make it normal for everyone?

• Players have to care – They need to understand why this matters. Show them the value and set the standard in practice. 

• Ask the right questions, don’t just tell – “What did you see?” is more powerful than giving them the answer.

• Incentivize the right things – Recognize players who track pitches, adjust timing on deck, and step in the box with a plan.

It starts before the game even begins—watching the pitcher warm up, studying how the catcher receives pitches (does the fastball sink or stay true?), and analyzing hitters before you. Every detail adds up.

2. Hitters Talk to Each Other After Every At-Bat

A hitter who just faced the pitcher knows things that nobody else does. How did the fastball feel? Did the curveball have a consistent break? Was the changeup deceptive? Sharing these insights accelerates the team-wide learning curve.

The best offenses make it a priority to pass this information along. The goal is for every hitter to step into the box already armed with key details.

If you’re not sharing information, ask yourself:

• Are you not paying attention?

• Are you being selfish?

• Are you just not thinking about it?

Good offenses make this process automatic. Every hitter helps the next, failures become lessons for teammates, and success becomes shared.

The Dodgers famously limited their dugout to two iPads in 2022 in a move led by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman—not to cut down on scouting, but to force communication. Adjustments happen faster when hitters talk. 

“So at Freeman’s recommendation, they began to cut down, a decision Roberts said has been “highly beneficial.” They’d self-limit their iPads to two in the dugout at a time, allowing players to still get the immediate feedback they’re seeking but bringing more guys to the dugout railing, having conversations with their All-Star teammates rather than keeping their thoughts to themselves”

-Fabian Ardaya via The Athletic

This is something that can be accomplished at every level of the game.

• Empower your leaders – Your best players need to set the standard for the rest of the team. If they are sharing/demanding information, others will buy in. 

• Pay it forward – Sharing information is a way to help the team even when players make outs. If a player helps someone with their info, they need to believe that same help will come back around to them soon. 

Baseball is a game played by players, not coaches. The best teams create a culture of freedom—freedom to communicate, to adjust, to compete together.

3. They Prioritize Process Over Results

A great offense doesn’t dwell on a cluster of bad at-bats. They don’t chase hits or let emotions dictate decisions. The only pitch that matters is the next one.

This mindset creates resilience and consistency. The best lineups:
✅ Stay present—win every pitch
✅ Stay objective—assess what’s actually happening, not just the outcome
✅ Reward the right things—good approach, solid swing decisions, emotional maturity

When players learn to focus on what they can control, pressure fades. The worst thing that could happen isn’t actually that bad. That’s a freeing mentality.

But normalizing this isn’t easy—it takes constant reinforcement from coaches. If the staff is emotional and reactionary, the players will be too. Coaches need to be consistent, honest, and process-driven. Players need places to turn when they struggle—understanding failure prevents spirals.

As a coach, you need to reward the right things:
✅ A strong approach
✅ Good swing decisions
✅ Sharing information
✅ Emotional maturity

These habits are contagious, and when a lineup embraces them, they become relentless.

4. They Excel at Running the Bases

“How you do anything is how you do everything.”

Baserunning is often overlooked, but it’s one of the clearest indicators of a team’s attention to detail. Running the bases well is a decision—a choice to stay engaged, find advantages, and execute with discipline.

Great baserunners:
✅ Pick up details – Pitcher tendencies, catcher habits, infielder positioning
✅ Get good jumps – Read movements and take advantage of every edge
✅ Have a plan – Know what they’ll do before the ball is hit

If a team takes baserunning seriously, it’s a good bet they’re handling other details the right way too.

5. Hitters Can Recall Every Pitch They See

The best hitters in the game have elite recall. They can tell you:

• The count

• The pitch type

• The location

• Whether they were on time

• Whether they made accurate decisions

This level of detail isn’t a coincidence—it’s trained. Hitters need to track their at-bats and get good at habitually answering these questions:
🔹 Did I see the ball well?
🔹 Did I swing at a good pitch?
🔹 Was I on time?

Hitters who condition this muscle are making decisions based on real information, not guesswork. This process creates ownership over development. 

This level of detail should become second nature. Player development doesn’t just happen in the offseason—it’s a year-round process.The game itself provides the best data—players just have to know how to use it.

Bottom Line

If coaches want their offenses to reach their full potential, they need to prioritize teaching players how to think in the game. Helping hitters understand their outs, recognize competitive advantages, and develop better decision-making habits is what separates good teams from great ones.

These five signs aren’t just indicators of a locked-in offense—they’re a blueprint for building one. Coaches play a vital role in this process, not by dictating every move, but by asking the right questions, fostering real-time communication, and setting clear standards.

The best teams don’t just rely on talent. They think the game. They make adjustments in real time. They create a culture where players take ownership of their development.

If your offense isn’t paying attention to these details, the question is—why not?

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