Predator or Prey? What Your Warm-Up Says About Your Team

First Impressions Matter

As baseball coaches, we’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a team before the first pitch is even thrown. It’s not about the uniforms, the energy in the dugout, or even the size of the players. It’s about how they warm up. Alex Hale of CHIPS Performance Training put it perfectly: "The easiest way to tell if a team is good is by watching them warm up. Teams are either going to be predator or prey."

Signs of a Prey Mentality

Think about it—have you ever watched an opposing team take the field, casually tossing the ball, missing easy catches, or looking like they just rolled out of bed? That’s a team that lacks discipline and focus. That’s a team that will crack under pressure. That’s prey.

Characteristics of a Predator

On the other hand, when you see a team warming up with crisp throws, sharp movements, and a clear sense of purpose, you know you’re dealing with a different breed. That’s a team that takes care of the details. That’s a team that expects to win. That’s a predator.

Habits Shape Performance

Baseball is a game of habits. How you do the small things—like warming up—is how you’ll do the big things. A lazy warm-up leads to lazy play. A locked-in warm-up sets the tone for a locked-in performance.

Setting the Right Tone

So ask yourself and your team: Are we predators or prey? Do we go through the motions, or do we set the tone from the very first throw? Because if we want to dominate, it starts long before the game does.

Accountability and Ownership

As coaches, we have to hold our players accountable. Players, take ownership of your preparation. The way you warm up is the first battle of the game—and predators don’t lose those.