The Baseball Gods Are Real
Game 7 of the 2025 World Series came down to one stumble, one throw and one foot. Isaac Hess on why he believes the baseball gods give the calls to the people who earn them.
October 15, 20267 min read
The batting cage playbook
Field notes on building cages, finding cage time, and doing youth baseball right.
Build a batting cage
Every decision in order, from “will it fit” to “it’s earning”. The part of a cage build nobody else has written down end to end.
Latest Guides
Newest from the cage
Everybody Thinks the Umpire Is Bad
Without umpires, baseball does not exist. Isaac Hess on the one season he wore the mask, what the job pays, what a day looks like and what we say to the people in the gear.
October 13, 20268 min read
I Was a Coach With Nowhere to Coach. So I Built CageList.
For years I gave baseball lessons in Los Angeles, and the hardest part was never the coaching. It was finding a place to do it. Isaac Hess on why he built CageList.
October 12, 20266 min read
Hustle Ball: The Missing Middle Between Little League and Travel Ball
Hustle Ball sits between Little League and travel ball. I made it up with tennis balls in 2020. Here is why, how a session runs, who it fits, and how another coach could run it.
October 11, 20267 min read
How to Become a Private Baseball or Softball Coach
We found no national license requirement to teach lessons for pay. Here are the credentials, background checks, insurance and taxes to look into, plus a first-month plan and how to find a place to teach.
Updated October 20266 min read
College Baseball Transfer Portal: What Parents Should Know
Your 17-year-old is not just competing against other 17-year-olds anymore. A former pro pitcher breaks down the transfer portal, the 34-man roster, NIL and JUCO, and what serious families should do about it.
October 11, 202616 min read
MLB Lockout 2026: What It Means for Your Player
The MLB labor deal expires December 1, 2026. Here is what a lockout is, what happened in 2021-22, and what it does and does not change for your kid.
October 11, 20266 min read
JUGS BP1 vs BP2 vs BP3 vs mini3: Which One Fits Your Cage
JUGS BP1, BP2, BP3, and mini3, compared on the numbers that actually matter: real pitch speed range and weight, straight from JUGS's own spec pages.
Updated September 20264 min read
Buying a JUGS Machine Online? Here's How to Tell a Real Dealer From a Reseller
Not every JUGS listing online is what it looks like. Here's how to tell an authorized dealer from a reseller before you spend $2,000+ on a pitching machine.
Updated September 20263 min read
CageList Is Now an Authorized JUGS Sports Dealer
CageList is now an authorized JUGS Sports dealer. Real JUGS machines, nets, screens, and practice balls, sold and shipped directly at real JUGS pricing.
September 21, 20263 min read
Practicing Hitting at Home Between Cage Sessions
You can not book a cage every day, but you can still get quality swings at home. Here is how to build a simple at-home hitting routine between rentals.
Updated July 20264 min read
Can Your Little League Rent Out Its Batting Cage?
Most leagues own a cage that sits idle most of the year. Opening it up is usually allowed; it depends on who owns the ground, what your use agreement says, and what your liability policy covers. Here is how to check all three.
Updated October 20267 min read