The Closing Pitch Baseball Podcast

Matt Borgschulte is a Major League Hitting Coach for the Minnesota Twins. Formerly with the Baltimore Orioles, the St. Louis native shares his insights on hitting, training, and in game adjustments.

Josh is one of the youngest executives in professional sports. He shares his story on what he did to become the Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for an NHL team.

Our 2-cents

An interview with Erik Miller of the San Francisco Giants.

Flow state.

Creating an elite dugout atmosphere.

Evan Pratte is a former 20+ year Division 1 College Coach. Topics we dive into: 1. NCAA roster ruling 2. NCAA Scholarship ruling 3. NIL and future of contracts 4. Relationship between athletic department and the universities 5. College baseball recruiting for high school athletes.

We found a chart, thanks to Trey Hannam on division 1 hitter and pitcher counts in 2022. Here's the graphic we're referencing: https://x.com/TJHannam10/status/1843424062493569535 This led to Carter saying he will let his hitters swing on 3-0 counts. I disagree, Dave says he's okay with it.

Have we swung too far one way or do you think these things are still underrated and deserve attention? Also, what's underrated? David Birkby, Carter Mize, and Spiker Helms discuss the talking points of a coach with his team.

In this episode, we're in conversation with former baseball player turned cross-fitter Tyler Christophel. The division 2 athlete has taken the lessons he learned from the game and has channeled them into a world ranking in Cross Fit. The professional has gained sponsorships, awards, and accolades since finishing his last game at Southwest Missouri Baptist. Follow Tyler: Instagram Time Stamps: (00:00-01:50) Introduction (01:51-09:53) Christo's Athletic Journey (09:54-14:58) An Athlete's identity & the Transition (14:59-20:12) Baseball is the Battle Ground for Preparation (20:13-27:52) Don't get stuck with one version of your vision (27:53-30:45) Finding joy in the journey (30:46-33:57) Junior College Vs 4-year his experience (33:58-41:26) World ranking professional advice to high school athletes (41:27-51:14) Pre and post-reactions before the competition

Austin is the owner and operator of Major League University. Major League University helps players build confidence, learn mindfulness, find peak performance, improve communication, build their emotional intelligence, and grow their team cultures. We dive into all of these topics plus how to handle the weight and pressure of a big dream. 00:00-06:23 What is Major League University? 06:24-16:48 Anxiety, Journaling, and Having Someone Listen 16:49-24:49 Meditation, what it is and what it's not 24:50-29:11 One good, one bad 29:12-34:55 What type of coaching style works best? 34:56-40:37 The pressure of the dream 40:38-43:59 Multi-sport athletes 44:00-47:09 Peak performance as a student and athlete 47:10-57:19 Your big recruiting year

In today's fast-paced world, building a cohesive team is more critical than ever. Join us in today's episode we dive deep into the world of team building, discussing practical tips, valuable insights, and engaging stories on how to develop a strong team culture through the power of bonding. 💪 From icebreakers and trust-building exercises to fostering open communication and celebrating success, we've got you covered! 🎉Our mission is to help you unlock the full potential of your team, cultivating an environment where collaboration, innovation, and personal growth thrive. So hit that subscribe button, and let's start building an unstoppable team culture, together! 🚀🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and hit the bell icon for notifications so you never miss an episode! Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below - we'd love to hear from you! 🎧 00:00-06:45 Starting the bond 06:46-23:51 What is team bonding and what it's not 23:52-32:47 It's the glue 32:48-39:20 You're awarded the blue ribbon

In today's episode, we delve deep into the transformative power of routines and how they can elevate your game to new heights. Discover the secret sauce behind the success, and learn how you too can design and maintain playing-changing routines. 00:00-6:00 Worst, Best, First, Last 6:01-13:05 Routines, the secret hack to ace a test 13:06-17:11 Approach vs Routine 17:12-24:53 This is how you slow everything down 24:54 Dedicated to the routine

Obstacles can be challenging, but they can also be opportunities for growth and achievement. In this episode, we explore why anything that stands in your way is worth pursuing as an athlete. We share personal experiences and valuable insights into how obstacles can help athletes push the envelope and achieve greatness. You still have a lot of runway before you cash-in. (00:00-02:14) Highlight, Intro, Blink-182 (02:15-04:26) Correcting my statement (04:27-05:54) Setting the audacious goal/Why are you doing it? (05:55-10:50) Instant gratification/Chasing the celebrity (10:51-12:28) Adversity and resilience (12:29-23:11) When do I quit? When do I settle? (23:12-27:39) Anything that's an obstacle is worth pursuing

We're in tryout season. Everyone is gearing up for the new year with anxious minds and hearts to play on the big stage of varsity baseball. The week went great, but then you walk into the coach's office and get the unexpected news...you're cut.  You're next 3-4 months have completely changed in a matter of a 5-minute conversation. In this episode, we talk about being released, fired, and cut.  (00:00-04:23) Intro: we've been through the fire (04:23-08:02) Being the player cut from the team (08:03:18:16) How do you handle being cut? (18:17-19:37 )Channeling the anger of not making the team (19:38-30:23) It's political? You never know who's watching (30:24-34:56) Cope-ing with the disappointment  (34:57-44:42) When to quit, opinions change (44:43-51:02) Are you red-flagged if you're cut?

How many scholarships are there in your sport? What about the number of players who are playing in college? What are the chances of playing a college sport? All these answers are in this episode of the Closing Pitch Podcast. 00:00-01:45 Intro (episode highlights, lost air pods) 01:46-11:11 Total Number of College Baseball Programs 11:12-24:07 How many players (full breakdown) 24:08-33:04 Scholarships, what can they offer? 33:05-37:35 Why pursuing college is worth it 37:36-41:00 If it's hard, it's worth it

Kansas House Bill 2139 would make verbal or physical abuse of an umpire a misdemeanor. If this passes, how will the youth sports community react? Will we start seeing people being taken away in a cop car to be detained? Spiker and Dave dive into the subject.  Umpire conversation on the Tiger Interview Series: https://youtu.be/5vdRvbN6OEk (00:00:04:24) Introduction (TV bumpers, the Hammer Law, In this episode) (04:24-07:06) Kansas House Bill 2139 (07:07-11:15) Slippery Slope (11:16-17:26) The penalties and community sentiment (17:27-20:17) Umpires, how bad is the abuse? (20:18-26:46) Where does this go?

Fuel your season with the right food. We have Jillian Tedesco, the owner of Fit-Flavors, a podcaster, an author, and a mother of two to discuss how choosing the right food can effect your year. We also have her husband, Jason Tedesco, the head coach of their Rawlings Tigers baseball team, to discuss the lifestyle and the rewards of developing a strong team culture. This is a must-listen-to episode. You can see the time stamps below.    Fit-Flavors: https://fit-flavors.com/ Follow and DM Jillian: https://www.instagram.com/jilliantedesco/ Tweet at Spiker and Dave: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms | https://twitter.com/david_birkby (00:00-06:18) Introduction (highlights, guest intro) (06:19-10:18) The Power of Food (10:19-17:17) Coaching, Teaching, Lifestyle (17:18-22:40) "Healthy" Eating (22:46-32:36) The Science of Food Simplified (32:37-39:23) Athletes & Coaches' Relationship with Food (39:24-40:28) 80/20 Mentality (40:29-46:11) How To Create Nutrition Opt-In (46:12-49:52) How To Eat on the Road (49:53-53:40) Can't get bigger because of genetics? (53:41-55:36) Protein, Post Workout, Body Replenish (55:37-58:38) The Pitcher's Hangover (58:39-01:03:43) Timing of Meals, Optimum Performance (01:03:44-01:05:02) Energy and Protein Bars (01:05:03-01:07:38) Energy Drinks & Pre-Workout (01:07:39-01:08:10) Caffeine & Sleep (01:08:11-01:14:29) Cultivating a Community, Leadership, Visualization (01:14:30-01:19:40) Creating Community and Culture External and Internal (01:19:41-01:24:27) Taking Ownership, Hard Conversations, Players Character (01:24:28-01:28:06) Struggle, High Expectations, Social Media (01:28:07- 01:36:18) What Should Change In Youth Sports?

How many times do you see players dive? Or go hard into a bag? Or even playing their practices like games? In this episode, we discuss the best player on the team mentality.  (00:00-04:47) Intro (SEC Baseball Prediction) (04:48-12:32) BPOTT (12:33-15:03) Perception is reality (15:04-22:04) The Player Test (22:05-26:11) A story of being uncomfortable (26:12-27:24) Players write the lineup  (27:25-29:28) Intimidated before you start (29:29-35:29) Looking for the positive/how to teach it (35:30-40:41) Application, closing pitch thoughts

Deven Morgan from Driveline Academy is here for round 2 of baseball conversations. We touch on winter baseball events, pitchers' arm fatigue, and how developing skills that scale. (00:00-03:12) Intro (how this episode is set up) (03:13-06:58) Leveraging technology (06:59-09:54) Creativity in coaching (09:55-13:01) Deven's ABCA Take (13:02-23:14) Dogmas, effective teaching, player efficiencies  (23:15-33:19) Top priorities for a teacher (33:21-39:40) USA Pitch Smart, Winter Baseball Events, Pitching Fatigue (39:4-55:10) Regulating youth baseball? (55:11-57:36) Potential solutions to arm fatigue/injury (57:37-01:09:34) Game adoption, rec-ball, and local levels (01:09:35-01:14:37) Can Travel Ball, Pony, and Babe Ruth work together? (01:14:38-01:25:18) Skills That Scale (01:25:19-01:40:44) Multi-sports, Burning Out, Training Structure (01:40:45-01:43:12) Gamification  (01:44:13-01:48:59) Driveline Academy 

Coaches, think about how you want your team to be built before building it. This helps with eliminating problems like FOMO, overpromising, and rocky seasons.  See the time stamps below to find the topic you're most interested in, or listen to the entire length.  (00:00-02:24) New update to the show (02:25-08:16) Building out your program and team 08:17-14:27 The right player, state the facts and clearly define your priorities (14:28-16:52) Don't FOMO into the word "elite" (16:44-20:24) The focus of the coach vs. the player (20:25-23:11) The unicorn team (23:12-31:51) Oversold and buzzwords

We recently got back from the ABCA, and boy, 'do we have insights for you!' There are a lot of great projects being created in the baseball space. In this episode, we talk about the American Baseball Coaches Association Conference, where the baseball community ascends onto one location to celebrate the game, teach, and share the projects their working on.  Find the topics in the time stamps below:  00:00-02:18 Introduction 02:19-04:44 ChatGPT: your new instructor? 04:45-07:31 ABCA: Disney World of Baseball? 07:32-14:29 The pulse and future of baseball 14:30-22:36 Building relationships 22:37-27:56 The ultimate crazy college recruiting hack 27:57-32:13 The ABCA is the most prominent think tank for coaches and players

When I was playing, there were a lot of rumors about how the pro scouting community found their players. It was a guessing game in my career. In this episode, we have a National Crosschecker Scout behind the microphone. See the time stamps for the topics we touch on. (00:00-04:11) Introduction - Who is Mark Adair? (04:12-08:37) The different types of pro scouts (08:38-11:34) What is a professional prospect? (11:35-15:48) How long do scouts spend at a game? (15:49-20:03) Pro scouts attend these events (20:04-29:50) The MLB Draft, what you need to know (29:51-30:33) Multi-sport athletes  (30:34-36:13) Here's how you make it (36:14-40:02) Minor League restructure/College transfer portal (40:03-41:23) We know the rosters (41:24-43:22) This is a big deal for a scout (43:24-46:10) This is what we look for (46:11-46:59) Are pitchers harder to project out? (47:00-51:51) Scouting + Training + Mark's Career (51:52-55:19) Draft week, how many players we look at (55:20-59:08) Throwing your helmet crosses you off the list?

Is it time for us to quit? We should probably sell the mics, cameras, and lighting equipment. We're never going to make it to the next stage of podcasting. Why should we have even started? WAIT, WAIT, STOP... Everyone goes through this self-doubt talk. Especially when pressure is mounting on you, how do you handle it?  We explore it in this episode.  (00:00-03:00) Introduction  (03:01-08:41) The Black Spiral of Death (08:42-13:28) What's the source? The solution?  (13:29-16:12) Complaining will cause an avalanche  (16:13-21:05) The bailout (21:06-28:44) Is this beneath me? (28:55-31:52) Dave's drawing   (31:53-35:52) Spiker is working on these action items

Recruiting + Twitter + Think Different Does it feel like you're not getting traction on your recruiting? Are you not getting noticed? Here's where you could be going wrong.   00:00-03:25 Intro  03:26-09:03 Building something that lasts  09:04-20:10 Twitter + Recruiting  20:11-24:59  Passion vs. Purpose  25:00-34:48 Recruiting, your first step  34:49-36:45 Obstacles are the way

History rhymes, and sometimes it completely repeats, but the majority of the time it's a newer version of what was in the past. How has the game evolved to become more about celebrations, and velocity, and less about winning? Is there a place in time we can point to where this happened before?  Spiker, Dave, And Raffy talk about Aaron Judges' historic season, Manny Machado's lack of hustle in the 2018 playoffs, and Jose Bautista's emphasis bat flip. 

It can be tempting. It wants you to stop short. It convinces you that no one will know. It wants you to be lesser version of yourself because it’s easier. Will you compromise? Closing Pitch Twitter Follows: Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Do you just want to listen to baseball and softball conversations? Listen to the Tiger Interview Series. It’s only about the game: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

How do you change the vibe of a team?  What do you do when you have negative nancy complaining about the weather, turf, or umpire?   In this episode, we address the mood. Will you pass the vibe check? Closing Pitch Twitter Follows: Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Do you just want to listen to baseball and softball conversations? Listen to the Tiger Interview Series. It’s only about the game: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

Getting locked in our minds can be the tiniest prison. We can easily put ourselves in this place by traveling down the rabbit hole of emotions. How do we break out to play fast and free? Closing Pitch Twitter Follows: Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Do you just want to listen to baseball and softball conversations? Listen to the Tiger Interview Series. It’s only about the game: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

Greener pastures? Are you switching teams too early? In this episode, we speak about when is it a good time to move on. Closing Pitch Twitter Follows: Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Do you just want to listen to baseball and softball conversations? Listen to the Tiger Interview Series. It’s only about the game: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb Tiger Interview Series Twitter Follows: Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Tim Jones Rawlings Tigers Pittsburgh: https://twitter.com/TigersPgh Instagram Follows: Pure Edge Performance (Justin Shal) https://www.instagram.com/pureedgetraining/ Rawlings Tigers Pittsburgh: https://www.instagram.com/rawlingstigerspgh/ Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Deep Dive Into People and Culture, Closing Pitch Podcast: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832

This is a more reflective episode. I wanted to share something I learned after listening to an interview during one of my financial classes. I'm not going to talk about finance but the psychology of pursuing a goal, passion, or desire. Mark Ritchie III mentioned a book I listed below about the psychology of trading. In the last chapter, they talk about the five capitals. He went in-depth with each one, and there was a massive correlation between this and a player's career in baseball. Enjoy this episode!  Oikonomics: How To Invest in Life's 5 Capitals  Closing Pitch Twitter Follows: Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Do you just want to listen to baseball and softball conversations? Listen to the Tiger Interview Series. It’s only about the game: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb Tiger Interview Series Twitter Follows: Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Tim Jones Rawlings Tigers Pittsburgh: https://twitter.com/TigersPgh Instagram Follows: Pure Edge Performance (Justin Shal) https://www.instagram.com/pureedgetraining/ Rawlings Tigers Pittsburgh: https://www.instagram.com/rawlingstigerspgh/ Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Deep Dive Into People and Culture, Closing Pitch Podcast: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832

Don't be discouraged; you're doing something others are unwilling to do.  Losing sucks! I hate losing more than I love winning, but that's me. In a most recent post from one of our directors, it was evident that our national team took their lumps this summer. His introspective post was probably one of the best-communicated thoughts I've seen on the experience.  In this episode, we share our thoughts on the national program, the director's post, and where we go from here.  Closing Pitch Twitter Follows: Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Do you just want to listen to baseball and softball conversations? Listen to the Tiger Interview Series. It’s only about the game: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb Tiger Interview Series Twitter Follows: Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Tim Jones Rawlings Tigers Pittsburgh: https://twitter.com/TigersPgh Instagram Follows: Pure Edge Performance (Justin Shal) https://www.instagram.com/pureedgetraining/ Rawlings Tigers Pittsburgh: https://www.instagram.com/rawlingstigerspgh/ Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Deep Dive Into People and Culture, Closing Pitch Podcast: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832

We recently were at the PBR Nationals at Lake Point in Emerson, Georgia. We saw some unbelievable talent, but one obvious thing was the ballpark's attitudes.   You could easily pick out the players who were unselfish and who were selfish. The unselfish players shined like rockstars. They were talking the game, they had positive body language, and you gravitated towards them as you watched them on the field.   So, if two opposing coaches who don't have a horse in the race notice these positive vibes...how do you think college scouts and fans see you?   Here are two cents on how to master the last week of the season. Closing Pitch Twitter Follows: Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Do you just want to listen to baseball and softball conversations? Listen to the Tiger Interview Series. It’s only about the game: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb Tiger Interview Series Twitter Follows: Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Tim Jones Rawlings Tigers Pittsburgh: https://twitter.com/TigersPgh Instagram Follows: Pure Edge Performance (Justin Shal) https://www.instagram.com/pureedgetraining/ Rawlings Tigers Pittsburgh: https://www.instagram.com/rawlingstigerspgh/ Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Deep Dive Into People and Culture, Closing Pitch Podcast: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832

The track of a player's career is fascinating. The journey is unique to each player, but there's one pitfall that potentially could derail an upward-trending player.  In this episode, we talk about the 13U curse, the advantage of being in the bottom third, and how to avoid the pitfall.  Closing Pitch Twitter Follows:  Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go!  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Do you just want to listen to baseball and softball conversations?  Listen to the Tiger Interview Series. It’s only about the game:  Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

You need to know here when you're talking with multiple teams during the tryout process. Especially at the high school level, there are many things to consider. Over the past 5-6 years, we want to share the best way to handle the process and navigate it towards your best playing, learning, and development situation.  I would love to hear your thoughts and share your take on the subject. Closing Pitch Twitter Follows: Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Do you want to listen to baseball and softball conversations? Listen to the Tiger Interview Series. It’s only about the game: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

Pitch counts suck! Yep, we said it, and here's why... In this episode, we speak with Jordan Oseguera who is the Director of Performance and Pitching at ArmCare.com. Arm Care specializes in pitchers' health. They want to know when and how much a player can throw in a given day.  In this conversation, you're going to learn about:  - why pitch counts are not a great metric  - what matters in pitching recovery and how to recover faster  - how you will be able to throw more and longer  Links:  ArmCare.com Email: [email protected] Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanoseguera/ Closing Pitch Twitter Follows: Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Do you just want to listen to baseball and softball conversations? Listen to the Tiger Interview Series. It’s only about the game: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

With mics, cameras, and a social media handle, you can influence a group of people. This doesn't necessarily mean you're a leader. You can be someone pandering to a group of people because the algorithm rewards you for engagement. It's something to think about as influencers are starting to be labeled as leaders. In reality, they are only "influencers." They influence behavior.  So what makes a good leader?    What do they avoid?  How can you recognize an imposter?  Adam Grants Book Follow us on Twitter @david_birkby @spikerhelms Check out the Rawlings Tigers at rawlingstigers.com

Its' been less than 365 days since our second edition of the Tactical Guide to Recruiting. A lot has happened and we're back on the mics to talk about it! We're in a world where athletes are getting paid, there's no penalty for your first transfer, and we're on the cusp of potentially seeing an adjustment to scholarships. What does this mean for you? How does the transfer portal affect high school recruits? Will you be able to get your school paid for and make extra money?  We answer all these questions in version 3.0 of the Tactical Guide to Recruiting.  To catch up on all the Tactical Guides listen to them here:  Version 1 Version 2 Twitter Follows:  Spiker Helms David Birkby Evan Pratte

Baseball Twitter blew up 🤯 The first start of the season, on the road, and he was cruising! Clayton Kershaw made headlines with his final bow of the game after the third out in the 7th inning of a perfect game. This caused a massive split inside the baseball community, with people calling it "a problem" and others saying it was, "100% the right move, it's a learning lesson for amateur baseball."  Where do we stand?  Listen and find out.  All the links:  Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go!  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Do you just want to listen to baseball and softball conversations? Check out our Tiger Interview Series podcast. It's only about the game:  Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

This episode was previously released on the Tiger Interview Series.  In this episode of the Tiger Interview Series, we have Brett McQueen of Lightning Performance. A well-accomplished athletics trainer who has trained professional and tactical athletes. Conversation includes: - how to be in mid-season form every day - taking the necessary steps to train correctly - winning in nutrition Website: https://lightningperformancekc.com/ Email: [email protected] Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok: lightningperformancekc Press Sports: lightningperformance Twitter: lightningperfkc

FUEL THE BODY! Part 2 of the conversation with Scott Brown.  Listen to Pt 1 here  Instagram:  Scott Brown: https://www.instagram.com/coach_brown_18/ 1st Phorm: https://www.instagram.com/1stphorm/ Rawlings Tigers: https://www.instagram.com/rawlingstigers/ Twitter: Scott Brown: https://twitter.com/Coach_Brown_18 1st Phorm: https://twitter.com/1stPhorm Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Learn More About the Game, Tiger Interview Series: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

The consistency has been keen with having teams knocking on the door of the state championship and having players reach college and professional baseball. How do you consistently structure your program to win regardless of personnel, situation, or circumstance? In this episode, we speak to Scott Brown, a former high school baseball coach who has a track record of winning teams.  Currently, he works for 1st Phorm, a supplement company that is tops in their industry and ships products across the world. We look back at his former life to dissect what makes great teams and how we can structure our teams for more success.  Twitter:  Scott Brown: https://twitter.com/Coach_Brown_18 1st Phorm: https://twitter.com/1stPhorm Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Learn More About the Game, Tiger Interview Series: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

DEEP Into the archives, I went to find this episode.  I was editing last week trying to find a clip from the Closing Pitch and found this piece that read 'December- Recording 03.' After listening to it, I thought this was a great piece to send out for players to watch and listen on setting standards for yourself to live by. We site three situations. I hope you like the episode!  Also, we mention NFT's (non-fungible tokens). It's not investment advice!!! We're baseball people, we help run a club, we're not financial professionals.  Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go!  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Learn More About the Game, Tiger Interview Series:  Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

One of my lesson clients, who I love coaching, by the way, came in frustrated. He was getting angry at his performance. It was the frustration you get when you're struggling to make an adjustment.  You're learning from your mistakes, but you're not making the fast adjustment to fix them.  I stopped the lesson to 'calm him down,' but to also figure out what was happening in his headspace. We found the route of it.  This podcast is about our conversation.  Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go!  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Learn More About the Game, Tiger Interview Series:  Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

"Showcases are expensive!" "They're not worth it." "The top kids get all the looks."  There's some truth to the rumors around showcases, but we all might be viewing them all wrong. We have Evan Pratte, former power 5 D1 coach, and current National Director, discussing the untapped potential of showcases. David Birkby further expands the point with his Twitter thread on how to leverage yourself and 10x your investment.  Here's our take on baseball and softball showcases.  The episode on the Tactical Guide to Recruiting: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1njYrDouhJu8mCPi7lBIOz?si=exwhzE_SSSqgyUBPB8wnWQ Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Learn More About the Game, Tiger Interview Series: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

MLB locked out + negotiations are shaky = MASSIVE Opportunity for D1 baseball to build their fan bases.  College baseball has had a slow growth in fan adoption with the season being played in the colder months, but with spring training on pause and social media platforms, this could be a massive adoption.  We love this play for the D1 schools. It has talent, personalities, and swagger.  FOLLOW THE TWITTER LIST!  We built a Twitter list you can follow. See the live feeds of all the d1 programs as they compete towards Omaha. https://twitter.com/i/lists/1495046662347276320?s=20  Closing Pitch Twitter Follows:  Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go!  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Learn More About the Game, Tiger Interview Series:  Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

We're back, we're here, and we've got stories to share!  Dave and I recently went to a Perfect Game tournament in Arizona with our National Teams. This event allowed us to see our players in a different light. It quickly reminded us that stacking experiences build the psyche of a player. We also realized this lesson in our own lives. We share stories of our past and how being a part of the good experiences have been the best investment.   Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Learn More About the Game, Tiger Interview Series: Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

This show will be the best 73 minutes you spent this week, which is not click-bait. Dr. Ellen Reed sits down with us to explain how the human mind works, how it interacts with athletes, and why we need to focus on it.  Dr. Ellen Reed shares her experiences as a performance coach, mother, and professional dancer. You will be surprised how she teaches a simple process to get you back on track when you're in the dumps and help you put the pedal to the metal when you're successful.  To learn more about Dr. Reed and her book, please find the links below.  📚Relentless Solutions Focused: https://www.amazon.com/Relentless-Solution-Focus-Pressure-Underperformance/dp/1260460118 Dr. Ellen Reed:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drellenreed/ Website: https://enhancedperformanceinc.com/executive-coaching/ellen-reed-services/ Forbes Article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jillgriffin/2021/01/12/strong-in-sixty-seconds-mental-toughness-when-we-need-it-most/?sh=19a4d16d48ad Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go!  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Learn More About the Game, Tiger Interview Series:  Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

Deion Sanders shocked the world last month by convincing the number 1 football recruit to switch his commitment and sign with Jackson State.  Who is Jackson State? A small FCS school in Mississippi with the head coach being HOF Deion Sanders. Welcome to the world of the NIL. The new regulation allows athletes to receive compensation based on their name, image, and likeness.  How do we feel about it? Well, we spoke about it in a previous episode with one of our friends who was a compliance officer for a division 1 school. We re-open the conversation and discuss how we truly feel about it.  00:00-02:30 Introduction/ What is the NIL?  02:31-08:54 Why players should get paid, but only these athletes should  08:55-15:00 Deion Sanders steals the number 1 recruit  15:00-18:17 STOP romanticizing about the past  18:18-22:54 How are athletes impacting businesses  The episode with Jared: https://youtu.be/nyYb4eDqvEM Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go!  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Learn More About the Game, Tiger Interview Series:  Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb

There wasn't a shortage of opinion when it comes to specializing in a sport. As promised, we bring Ben Brewster on the Closing Pitch podcast to discuss his tweet that caused everyone to cry; "HOW DARE YOU!"  In this conversation, we tackle this question plus the opportunity cost you could be incurred by playing year-round.   To learn more about Ben and his company Tread Athletics we challenge you to scroll down and click on his link.  00:00-00:57 Introduction  00:57-08:49 Who is Ben Brewster and Tread Athletics  08:50-24:28 Did This Tweet Make You Mad? (Specialization)  24:29-27:33 Is it possible to do both?  27:34-32:30 Mental maturity and specialization  32:31-35:02 Should you compete in games year-round?  35:03-37:00 At what point in the year should you focus on upgrading your engine  37:01-43:42 Virtual coaching and why it can be better 43:43-48:13 The future of baseball development 48:14-56:13 The single worst piece of advice  56:14-58:12 Closing statements  The event Ben will be speaking at https://www.worldpitchingcongress.com Ben Brewster Tweet: https://twitter.com/TreadAthletics/status/1461410103161151493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.notion.so%2FQuick-Note-cded057e65e14841b19ee3e404176b96 Ben Brewster: https://twitter.com/TreadAthletics Spiker Helms: https://twitter.com/SpikerHelms David Birkby: https://twitter.com/David_Birkby Rawlings Tigers: https://twitter.com/Rawlings_Tigers Learn more about Tread: https://treadathletics.com/why-tread/ Learn More About the Rawlings Tigers: https://www.rawlingstigers.com/form-a-team.php Listen to the Show On the Go!  Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-closing-pitch/id1308056021 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fjos02cDAqXvQA5dyVgR2?si=557c3bf221cf4832 Learn More About the Game, Tiger Interview Series:  Watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlingsTigers/featured Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rawlings-tigers-interview-series/id1553851157 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6b8RY79LXAWxpSMMTyLWqG?si=5c3861d7cc9d46fb