I learned a ton about playing catch from Pudge Rodriguez. He riffed on how important it was to throw the ball to your partner with authority. He said, "When I play catch, I'm trying to knock the other guy down. That trains my arm to know what to do when I try to throw a baserunner out instead of training it to toss the ball." John Baker learned his lessons from Huston Street. … [Read more...]
Adapt or Die - Matt Taylor [Guest Post]
We have a myriad of reoccurring themes around here. We frequently riff on the value of resilience and resourcefulness. Particularly for a professional athlete, these characteristics are critical. Add in a dense layer of less than perfect luck, and Matt Taylor needed (and still needs) the aforementioned attributes for his very survival. He earned my respect with his tale in the … [Read more...]
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Our job as parents is not to establish relationships with our children where they depend on us and we depend on them. Our job is to create a learning environment powerful enough to allow our children to venture out in the world, independent from us, where they can survive and thrive.How many times have you heard someone say that we bring children into the world because we … [Read more...]
Picking Favorites
Ali Farka Touré (October 31, 1939 – March 7, 2006) is my favorite (musical) artist. I can say that with complete certainty.If you’re reading this blog, you’re likely two things. One, a music lover and two, a conversationalist.As both of those things myself, I’ve been stumped by the question, “Who is your favorite artist?” I’m certain you have too. The question is kind … [Read more...]
Baseball Players and Bench Pressing
The bench press is not dangerous for baseball players. It’s not dangerous for pitchers, either. If your goal is to add strength, power and athletic function, the move is highly valuable and should not be pushed to the side by ballplayers (or anyone) brainwashed by dogmatic, antiquated thinking.I can remember a major league trainer telling me that I shouldn’t do traditional … [Read more...]