“Good writing does not succeed or fail on the strength of its ability to persuade. It succeeds on its ability to engage you, make you think, and give you a glimpse into someone else’s head – even if you decide that’s a place you don’t want to be.” – Malcolm Gladwell, from What The Dog Saw
Before I get into what this blog is about, let’s start with what it isn’t about. If you’re interested in:
- Being right and attacking those who you think are wrong
- Driving agendas
- Clinging to the comfort of tradition
- Invalidating skin in the game
- Neglecting other perspectives
- Launch angle swings
- Lactic acid flush runs
then this place probably isn’t for you. If instead you’re interested in:
- Bringing a fresh set of eyes to something you never considered
- Seeking to understand before seeking to be understood
- Filtering out the noise and finding what matters
- Being transparent about previous mistakes and using them as learning opportunities
- Having productive conversations and not being afraid of thoughtful disagreement
- Making coaching a career, not just a passion project
this place is absolutely for you.
This blog is dedicated to the coaches who are in the trenches every single day solving problems and finding ways to help players get better. It’s to recognize the pioneers who paved the way for all of us, inspire the ones just getting started, and to fuel the fire for those who aren’t satisfied with knowing “enough.”
We all made a decision at one point to turn a kid’s game into a career, but with that decision came great responsibility. How we handle that responsibility impacts our ability to pass the torch and continue to push this great game forward. Some like it, others love it, few live it. Coaching can’t just be something we like to do. It must be an obsession.
“It is a privilege to be in a position that allows you to mold the lives of players and have them simultaneously shape yours. Never take that role and those relationships for granted.” – Kainoa Correa, bench coach San Francisco Giants
Disclaimer: This blog is not filled with feel good stories and cliches. Everything in here is real. If you’re afraid to tackle the messy realities that run most coaches away from this profession, save yourself the time and go somewhere else. You won’t like what I have to say.
For everything uncertain about our profession, there are some things I can guarantee: Our journeys as coaches will traverse the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. We’re going to forget more than we remember, not every player that comes to us is going to get better, and we will come across information that challenges everything we’ve ever known. We’re going to have to give more than we receive, operate on limited budgets, navigate political environments, and make the most of situations that are not ideal. Coaching is a thankless profession that will challenge us and make us question why we even got started in the first place, but that is the ultimate privilege of being one. The destination is the disease. The reward is the journey.
The perfect time to get started is right now.
The closest thing biomechanically to elite MLB players
At 108 Performance, we have one specific kid in our program that stands out among the rest. This kid isn’t a big leaguer, college player, to even a starter on his high school varsity team. He’s only six years old. His name is Kellen. Now Kellen doesn’t really stand out physically. He’s about what you … Continue reading “The closest thing biomechanically to elite MLB players”
Designing a plan to hit Dodgers ace Julio Urias
Below is a sample scouting plan I put together for hitters to attack Dodgers ace Julio Urias this past postseason. Inside includes notable statistics, patterns, and actionable strategies I thought would be beneficial for opposing teams. All stats and video from Baseball Savant. Notable Statistics Pitch Distribution 47.8% FB 34.2% CB 17.3% CH Started … Continue reading “Designing a plan to hit Dodgers ace Julio Urias”
What shooting a gun can teach us about throwing a baseball
The other day I tried out a new skill. I went to the gun range. As with any new skill, there was a learning curve to get up to speed. I received as crash course on the fundamentals of how to shoot. Top hand positioning, grip, how to wrap the left hand, footwork, how to … Continue reading “What shooting a gun can teach us about throwing a baseball”
Winning in October: Key Moments from the 2021 Postseason so far
As the ALCS and NLCS conclude and set the stage for the 2021 Fall Classic, below are some memorable moments from this postseason and what they can teach us about how to win games in October. Two Strike Hitting In game three of the NLCS, Los Angeles trailed Atlanta 5-2 heading into the … Continue reading “Winning in October: Key Moments from the 2021 Postseason so far”
Making players better by making them… worse?
Before you call me crazy, try this trick out. Let’s create a situation where you’re working with a pitcher. On this day, they’re struggling to find their optimal arm slot. This is a pretty common issue we see when kids first come into the shop. There are a lot of different ways we could find … Continue reading “Making players better by making them… worse?”
The equipment you don’t know is dragging you down
On July 2, 1994 a lightning strike sparked a fire near the base of Storm King Mountain, about seven miles west of Glenwood Springs, CO. After 48 hours, the fire had only spread a mere three acres. While it didn’t start as an immediate threat to people, the persistent blaze caused local community members to … Continue reading “The equipment you don’t know is dragging you down”
The problem with “Ghost Victories” and what they hide about our success
In 1994, the New York Police Department (NYPD) implemented a data collection system called “StatCom.” The software was designed to increase and improve data collection on crime throughout the city so resources could be better allocated to areas of need. Objectives were built out, designed, and communicated in order to measure effectiveness. It started out with … Continue reading “The problem with “Ghost Victories” and what they hide about our success”
What “The Office” can teach us about crafting more powerful messages
In episode ten of season five of The Office, Oscar Hernandez walks into his boss Michael Scott’s office. In his hands are a series of papers stapled together. The papers break down final costs over the past year for the Scranton branch. As Michael goes through the papers, Oscar explains how the branch did very … Continue reading “What “The Office” can teach us about crafting more powerful messages”
What a common driving mistake can teach us about skill acquisition
Think about the first time you ever drove to work. It was probably in a new area you were unfamiliar with. As a result, you decided to use a GPS to navigate the first few weeks. You needed time to get comfortable with the streets, where to turn, and how long it took to get … Continue reading “What a common driving mistake can teach us about skill acquisition”
What basketball’s “Moneyball” should warn us about the future of baseball
Back in 2006, Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander hired Daryl Morey to be Houston’s new general manager (GM). Morey was 33 at the time. He had no playing background. He had earned an MBA from Harvard, as well as an undergraduate degree in computer science from Northwestern University. His only NBA front office experience was … Continue reading “What basketball’s “Moneyball” should warn us about the future of baseball”
Bat to Ball Principles: The Importance of Spacing
If you’re currently having issues at the plate with getting jammed, squaring up baseballs, catching up to velo, or keeping your best hits fair, there’s a chance you might be fighting for space. “Hitters are always fighting for two things: time and space.” – Darin Everson, hitting coordinator Colorado Rockies Space is one of the three … Continue reading “Bat to Ball Principles: The Importance of Spacing”
Could Andrew Heaney be the key to New York’s postseason hopes?
This past trade deadline, the New York Yankees made a much anticipated – yet surprising – splash in the market acquiring Chicago Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo and Texas Rangers OF Joey Gallo. The two bats hope to bolster an injury-riddled (shocker) lineup that currently sits 6.5 games behind the first place Boston Red Sox and … Continue reading “Could Andrew Heaney be the key to New York’s postseason hopes?”
Trevor Bauer: It’s more than spider tack
Back in 2018, Trevor Bauer stirred some tempers after calling out the Houston Astros for doctoring baseballs with illegal substances during their 2017 World Series run. Those remarks ended up circling back to Bauer when the former Red saw a significant increase in spin on multiple pitches at the end of 2019. On Opening Day, … Continue reading “Trevor Bauer: It’s more than spider tack”
Gerrit Cole is back
After a good – but not great – 2020 campaign, Gerrit Cole is on pace for the best season of his career in 2021. Through eight starts, Cole has thrown 52.2 IP, struck out 78, and walked just three batters for absurd K/BB of 26.0. He’s allowed just eight earned runs and currently owns a … Continue reading “Gerrit Cole is back”
Why you need to train in-season
As snow starts to melt and trees start to bloom, baseball games are going to start filling the calendars of kids this spring all across the country. While this is an exciting time of the year, it can bring a multitude of challenges. With more and more training economy being dedicated to games, less is … Continue reading “Why you need to train in-season”
Four “magic tricks” you need to try with your players
We know that we’ve said there are no magic tricks when it comes to player development. Making meaningful movement changes is not easy. It’s really hard. If you want your training to show up when the lights turn on, you can’t cut corners. You have to put in the time, energy, and effort if you … Continue reading “Four “magic tricks” you need to try with your players”
Coaches and GPS Systems: Navigating our players to success
What do you do when you need to drive somewhere and you’re not exactly sure how to get there? Simple: You pull out your GPS, punch in the address of your destination, and let it do the work for you. You’re going to get a couple of different routes, information on which one is quickest, and an estimated … Continue reading “Coaches and GPS Systems: Navigating our players to success”
Biotensegrity: Putting principles into action
See part one for context on what biotensegity is and why it’s important here. If we want to train baseball athletes using the principles of biotensegrity, we need to understand how elite players move and produce force. Since baseball is a rotary sport, we have to start the conversation by defining good rotation. Below are … Continue reading “Biotensegrity: Putting principles into action”
The only mistake you can ever make as a coach
Coaches, let’s be honest. We’re far from perfect. We’ve made mistakes, told kids to do things they shouldn’t have, and put together programs in the past that make us cringe. While it’s tough to swallow at times, there’s absolutely nothing wrong about it. Those moments are a necessary part of the learning process to become … Continue reading “The only mistake you can ever make as a coach”
Biotensegrity: What you need to know as a coach
At 108 Performance, our training is centered around two bedrock principles: All humans are pre-programmed for reciprocal movement All humans are living and breathing biotensegrity systems This article is going to focus on the second principle: What in the world is biotensegrity and why in the world is it important when it comes to training … Continue reading “Biotensegrity: What you need to know as a coach”
Sunday Sales Thoughts from Daniel Pink & Chris Voss
Below are 10 thoughts I’ve gathered watching a couple of Masterclasses recently. One was from Daniel Pink – best-selling author of Drive and To Sell is Human. The other was from Chris Voss – former FBI hostage negotiator. I’d highly recommend both to anyone interested in learning how to build better arguments. Sales is not … Continue reading “Sunday Sales Thoughts from Daniel Pink & Chris Voss”
Mass… doesn’t equal Gas?
Let’s create a scenario. You’ve just finished up your last practice for the fall and you’re building out offseason plans for your pitching staff this winter. Out of all of your players, there’s one in particular that really makes you excited. As a freshman, this kid has a chance to be a really special player. … Continue reading “Mass… doesn’t equal Gas?”
The Power of Analogies: 10 you can start using today
Analogies are a powerful form of language all coaches can utilize. They work by combining a specific objective (e.g. rotate better) with a familiar association (e.g. phone booth) in order to create a vivid image for execution (e.g. rotate in a phone booth). Instead of asking our athletes to: Accelerate faster Start in an athletic … Continue reading “The Power of Analogies: 10 you can start using today”
Data, Efficiency, and Asymmetries: Recapping BTG20 Part III
See part one of our Bridge the Gap recap here and part two here. To round out the weekend we were able to put together an MLB players panel which featured Marc Rzepczynski, Cesar Ramos, Tyson Ross, Patrick Mazeika, and Ricky Romero. The five talked about their experiences in player development over the years and … Continue reading “Data, Efficiency, and Asymmetries: Recapping BTG20 Part III”
Year in Review: 12 Thoughts, Three Questions, One Word
As we conclude 2020 and begin 2021, below are 12 thoughts that have resonated with me throughout the course of the year, three questions to ponder, and one word I will try to live by. The Fine Print. People who you once trusted will turn their back on you. Your best efforts won’t always … Continue reading “Year in Review: 12 Thoughts, Three Questions, One Word”
Movement, Command, & Creating a Competitive Advantage: Recapping BTG20 Part II
See Part I of our recap from Bridge the Gap 2020 here. Our very own Will Marshall took the stage at Bridge for the first time breaking down the last eight months at 108 Performance. With the shutdown in March, we were forced to close the doors at our Tustin shop and had to migrate towards … Continue reading “Movement, Command, & Creating a Competitive Advantage: Recapping BTG20 Part II”
Shapes, Sequencing, & Context: Recapping BTG20 Part I
At 108 Performance we recently held our fourth annual Bridge the Gap (BTG) conference the weekend of October 23-25. Over the course of three days we were able to gather 37 of the brightest minds in player development who put together 27 information packed presentations. For those of you who missed out, we went back … Continue reading “Shapes, Sequencing, & Context: Recapping BTG20 Part I”
Viruses, Tipping Points, and How one Video Completely Changed Baseball – for better or for worse
The week of March 9, 2020 completely changed my life forever. On Monday, I departed for Southern California to join the 108 Performance team and begin a year-long internship program. The program represented the opportunity of a lifetime as I had the ability to learn how to train players from some of the best minds … Continue reading “Viruses, Tipping Points, and How one Video Completely Changed Baseball – for better or for worse”
Why No One Is Talking About One of Baseball’s Biggest Stories This Season
The other day I sat down and went back through some baseball from earlier in the day that featured a doubleheader between the Mariners and Padres. I was particularly interested in this series because Manny Machado – one of the anchors on my fantasy team – had left the yard on three different occasions between … Continue reading “Why No One Is Talking About One of Baseball’s Biggest Stories This Season”
What a Cajun and a Dream Can Teach Us About the Power of Belief
It’s February of 2017 and it’s been about a month since the conclusion of the 2016 college football season. Ed Orgeron has returned to his hometown of Larose, LA – a small town deep in the Louisiana bayou about an hour south of New Orleans – to speak at a local banquet. It’s just under … Continue reading “What a Cajun and a Dream Can Teach Us About the Power of Belief”
Robbie Ray’s Changes and Why Getting “Shorter” is NOT Always Better
Last year, Lucas Giolito had a dream season for the Chicago White Sox. After sputtering to a 10-13 record in 2018 and posting a 6.13 ERA in 173.1 IP, Giolito exploded in ’19 en route to his first All-Star appearance. He punched out 228 batters in 176.2 IP for a 11.62 K/9 – 5th in … Continue reading “Robbie Ray’s Changes and Why Getting “Shorter” is NOT Always Better”
What Happened to Matt Harvey in 2018?
It’s the evening of November 1, 2015 and the New York Mets are fighting for their lives in a do or die Game 5 against the Kansas City Royals in the World Series. On the brink of elimination, Terry Collins turned to Matt Harvey – baseball’s feel good story winning NL Comeback Player of the … Continue reading “What Happened to Matt Harvey in 2018?”
What We Miss with Pictures & Connecting by Communicating
What we miss when we focus on still shots “If someone hands you a picture and shows you a picture and says “here’s their stance,” “here’s their negative move,” “here’s contact,” – If you give them any advice on what they’re doing wrong, you are taking such a gamble because you have no idea how … Continue reading “What We Miss with Pictures & Connecting by Communicating”
Frequency & Making the Risk the Reward
When the Risk becomes the Reward: What we all can learn about skill acquisition from skateboarders “Rarely is it a question of talent or technique at those levels, it’s just one of belief.” – Rodney Mullen, former professional skateboarder I was able to catch up with Lantz Wheeler earlier this week and pick his brain on … Continue reading “Frequency & Making the Risk the Reward”
Rethinking Movement Assessments & The Mobility Myth
Reverse Engineering from the Skill Assessments are something I’ve been interested in for a while because of the role they play in designing individualized training programs. Being able to individualize is a critical skill as a coach because your players are akin to snowflakes; not one is ever going to be the same. Being able … Continue reading “Rethinking Movement Assessments & The Mobility Myth”
Why you should keep an eye on this elite MLB arm & What Happened to Tyler Kolek?
Mike Soroka was a nice free agent addition to my fantasy baseball team last year – and it’s because his shit is nasty. He’ll slice and dice you with 95 mph sinkers, upper 80s sliders, and does it with pinpoint precision – only walking 2.5 batters per nine while striking out 7.3 en route to … Continue reading “Why you should keep an eye on this elite MLB arm & What Happened to Tyler Kolek?”
The Case Against Pitch Design & Learning from Neil deGrasse Tyson
The Case against Pitch Design Pitch design is something that has gained a lot of traction recently – and rightfully so. Seeing exactly how the ball comes out of your hand helps significantly accelerate the learning curve for a new pitch by enhancing awareness and understanding for how to create a desired movement profile. Pitchers … Continue reading “The Case Against Pitch Design & Learning from Neil deGrasse Tyson”
Feeding the Mistake & Finding the Source
Exaggerate the problem to solve the problem “Feeding the mistake” is an effective strategy coaches can use when trying to build a new movement pattern. The goal of feeding the mistake is to force athletes into the patterns they want to avoid so they can create feel for a newer and better pattern. By exaggerating … Continue reading “Feeding the Mistake & Finding the Source”
Adaptations are NOT Limitations & Rethinking “Rolling your Wrists”
Athletes are going to acquire specific adaptations over time that are beneficial to success in their respective sport. These adaptations depend on the task required and the environment in which it is accomplished. For example, kids who spend a lot of time throwing when they’re younger will acquire retroversion in their throwing shoulder to allow … Continue reading “Adaptations are NOT Limitations & Rethinking “Rolling your Wrists””
Sequencing vs. Efficiency & The Brakes
Sequencing vs. Efficiency I picked up on this from a conversation with Will when talking about the idea of efficiency. When it comes to movement, efficiency is what we’re trying to create. Serge Gracovetsky talked about the importance of efficiency in his 1988 book The Spinal Engine suggesting that as a biological system, we strive … Continue reading “Sequencing vs. Efficiency & The Brakes”
The Curious Case of Marcell Ozuna
The following article is a joint piece where I am joined by Ben Reed to describe Marcell Ozuna’s recent struggles and inability to secure a multi-year contract in free agency. Ben is currently a student-athlete on the varsity baseball team at Oberlin College and is aspiring to work in advanced scouting or baseball operations in Major League Baseball. … Continue reading “The Curious Case of Marcell Ozuna”
Bigger than Baseball
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That … Continue reading “Bigger than Baseball”
Protected: Trout vs. Harper – What would happen if Harper walked into 108?
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Trout vs. Harper – What makes Trout so good?
“It can be said that the ecological niche occupied by a species supplies the species with the energy it needs for its survival. In that case, the fittest can be defined as those members of a population that make the most economical use of the energy sources available in their ecological niche. It is our … Continue reading “Trout vs. Harper – What makes Trout so good?”
Why one of baseball’s generational athletes has lived up to the hype – and the other has not
If I think about what it means to be a “generational athlete,” some of the words that come to my mind include: Game changer Excellence Cold-blooded Intense Clutch Timeless Rare Pioneer Precise Graceful Here’s what that list would look like if I were to eliminate all of those words except for one: Game changer Generational … Continue reading “Why one of baseball’s generational athletes has lived up to the hype – and the other has not”
A Tale of Dynamic Adjustability – Bear Bryant’s wishbone and Gerrit Cole’s heater
“The only constant in life is change.” – Heraclitus, Greek philosopher It’s the summer of 1971 and Bear Bryant has called all of his Alabama football staff together for a meeting. They were less than three months away from their opener against USC – a team that beat them by 21 last year. It was … Continue reading “A Tale of Dynamic Adjustability – Bear Bryant’s wishbone and Gerrit Cole’s heater”
How a 2013 deadline deal resurrected the dying career of Jake Arrieta
The date is August 30, 2015. The Cubs are holding on to a 2-0 lead against the Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth and Jake Arrieta is on the cusp of his first ever no-hitter. Chase Utley – potential future Hall of Famer – is at the plate fighting to keep hopes alive for … Continue reading “How a 2013 deadline deal resurrected the dying career of Jake Arrieta”
The Paradox of Symmetry & Problem with Education
Thought for the Week: “Silent and listen share the same letters.” – Fred Corral, Missouri pitching coach What does it mean to be symmetrical in an asymmetrical sport? Building symmetrical baseball athletes is kind of a paradox when you think about it; we’re trying to build balance when our skill largely forces us to be … Continue reading “The Paradox of Symmetry & Problem with Education”
The Rules of Everything & Why Falling Behind Can Get You Ahead
Thought for the Week: The Rules of Everything – by Steve Magness The Hype Cycle: When an idea is new or gains popularity, it follows a cycle of initial overemphasis before eventually leveling off into its rightful place Research is only as good as its measurement We overemphasize the importance of what we can measure … Continue reading “The Rules of Everything & Why Falling Behind Can Get You Ahead”
The Pitfalls of Separation & Relying on Research
Thought for the Week: Parallax: “The effect whereby the position or direction of an object appears to differ when viewed from different positions.” Why teaching “Separation” can do more harm than good Separation is something Eugene talks about all the time when it comes to pitching and hitting – but not for the reasons you’d think. … Continue reading “The Pitfalls of Separation & Relying on Research”