The RosterPilot Show

Latest Episodes:

The Importance of Fixation in Hitting and Left-Handed Hitters | Alan Jaeger Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

Alan Jaeger is a mental skills coach who specializes in working with athletes in baseball and softball. He has worked with players at all levels, from youth to professional, and is known for his expertise in meditation and mental wellness in sports.

Summary:

In this episode, Alan Jaeger discusses the importance of meditation and mental practice in baseball and softball. He emphasizes that there is no age limit for starting these practices and believes that introducing basic concepts at a young age can have a transformative impact on players' lives. He also highlights the need for mental preparation and skill development in addition to talking about the mental game. Alan and Patrick delve into the concept of fixation and its role in hitting, particularly for left-handed hitters. They discuss the challenges faced by left-handed hitters and the need for them to work on the fixation principle to improve their performance. They also touch on the influence of data and technology in the game and the importance of focusing on the mental side of the game as a differentiating factor.

Key Takeaways:

Meditation and mental practice can benefit players of all ages, and introducing these concepts at a young age can have a transformative impact on their lives.
The mental game is just as important as the physical game, and players need to prioritize mental preparation and skill development.
Fixation, or the ability to stay focused on the ball for a longer period of time, is crucial for hitting success, especially for left-handed hitters.
Left-handed hitters often struggle due to a lack of exposure to left-handed pitchers during their formative years, and they need to work on breaking old habits and developing new skills.
The fixation principle can be trained and improved through drills and practice, and it can lead to better performance against left-handed pitchers.

Quotes:

"The world is starving for meditation, mental practice, mental health, mental wellness."
"The mental game and mental preparation ultimately lead to skill development."
"Left-handed hitters need to work on the fixation principle to improve their performance against left-handed pitchers."
"The fixation principle is about staying on something longer and not being anxious or rushing."
"Success leaves clues, and the best hitters talk about hitting to the opposite field."

Timestamps for Alan Jaeger

[2:49] Young Players on Meditation

[5:10] Something to Improve Upon

[8:48] Vision

[14:08] The Fixation Principle

[18:14] Struggles of Left handed hitters through the years

[31:14] Working with Left-handed hitters who struggle

[34:50] Success Leaves Clues

[37:58] Earning The Opposite Field

[40:50] Building Good Mental Skills

[44:36] Softball

[49:00] The Importance of Approach

Follow Alan:

Twitter

Article that Alan wrote:

Batters Box Management Article

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vision Training with Dr. Lauren Bailey Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Lauren Bailey is joining us today, a leading sports vision expert. In this episode, we'll uncover the process behind honing your visual prowess on the field, gaining insights into how top athletes enhance their performance through cutting-edge vision techniques.

Timestamps for Dr. Bailey

[3:33] Can we take good vision and make it great?

[5:10] Vision Assessment

[10:05] Taking Care of Your Eyesight

[14:59] Thoughts on Fixation - Soft Focus and Pivot Point

[21:37] Importance of decreasing anxiety in the box

[23:45] Lateral Eye Movement

[28:26] Visualization

[33:15] Helping Pitchers with vision

[39:55] Eyewear in Vision Training

[44:43] 3V Program

[48:30] Closing Summary

Follow Dr. Bailey on Twitter: @sportsvisionins

Dr. Bailey's Program: https://sportsvisioninstitutepllc.com/resources-%26-downloads

Senaptec: https://t.co/ndEHGHkDiv (Code BAILEY15 - $15 off STROBE CLASSIC and STROBE PROBAILEY50 - $50 off STROBE ELITE)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The College Baseball Recruiting Process Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

On the latest Patrick Jones Baseball Podcast, I am talking about how to navigate the recruiting process. I talk about specific metrics needed to play at the Power 5 and D1 level, why in-game numbers matter, the pros and cons of the transfer portal, contacting college coaches, and the role social media plays in helping players get recruited.

Timestamps

[4:18] Pros and Cons of the Transfer Portal

[7:52] What a Power 5 Player looks like

[20:00] How The Scholarships are Spread Out

[23:36] The Importance of Twitter

[26:46] Emailing Coaches

How to email a college coach

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Real Reason Pitcher's Can't Throw 95 MPH | Dean Jackson Jul 31, 2023

Show notes

On this Patrick Jones Baseball podcast episode, we welcome Dean Jackson. Dean brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our conversation as a former professional pitcher within the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Dean has recently transitioned from his role at Driveline, where he made significant contributions to the advancement of pitching techniques through motion capture labs; his expertise in mechanics, throwing routines, and recovery remains as relevant as ever. Aspiring pitchers seeking to take their game to new heights will find Dean's insights invaluable.

Timestamps for Dean Jackson:

[2:47] Background

[9:00] Life Purpose

[10:18] Goals

[12:07] Pitching Mechanics

[16:13] Understanding Genetics

[19:06] Does height matter for pitchers?

[28:12] Throwing Routines

[35:43] Developing command

[40:26] Recovery

Follow Dean Jackson on Twitter: @doublexcanflex

Subscribe to Dean Jackson on Youtube: @DoubleXCanFlex

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Improve Fastball Command | Ryan Atkinson Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

On the latest Patrick Jones Baseball podcast, my guest is Ryan Atkinson, current pitching coordinator at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, owner of Performance House, and former MiLB pitcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Ryan went from undrafted out of the University of Cincinnati, got a real job working at a hospital for 12 months, and then decided to try out for an independent team. He made the Independent Team Evansville Otters, and less than two weeks later, the Arizona Diamondbacks signed him as a free agent. Ryan massively improved his Fastball command in a 2-year window. In his last season at the University of Cincinnati, he walked 45 batters in 71 innings. In his first full season of professional baseball, he had 60 BBs in 141 innings. The reason: Fastball command We discuss how to improve a pitcher's command, what Ryan changed over that 2 year time period, and the importance of discipline and hard work over a long period of time.

Timestamps for Ryan Atkinson

[3:39] Game Changer

[5:28] Getting Confidence

[7:33] Mental Side of the Game

[12:13] Breathing Practice

[15:05] Mechanical Changes from College to Pro-ball

[17:37] Learning

[20:03] Released Early

[23:13] Regrets and Retirement

[29:02] Surprises from a Coaches Stand Point

[31:45] Bio-Mechanics

[35:05] Structuring the Process

[40:37] Time Frame

[46:32] Vision

Follow Ryan Atkinson on Twitter: @OldSport_34

Ryan's gym in Kentucky

Follow Ryan on Instagram

Patrick Jones Baseball:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pjonesbaseball

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pjonesbaseball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pjonesbaseball

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-jones-b388a484/

Website: https://patrickjonesbaseball.com

Newsletter: https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/blog

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Clutch Gene, Patience, and Recruiting at D2 Level | Trey Dyson Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

The current hitting coach at North Greenville, Trey Dyson, is on the podcast this week. North Greenville won the D2 National Championship in 2023. In this episode, Trey talks about his career as a coach, advice for current coaches, and what he's looking for when recruiting at North Greenville.

Timestamps for Trey Dyson:

[2:55] Going back to Baseball

[5:28] Being on TV

[7:29] Transition from TV to Coaching

[9:00] Initial Thoughts on Coaching College Baseball

[11:45] Building Trust with Players

[20:18] National Championship

[25:40] Player development

[33:56] Building Trust

[37:03] The Recruitment Process

[40:40] Becoming Clutch

Follow Eddie Trey Dyson on Twitter: @TreyDyson

Follow North Greenville on Twitter: @ngubaseball

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biggest Turnaround in D1 College Baseball | Eddie Smith Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

This week we welcome Eddie Smith to the podcast. Eddie is the head baseball coach at Utah Valley University. No D1 college baseball program has seen a bigger turnaround than Utah Valley over the last three years. Before taking over the program in 2021, Utah Valley finished with a 10-47 record. This past 2023 season, they finished with a 34-27 record. In this episode, Eddie talks about his vision for the program, questions he asks recruits, the type of player he wants, and player development.

Timestamps for Eddie Smith

[4:08] Achieving the Best Turn Around

[5:28] The Process of Developing Hitters in the Fall

[7:11] Hitters Hit Vs. Hitting Mechanics

[9:38] Going About Swing Decisions

[11:18] Hitters Meeting

[18:47] Helping Players on the Mental Side of the Game

[24:16] Lesson Learned as a Head Coach

[28:24] Specific Questions during the Recruitment Process

[31:00] SCC Facilities

[34:30] Goals Vs. Dreams

[36:51] Thoughts about Scheduling

[42:40] Planned Schedule for Next Year

Follow Eddie Smith on Twitter: @CoachEddieSmith

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

37 years as a college pitching coach | Dave Lawn Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

Dave Lawn just completed his 8th season as a coach on the staff at the University of Arizona. Dave has been a pitching coach for nearly 40 years at the collegiate level (wow)! In this episode, he opens up about some of his mistakes, what he believes in, and stories from his coaching journey.

Timestamps for Dave Lawn

[2:38] Proudest Moment as a Coach

[5:26] Connecting with the Players

[16:21] Numbers that get you Recruited

[28;20] The Importance of Breathing

[39:37] Visualization

[41:03] Coaching Mentors

[45:15] Things to watch out for

[47:34] Pitch Counts for Pitchers in General

Follow Dave Lawn on Twitter: @CoachDaveLawn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building a Division 2 College Baseball Program | Matt Richter Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, we have Matt Richter, the head baseball coach at Cedarville University in the great state of Ohio. Matt has over 25 years of experience in baseball as a coach, scout, and recruiter. This past season was his first as a head coach. We talk about common mistakes in the recruiting process, what he looks for in players, and his vision for his program.

Timestamps for Matt Richter

[2:06] The Importance of getting to know your guys

[3:40] Things to Improve upon

[9:23] Helping Players through the Line Up

[13:45] Team Goals

[16:00] Team Captains

[21:47] Things we are looking for in the recruiting process

[29:26] Must Have Skills

[32:05] Mistakes in the Recruiting Process

[41:32] Being open to play at all Levels

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How The Best Coaches Develop Players | Mental Performance Coach | Brian Cain Jun 19, 2023

Show notes

Our guest today needs a minimal introduction. He has worked with MLB All-Stars, Olympic gold medalists, and athletes in all sports. Brian Cain has been helping players improve on the mental side of the game for over 20 years. In today's episode, he gives practical ways that you can help players with the mental side of the game right away. I've attached links in the show notes if you want to listen to Brian's podcast and connect with him further.

Timestamps for Brian Cain

[4:41] Things Baseball Players do to Remain Calm when there is Chaos

[8:29] The Focal Point Before Stepping the Box

[9:34] Definition of Success

[12:58] A Player’s Focus

[14:19] Helping Players Prepare for Failure

[17:20] 3 Aspects of Hitting You have to Develop

[20:27] Ways for Coaches to Develop

[24:50] Helping Players with Time Management

[30:35] Typical Day for Brian Cain during the season

[36:26] Pushing for the Better

Brian's podcast