Elite Baseball Talk

This week, Justin and Travis talk about what a lot of athletes are going thru right now in regard to the when, why and how of mid-season adjustments. Many athletes struggle when it comes to figuring out if you are preparing for a lesson or preparing for a game. Understanding the physical, mental or approach aspects will lead to a better understanding of pattern changing, mental approach, dealing with failure along with the varying degrees of pressure along with causes of anxiety. The rabbit holes the fellas go down this week is beneficial for players, coaches and parents alike.

As the boys returned from a little hiatus, Justin and Travis dive right in regarding the hot topic of the “unwritten rules” of baseball. Ones they like, ones they would like to change and a really interesting story each of the guys talk about their own run ins with those unwritten rules.

The theme for this week is velocity. Justin and Travis talk about their top three reason why there is so much velocity in the game today. In addition to their list, the guys talk about:

-      Have we gone away from the days of youth three sport athletes?

-      When did “PO” start to enter youth athletics?

-      Is youth sports specialization what is needed to compete?

-      The amount of information out there and who/what to listen to

-      Is the plague of UCL injuries due to overuse?

-      What is the difference between long toss and a weighted ball program?

-      Will we ever see a 110 mph thrower? If so how long it might take to get there and what type of athlete would it take

We have all had that one hypothetical question asked of us “If you had a time machine, what would you do?”. I this week’s episode Justin and Travis discuss some of the things they would go back and tell their younger selves that they know now.

In addition, the guys talking about:

-      What you take literally as a hitter and what you take as a swing thought

-      How cues can be completely different in the outcome for a player and how that can determine success of failure as a player.

-      Does barrel dumping lead to pulling the baseball more?

-      Instruction insight Travis and Justin give to their own kids.

-      What pitches should young hitters just getting started in the game be looking to swing at?

-      How to “out athlete” the game of baseball

-      Velo now vs Velo then

-      What is the right level of baseball for you?

A question that the guys are asked on a regular basis is what are their favorite drills.

While Justin and Travis don’t have cookie-cutter drills that are going to be an answer for everyone, this week they talk about their “go to” drills if the had to only choose 3 to use for the rest of their lives to build better hitters.

In lucky episode number 13, Justin and Travis dive deep into the Linear vs Rotational discussion to go along with things like:

Finding your niche/building your brand in social media

Humanization of the game

Qualities some of the best coaches have

The importance of “cues” and recognizing individual needs

Swing Up vs Swing Down debate

Along with everyone’s favorite segment “Don’t be That Guy”

Coming off of last weeks detailed discussion on deceleration, Justin and Travis spend this week talking about the epidemic of barrel dumping.

Along the way, the guys also touch on:

The process of intaking information

One-posture hitters

Is soft toss/front toss bad?

When to add velocity into training

Teaching for success is a lesson vs finding success in a game

How are lessons impacted by parents/guardians not being allowed in the building?

Along with the acclaimed segment “Don’t be that guy”

Last week Justin and Travis hinted at what the theme for this week’s show would be, and that is diving in detail about deceleration. What is it? Why is it important? How to teach/understand it? Examples to look for. They don’t talk much about “absolutes” anymore but do say that the ability to decelerate might be one of them.

Plus, the newest segment “Don’t Be That Guy”

The fellas are back at it again this week diving into and having some real good discussions. Some of what they talk and debate about include:

-      What trend(s) do you think we will see in pitching next?

-      Is the next effective hitter going to be a “steep guy”, and why? (or why not)

-      Revisiting the concept of “Preferred Posture”

-      How do pitchers combat what hitters are trying to do?

-      Superior Decision-Making vs Superior Bat to Ball Skill debate

-      When do you insert decision making into skill acquisition?

-      Risk/Reward of increase strikeouts

-      Manipulation of the baseball and control with variability training

-      Knocking of creativity in drills in our industry

Justin and Travis or EliteBaseball.TV are back at in again this week. Roles have changed a little with Travis doing more of the heavy lifting when discussing things such as:

-      Starting to do things in person again

-      Using the gym as a transfer portal to the cage

-      Being challenged by others

-      “White Board Meetings” the staff have been having lately

-      Removing Hip/Shoulder Separation

-      How to get in & out of a position, not just out of it

-      Ideas to keep kids in baseball as long as possible

-      How to connect the upper body to the rigid lower body

-      How to help create a feel to eliminate some “Slinky” until we get stronger

-      Big Engine with Poor Brakes hitters vs Small Engine with Terrific Brakes hitters

-      Exit Velocity vs Consistency of Contact

-      Exit Velocity metrics at each level of baseball