The Tread Podcast

Are taller pitchers always better? Or do shorter pitchers have a hidden edge? In this video, we discussed the differences between tall and short pitchers. We compared delivery, mindset, and development challenges pitchers can go through depending on their height. We also delved into the concept that optimal lifting and power metrics can vary based on a player's size and physical leverage.

We've all seen "velo hacks" on the internet. Here are a handful of variables to experiment with that we have seen add small but significant bumps in velocity with certain pitchers. Don't view these as guaranteed quick fixes - view them as mini-experiments to quickly uncover if they can help clean up various pieces of your delivery. Sizable gains in velocity take time, and everyone has a different genetic ceiling.

Time Stamps:0:00 Intro6:30 How Do We Determine Mobility Targets?15:00 How Matt Marsili Moved As A Tight Mover31:50 How Past Injuries Can Affect Mobility46:16 Mechanical and Mobility Links46:50 The Linear Move51:20 Rotation55:00 Areas To Check Mobility In The Arm57:05 The Block1:00:08 The Arm Acceleration Phase1:05:05 The Arm Deceleration Phase1:07:45 North/South Vs. East/West Pitchers

What does it actually take to become a pro pitcher?In this episode of Around The Mound, former pros and current Tread Athletics coaches John Lantigua, Justin Nicolino, Craig Stem, and Paul Hall sit down to talk about the mindset it takes to make it, and more importantly, to stay.Each of them have a unique background that shapes their coaching philosophies. From affiliate ball struggles to rediscovering the joy of the game in indy ball, each coach shares how failure, adaptability, and relentless self-belief shaped their careers.Some awesome takeaways from this episode:💭 “Failures can’t define you, they’re your life lessons.”💭 “Be obsessed with keeping a jersey on your back.”💭 “Don’t lose that kid who fell in love with the game.”

Timestamps0:24 – Backgrounds and Playing Careers2:30 – Paths to Professional Baseball8:25 – Lessons from Early Struggles14:45 – Developing a Pro Mindset21:10 – Mentality and Growth as a Player28:50 – Handling Pressure and Adversity34:30 – What It Takes to Reach the Next Level41:45 – The Grind and Sacrifice Behind the Dream50:20 – Final Reflections and Takeaways

Thanks for watching - it's been a wild ride over the last decade. We appreciate you all for joining us on this journey. Questions or comments? Let me know below.

Why is the back leg such a critical, yet often misunderstood, piece of pitching mechanics?

In this episode, Ben Brewster sits down with Tread coaches Lucas Still and Paul Hall to break down the foundations of efficient lower-half movement and how it impacts everything up the chain.

We cover:

🔹 Why the back leg sets the tone for velocity, command, and arm health

🔹 How to convert linear momentum into efficient rotation

🔹 What “back-hip tension” actually feels like and how to train it

🔹 Drills and cues to build better sequencing from the ground up

🔹 How hip structure and foot angle change your ideal loading pattern

🔹 Common misconceptions like “pushing off” and triple extension

If you’ve ever been told to “use your legs more” but didn’t know how, this episode will give you a clear framework for understanding and developing an efficient lower half.

Three former upper 90 mph arms break down the mistakes they've made when they were athletes trying to throw harder and what to do instead.

Timestamps:

0:00 The dangers of over-analyzing baseball throws with video

3:06 The importance of understanding one's body

8:33 The importance of video analysis for pitchers

13:17 Long Toss

18:40 The importance of training on a mound

26:08 Lower Body Mechanics

34:34 Implementing new theories

41:03 Planning offseason throwing phases

44:29 Importance of combining velocity and command training

52:20 Mass = Gas?

55:58 Weight Gain For Pitchers

1:03:52 Balance between strength and mobility

The episode was originally posted 5/1/2024.

Can you guess which MLB legend Josh Hader got his signature leg kick from?Learn about his leg kick, crossbody delivery, and how he prepares to close out MLB games in this conversation with Tread remote athlete and one of the best relievers of all time, Josh Hader.

Why do some changeups miss bats at the highest levels while others get hammered?

In this episode, Tyler Zombro sits down with Ryan Flippo and Leif Strom to break down what makes elite changeups work, from velocity separation to vertical attack angle.

We cover:🔹 Why vertical separation and VAA often matter more than raw movement🔹 Front-to-back velocity differential vs. angle manipulation for high-slot arms🔹 The kick change -- when it plays, when it doesn’t, and how to cue it🔹 Pronator vs. supinator grips and cues🔹 Splitter vs. changeup: trade-offs, finger dominance, and consistency concerns🔹 Common pitfalls like “pushy” catch-play changeups and slot deviations🔹 Practical starting points for remote athletes without advanced tech

If you’re chasing a reliable offspeed pitch, this episode will give you a framework to evaluate your changeup, simple grip adjustments to try, and actionable cues that carry into real games.

Are you throwing the wrong fastball or just throwing it too much? We break down everything that goes into building a fastball that actually plays. From dead zone profiles and approach angles to deception, command, and usage. This is a full look at what makes a fastball effective at every level.

What we covered:

✅ How to fix dead zone fastballs

✅ Vertical & horizontal approach angle explained

✅ Fastball command vs outlier shapes

✅ How fastball usage affects velocity, pitch design & recovery

✅ College vs pro usage trends