Ahead Of The Curve with Jonathan Gelnar

Hugh Quattlebaum on coaching coaches, executing organizational principles, and how to coach plan/approach and mindset

Today we have on Hugh Quattelbaum, hitting coordinator for the Seattle Mariners. Q has such an awesome background from his playing career, to being a screenwriter and then becoming a coordinator. On the show, we talk about the rewards and challenges of coaching coaches, we talk about how to execute organizational principles, we talk plan/approach and mindset and how to simplify these to help the player focus. You’re gonna love this conversation and here is Hugh Quattelbaum! Resources The way of baseball Inner game of tennis Obstacle is the way Antifragile Contact Twitter Show notes courtesy of Zach Casto.
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Todd Interdonato on how to give ownership to players while holding them accountable, how to provide clarity to players in their roles, and how to buil...

On today show we have Todd Interdonato, head baseball coach at Wofford College. Todd is in his thirteenth season as head coach of the Wofford baseball program. He was named head coach of the Terriers on June 26, 2007 after previously serving for two seasons as an assistant coach at Wofford. With 323 career wins, he is first all-time among Wofford baseball coaches in that category. Interdonato has led the program to unprecedented success, with 30 or more wins in five of the last six seasons. On the show We talk about how we give a ton of ownership to players, while holding them accountable, Todd gives us some insight into how to provide clarity to players in their roles, and we talk about how to build a team offense that is multifaceted. Contact interdonatotj@wofford.com
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Chris Holt on autonomy, utilizing coaches strengths, and whats next in pitching development

Coaches vs. Covid
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Today we have on the pitching coordinator for the Baltimore Orioles, Chris Holt. Chris Oversees the development of every pitcher in the organization and have an increased presence on the Major League side. 
On the show we talk about how he builds in autonomy and lets the coaches in the system utilize their strengths, how we can embrace who the player is but also help the improve and we talk about what he thinks the next wave is in pitching development is. 
 
Show notes courtesy of Zach Casto
When you have a small amount of players. (6 players) play double or nothing. 
Players go for a double no matter where the ball is. 
This can build instincts. 
“Coordinators coach the coaches.” 
You have to realize you want guys around you who will do things the right way. 
You want your players to do things their own way in order for them to problem solve the best way possible. 
Once you have buy in the approach has to be “Let’s get work done.” 
There is less difficulty to create buy in when there is objective data. 
Tell players what they do well and what they don’t. 
Explain why behind each finding and how they can improve. 
Understand the player as a person and find out how they learn best. 
With players who aren’t buying in be honest and real with the player. 
Players need to realize that “We don’t have time to waste, so let’s not waste it.” 
Our time playing the game is very short. 
Be close with your players so that you can be completely truthful with them. 
Understand where the player comes from and his background. 
Spend time in the office talking to the player and what they believe in. 
“Players need to maintain what got them good in the first place.” 
We want our players to own their performance. 
Throw your regular bullpen and then then finish off with a game called one shot. 
The coach gives the location, count, pitch, and situation.
If the player executed this pitch then the coach will do ten pushups or some other exercise. If the player misses then they have to do the exercise. 
This allows you to be vulnerable around your players and creates a fun atmosphere. 
The next goal is to maximize the sequencing and deception aspects of the pitcher’s mix and delivery. 
To get a players as good of a pitch off that he can the pitcher needs to have athleticism, rhythm, and tempo in the delivery. 
The pitcher must have a be on attack mindset. 
There must be an intent behind the work instead of an intent to throw hard. 
“Intent is having a purpose.” 
The next wave of guys are those who can pitch vertically and horizontally. (Nightmare repertoire). 
Work on simplifying what you are saying for clear understanding. 
Get into the art of cues. 
This can help players understand to maximize their performance. 
“You want to be simple and concise.” 
Find out what kind of learning that excites the players. 
Players need to understand that failing is a part of improvement. 
Be positive and enthusiastic with the player. 
Take complicated aspects and simplify it down to simplistic terms. 
When reading and learning focus on what speaks to you. 
Your thoughts become your habits, and habits become your performance. 
Whatever we are learning, we need to create mastery in order to teach it well. 
 
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Tracy Smith on ecosystem of winning and the Arizona State culture, establishing clear expectations, and what they look for in recruits

Tracy Smith, the 2013 National Coach of the Year, was hired as the fifth head baseball coach in program history on June 24, 2014, and enters his sixth season at the helm of the Sun Devil baseball program. Smith has established a reputation of evaluating and developing talent as more than 75 student-athletes since 2000 improved their stock in the Major League Baseball Draft under Smith’s tutelage, including four who became first-round draft picks after going undrafted out of high school. In 23 total years as a head coach, Smith has seen 85 of his players selected in the MLB Draft, including 78 draftees since 2000 and 35 in the first 10 rounds. He has mentored 53 Major League Baseball draft picks over the past eight seasons. On the show, we talk about his ecosystem of winning and the Arizona State culture. We go over how to establish clear expectations and communication with players and staff and we talk about what the look for in recruits and how that sets the tone for culture on a daily basis. Here is Tracy Smith!  Show notes courtesy of Zach Casto.
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John Savage on culture, pitching staff development, and competitive practices

Today we’re joined by UCLA Head Baseball Coach John Savage. Through 15 seasons as UCLA’s head coach, John has established the Bruins as a consistent national championship contender. Savage helped UCLA reach college baseball’s pinnacle in 2013, as the Bruins won their first-ever NCAA baseball title. Under his guidance, UCLA has advanced to the postseason in 11 of the last 15 seasons, hosting an NCAA Regional in six of the last 10, including four-straight from 2010 through 2013.
 
Savage completed his 15th season as UCLA’s head coach in 2019. He is currently the third longest-tenured head coach in UCLA baseball program history and has gone 539-360-1 in the past 15 seasons.
 
On the show, we talk about steps he and his staff have taken to build the culture, we get into staff development, we talk about competitive situations in practice and much, much more. Here is John Savage!
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Kirk Bradshaw on muscle activation techniques and what athletes need for recovery, sleep and nutrition.

fredhutch.org/coachesvscovid
Today we have on Athletic Training Institute founder Kirk Bradshaw. ATI works with athletes and individuals who aspire to be athletic to develop and maintain their potential utilizing Muscle Activation Techniques, Performance enhancement and integrated systems.
On the show, Kirk and I discuss how athletes compensate, which is vital for our survival but can be a good or a bad thing for out athletic movements. We get into muscle activation techniques and a ton of different ways to recover including sleep and what we eat. This was such an enlightening conversation, and you’re gonna love it with Kirk Bradshaw!
Contact Info
425-882-2122
nfo@athletictraininginstitute.com
 
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Ron Prettyman and Neil Walton on training hitters through collaboration, adapting to our players, and game planning and scouting reports

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Todays conversation is with two college hitting coaches in Neil Walton from Cal State Northridge and Ronnie Prettyman from the University of Washington. 
On the show, we discuss how they train hitters through collaboration and freedom. We talk about how we (as coaches) can best adapt to our players, we go over game planning, scouting reports and how to adjust.  Both of these guys are rising stars on the collegiate level, and you don't want to miss this conversation with Ronnie Prettyman and Neil Walton!
Neil Walton Contact Info
@ _neilwalton11
@CSUNBaseball
 
Ron Prettyman Contact Info
 
@rpbaseball15
 
@UW_Baseball
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Darin Everson on swing prep, game planning, and communication

Today we’re joined by Darin Everson. Hitting coordinator for the Colorado rockies. On the show, we talk about all things hitting. Including swing prep, game planning, communication and so much more Twitter @eversonbaseball Show notes courtesy of Zach Casto.
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TJ Bruce- Head Baseball Coach, The University of Nevada

On today’s show, we have TJ Bruce, head baseball coach at The University of Nevada. Th was hired at Nevada in 2015 and arrived on campus as one of the top assistant coaches in the nation after spending five seasons at UCLA where he helped the Bruins to four postseason appearances and a 2013 College World Series title. In 2019, Bruce led Nevada to the Mountain West Tournament for the fourth-consecutive year. As it won 30 games for the second time with him at the helm, including sweeping No. 2 and 2018 National Champion Oregon State in two home contests. On the show, we talk about what is was like when he arrived at Nevada and the first steps he took with the program. We also talk about how he goes about growing his assistant coaches to become head coaches someday, what their program standards are, how he helps grow young men in their program, and so much more.
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Josh Herzenberg, Pitching Coordinator/Quality Control Coach for the Lotte Giants (KBO)

Josh was a scout and coach for the dodgers organization before heading overseas to coach in the KBO and on the show we talk about how his scouting background has helped him become a better coach, we discuss some of the first steps when he took his coordinator role, some differences between Major League Baseball and the KBO and much, much more.
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