Behind the Seams Baseball Podcast

Mobility is something many athletes try to skip when training. So today, I’m going to discuss how to incorporate this work into your programming and making sure your athletes are getting it done! Topics Include: What are “fillers”? The use of fillers in your programming Some great examples of how they are used Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, e...

Today I’ll be discussing a topic that I feel gets a bit of a bad rap from a population that may not fully understand it. I’m talking about aerobic conditioning using Zone 2 Training. Topics Include: What is Zone 2 Training? The myths of Zone 2 Training Why its crucial to improving Power endurance and recovery Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, ex...

Nothing could be more important to throwing or hitting the ball harder than power production. Today we’re talking how to produce more power, but more importantly producing it faster through improving our Rate of Force Development. Topics Include: Why RFD is the gold standard metric for becoming an elite athlete How to assess what your athlete needs more of, Force or Velocity? Training the Power Eq...

Today I’m sitting down with Nutritionist and Dietician Nick Valenti. We refer all of our athletes looking to help increase their performance to Nick. Today he talks about the how and why muscle mass and “healthy” weight gain is imperative if you’re looking to play at the next level. Topics Include: Why caloric intake has such a profound effect on performance How putting on lean mass helps level th...

Today my partner, Bahram Shirazi, and I are discussing some of the key takeaways we’ve gathered since putting together our travel baseball program under the RPP Revolution banner. Topics include: Three pillars of athletic development The Bell Curve Importance of GREAT coaching Developing responsible / accountable young athletes Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-...

Today we’re sitting down with Coastal Carolina Pitching Coach Matt Williams, just recently back from Coastal’s run to the CWS in Omaha. In this episode we discuss: His initial thought process for building a championship team upon first getting to Coastal His Utilization of the RPP Remote College Assessment Connecting with players to help get the best out of them Ready to take your game to the next...

Today we are sitting down with Murray State’s Assistant Coach and Pitching Coach Steve Adkins, fresh off a run to the CWS in Omaha. Topics Include: Common challenges he sees pitchers facing during a long season Keeping a “level-head” going into Omaha Challenges of the Transfer Portal Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cut...

In today’s podcast, I’ll be discussing important protocol that should be in every pitcher’s training program in order to throw harder and do it safely. Topics Include: What are perfect mechanics… do they exist? Why working on mechanics alone are not enough Sample programming techniques Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and c...

Today I’m going to talk about how to increase power on the mound, behind the plate and on the bases. Topics include: Strength and Velocity are NOT interchangeable How to determine the needs of the athlete in front of you 3 great methods to help get you or your athletes more explosive Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cut...

Every year in August, we’re hired to provide select D1 programs our assessment and evaluation summaries on individualized programming for their athletes. Today, I’m joined by RPP Pitching Coordinator Matt Hartshorn to discuss the preparation and some thoughts on some exciting new changes to the assessment. Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, exper...

Today I’m flying solo and talking about what you should be looking for when shopping around for, or writing, your own Strength and Conditioning program. Topics Include: The importance of a realistic / sustainable program Give them what they need… maintain what they’re good at Injury prevention considerations Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, exp...

Today we’re sitting down with Salve Regina’s Coach Andrew McKeon. As the Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Coach McKeon wears a lot of hats at Salve, including the S&C programs. Topics Include: Common traits amongst the best arms year-over-year Handling strength training without a S&C coach New topics impacting the recruiting process Coach McKeon joined the Salve Regina base...

Today, I am going to cover the importance of deceleration, whether it be the lead leg block or change-of-direction speed. Topics Include: How deceleration is “the key” to creating explosive power The 3 main phases of deceleration Training each throughout the year Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cutting-edge technology,...

Today we’re sitting down with sports nutritionist / dietician Nick Valenti to discuss optimizing performance by making better nutritional choices in the summer months. Topics include: The importance of caloric timing What is considered adequate hydration Food prepping for a weekend of games Nick was previously with the Toronto Blue Jays as a dietetic intern.  He also served as an intern with Cress...

Today, I am having my partner Bahram Shirazi sit in for me as the Guest Host with Sam Sharf, RPP's Director of Recruiting. The topic is the College Transfer Portal: How does it actually work What to keep in mind How to navigate it to optimize your options Sam has over a dozen years of experience in the world of college baseball recruiting. If you'd like to connect with him, you can reach...

Today we’re taking a deeper look into our Elite College Summer Programs. This will be our 8th year and we've have seen incredible results over the years. So, how do we get those big gains? Topics include: Who is it for? Individualized programming based on athlete’s primary focus Complete break down of the 12-week lifting and throwing programs Ready to take your game to the next level? With ou...

Mobility can sometimes be treated as the un-wanted stepchild to an athlete. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. So, today we’re going to address Mobility... what it is, what it isn’t and why it’s important. Topics Include: Mobility vs Flexibility (they’re NOT the same) How to assess it Some common mistakes in programming for it Ready to take your game to the next level? With ou...

Today, I’m sitting down with Division I Wofford Head Coach J.J. Edwards. This is his 2nd year as The Terrier’s Head Coach. Topics Include: The importance of recruiting “Athleticism” Coaching through mental “slumps” Achieving Success on the base path Prior to the head coaching position, J.J. had been on the coaching staff at Wofford as an assistant for 12 seasons, including the last two as the asso...

I’m flying solo today, discussing plyometric training and some of the “Pros” of training it correctly… and” Cons” of training it poorly. Topics Include: Different types of plyos Testing and assessing plyometric ability Bucketing ability into progressive phases Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cutting-edge technology, RP...

Today we’re sitting down with Monmouth University Pitching Coach Mike Russo. This conversation covers a lot of bases. Topics Include: Body, Ball, Performance Has the path to college ball changed? If so, how? Staying “present” on the mound Coach Russo joined the Monmouth Baseball program in August 2022. He came to Monmouth after six seasons at Princeton University working with the pitching staff. R...

I’m flying solo today and discussing a topic that doesn’t get addressed nearly enough. I’m talking about the importance of ankle strength and stability and how I’ve seen it to be a game changer in training athletes to get them to be more explosive. Topics Include: Why is it important How to test for it How to train it Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven app...

Today, I am having Sam Sharf, RPP’s Director of Recruiting, sit in for me as the Guest Host with Winthrop Baseball’s Assistant Coach Mike Napolitano. Topics Include: Difference between D1 and D3 programs Balancing baseball and academics Most important characteristics when recruiting hitters Coach Napolitano came to Winthrop after three seasons as an assistant coach for the Babson College baseball...

Today, we're with Coach Johnston Hobbs, Head Coach at Ft. Lauderdale High School, the Flying L’s.  He has coached and played at every level of the game and we're going to focus on some of the challenges of coaching today’s high school athletes. Topics Include: The difference between coaching in the Northeast vs. the South Training catchers Mechanics... When to address / when to leave it...

Today we’re sitting down with Garrett deMarrais, Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator of Division III powerhouse Misericordia Baseball. The Cougars have reached the NCAA Division III World Series in back-to-back seasons, including a National Championship last year.  Topics Include: The key to a winning culture The power of thinking “outside the box” offensively Key traits when recruiting new p...

Today we’re sitting down with RPP Strength and Conditioning Coach Bill Walsh. Bill brings with him 20 years of experience in both the S&C and AT fields. Topics Include: The biggest challenges when coaching the high school population The 3 pillars of athleticism Ankle mobility / strength and its relationship to mechanics and speed Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and...