The Closing Pitch Baseball Podcast

Episode 26 Has a player ever told you that “I am too busy to do that” or “I don’t have enough time”? These phrases have been used by everyone, but how do you limit yourself or players from using those phrases? In this episode Spiker and Dave talk about overcoming poor time management as a person and baseball player. We also discuss college recruiting and how the player should be the main enforcer...

I'm going solo on this episode. I want to jump into our TAG LINE: People, culture, and HOW TO CREATE A WINNING LIFESTYLE. I don't have all the answers, but this is my mission for this show. It's to deliver the things that have worked and haven't worked for me in my playing career. It also provides insight into what has worked for our organization.  Aaron Jaworowski is our president, and an observa...

How well do you know your employees, teammates, staff, players, or people? Are you able to develop the desired relationship where you can get things done? One of the youngest managers to ever coach a minor league game is now the minor league coordinator for an MLB organization and there's a good reason. He is one of the best at developing a relationship from the very start. He is also very well di...

Creating a career in sports is becoming normal with the advancement of travel baseball and technology. Spiker has on two outstanding individuals who both have come from great colleges. Jeff is an Ivy League grad and Jon studied Economics at Pepperdine University. This conversation becomes more than about baseball. It's about life strategies, goals, and how to become the best version of yourself.&n...

Coaches, have you lost a player due to the lack of communication? Do you really know your players? Communicating and building a relationship with your players will help you discover who they are and what makes them trust you by using persuasion. Persuasion can be used to manipulate, but we teach you how to use it to become a better leader. We explain that establishing a culture is the most importa...

This is SCARY! Spiker starts the show by telling a story about the worst possibly thing that could happen. It's a fear most of us have. We want to be perfect and present ourselves in a respectable form. Sometimes we get in our own way and we elect not to take the path. A situation that could be the best thing for you ends up being a regrettable moment. Dave shares his side of cold calling and give...

We want the best for everyone, but does teaching through FEAR the best way to teach?  After a conversation by two varying opinions and approaches we came up with this conclusion. ------- GET NOTIFIED WHEN WE UPLOAD A NEW EPISODE! SUBSCRIBE and GIVE US A REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ------- Are you wondering how to build a baseball or softball team that is streamlined?  To explore this topic an...

Let me know if this story resonates with you. A small, weak, unexpecting character with determination rises from the ranks and finds himself or herself amid in front of a giant entity. The battle is well fought with many spectacular scenes. In an unforeseen moment, the unexpecting character finds the blow that brings him to victory. We all love this story, but is this an accurate depiction of thos...

In this episode Spiker and Dave review the new legislation that was handed down by the NCAA this past week. They give a tactical game plan to get yourself recruited in 2020 and beyond. The strategies said on this show can be applied now and into the future. Don't just sit still! Listen to this show and take notes to develop your plan.  GET NOTIFIED WHEN WE UPLOAD A NEW EPISODE! SUBSCRIBE and...

What's the end goal? Are you wanting to be well-known or famous? Is being well-know or famous a good thing? Is it desirable. Spiker and Dave go down the path and entertain the idea of how to become well-known or famous. Spiker brings up a good point around the various degrees of the topic and Dave gives a simple comparison.  What's your thoughts on becoming well-know or famous? Send in your closin...

In this bonus episode of the Closing Pitch, Spiker sits down with Tom Davidson of Pastime Tournaments to speak on the summer 2020. The conversation took an interesting take and they also spoke on the youth sports industry and how it's evolving. This episode first aired on Instagram LIVE on the Rawlings Tigers account.  ------ GET NOTIFIED WHEN WE UPLOAD A NEW EPISODE! SUBSCRIBE and GIVE US A...

Spiker received a text message late at night from a Tiger player. In this episode, we are going to the underbelly of the Rawlings Tigers and giving you an inside look into a conversation that Spiker and Dave have on an annual basis with their players. Below you will find the original text message from their player and how the show is tailored.  Questions:  First I was wondering about how...

"I am quarantined out!" exclaimed Spiker. In this episode, we go to the comment board section of our YouTube Channel from a Cincinnati listener named Coach Hall. He delivered a very interesting question around motivating young athletes. Spiker and Dave take the question even further and talk about motivation and how you can motivate a team by doing this one thing.  ------ Thank you everyone f...

Whats the cross section of MLB, Olympic Ski, and The X-Games? Let me give you hint: it's a person. His name is Bret Kelly. He is currently with EXOS, which is an athletic performance business that helps train athletes. They are best known for helping NFL combine athletes prepare for the event and the draft. EXOS just doesn't do football and Bret Kelly explains. He goes in depth about his career an...

At some point we lose our confidence. This could be culmination of events or surrounding ourselves with a toxic environment. In reality though we can find its' origin in our own insecurities and belief systems. In this episode Spiker and Dave talk about insecurities. Spiker tells a story about how he used a 2 lane highway and music to battle his future self. Dave talks about a player he used to co...

We received a Facebook message from Jon Handy out of California and he brought up some interesting points on tech. The conversation triggered an idea for us. We don't think many player's know about the tech that is rising and how it makes an impact on their careers! The game is rapidly changing. It's changing so fast that tech is consuming every move of the game. College coaches are now looking at...

We went LIVE on Instagram with former Rawlings Tiger player Erik Webb. Erik was the MVP of MIAA and a 1st Team ABCA All-American. If you're wondering how a small guy can hit home runs you're in the right spot. To give you hints he focusing in on his nutrition, weight lifting, and keeping his approach simple at the the plate.  Just few accolades Mr. Webb holds:  • ABCA First Team All-Amer...

After watching the first episodes of "The Last Dance," Spiker and Dave have an interesting perspective on the career of Michael Jordan. The conversation takes an interesting twist where we speak on work life balance, inner drive, and of course competition. Join in on the conversation and give us your closing pitch on the Bulls documentary series.  GET NOTIFIED WHEN WE UPLOAD A NEW EPISODE! SU...

I don't know about you, but speaking in front people for the first time is terrifying! But, we all have these kinds of fears. We even have fears of leaving a community we've been a part of for a long time. We're afraid to branch out because it's all we know at the time. We have fallen a custom to the situation.  What if I told you, you need to lean into that fear? The fear is a calling card f...

I recently jumped on an Instagram LIVE with one of my former players. He was the Division 2 MIAA Freshman of Year. We speak on social media, college recruiting, and what player's are doing now to get to the next level.  I hope you enjoy this episode! Please give us rating on the show.  Do you like the podcast? GET NOTIFIED WHEN WE UPLOAD A NEW EPISODE! SUBSCRIBE and GIVE US A REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐...

Dreams weigh more than excuses, but we easily give up on our dreams because we face a barrier. How do you build a tolerance and perseverance to get past those dead zones? Mount Everest is the pinnacle of any climber. There's a spot in the climb where a climber has a choice: Should they head back down the mountain or risk their life for the chance to reach the peak. Our dreams are similar to this c...

Your competition will be mad when you find out how to do these three things as a player. Knowing how to play is just the start. The guys have their first guest on. They spoke about him in episode 2 and they wanted him to come on and speak for himself about recruiting and his journey so far. This episode bring the highs and lows of college recruiting. Emotional, physical, and social distancing are...

Youth, high school, and college sports might seriously change. We might not even see after game handshakes anymore. This sounds crazy, but it might be true. What do you think? How do you think we're going to handle this pandemic in our amateur sports?  Do you want to be recognized as a player or coach? Wondering how to build a winning lifestyle and culture? To explore this topic and have a co...

Are you tired of being stuck? Do you think too much in the future or past? When were at our peek there's something we click. That moment is because we are living in the moment.  Have you ever told someone or someone else told you..."you think too much." Our thoughts are way to in the future on how to fix things or we're thinking about what has happened in the past. Live in the moment, be the...

Are you in high school? Or, if you're the same age as us, do you remember high school? What's the first word that pops into your mind...1...2...3.....GO! Weird, awkward, hard, different.  When I think about this time in my life. I think of myself as an awkward baby giraffe. Have you ever seen this animal run. No?....go ahead, I will wait. YouTube it right now. You will be amused.  This i...