Episodes

The body may be ready—but is the mind? On this episode of Clearing The Bases, Dr. Robert Cabry—sports-medicine physician, Navy veteran, mental-performance specialist, and author of The Peak Performance Mind Code—joins me for an important conversation about the part of athletic development we often overlook. We discuss building confidence, using visualization, responding to failure, recovering from mistakes, and how the words and reactions of coaches and parents can directly affect a young ath...

The title may say Volunteer Assistant Coach, but the commitment and impact are anything but small. Jeremy Carper of Ohio Wesleyan University Baseball joins Clearing The Bases for an honest conversation about his unconventional coaching journey, balancing baseball with work and family, and giving back to a game that has given him so much. Jeremy brings humility, energy, and a genuine desire to continue learning. This is a terrific conversation for coaches, players, and parents at every level of ...

My latest guest is Coach Drew Briese — Head Baseball Coach at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and longtime USA Baseball coach and evaluator. His career combines NCAA Division III coaching, player development, recruiting, and extensive experience working with some of the top young players in the country. In this episode, Coach Briese delivers one message that every baseball parent should think about: Your son's strikeout isn't your strikeout. His error isn't your error. Let him experienc...

Coach Joel Sato has spent more than 50 years around Bingham High School Baseball and gives a perspective that very few people in the game can match. In this episode of Clearing The Bases, Coach Sato talks about how baseball has changed, how parents have changed, what travel baseball has done to development, why young players need patience, and why coaches sometimes need to simply get out of the way. This is a conversation about baseball, but even more than that, it’s about teaching, mentoring,...

Today's guest is Chuck Box — Head Baseball Coach and Associate Athletic Director at Jackson Academy — and this conversation is absolutely loaded. He has spent 34 years in baseball. And Coach Box still believes the game is about much more than wins and championships. Chuck has coached at nearly every level of amateur baseball—from high school and junior college to Texas A&M and the University of Texas—and his perspective on coaching, development, culture and relationships is one worth hearing.

What do you do when you sit down with someone who has spent more than five decades teaching the game of baseball? You listen. My latest guest is Mark “Lunch” McKenzie — one of the most respected and experienced coaches in the game, with more than five decades dedicated to teaching, developing players and giving back to baseball. Longtime coach at Concordia University–St. Paul, USA Baseball coach, teacher, mentor, and one of the greatest baseball minds you’ll ever hear. And this conversation ...

This week, I’m joined by Brett Ratcliffe, Head Baseball Coach at Trine University, for a conversation that goes far beyond wins, losses and recruiting. With more than 30 years in coaching and experience at the high school, college and USA Baseball levels, Coach Ratcliffe has seen player development from just about every angle. Why fundamentals are still lacking when players reach college Why development is a process — and why you can’t skip steps What college coaches are REALLY looking for in ...

This week on Clearing The Bases, I'm joined by Kevin Graber, Manager of the Lowell Spinners, former Chicago Cubs Minor League coach, championship-winning high school coach, and one of the most respected player development minds in the game. Kevin's journey has taken him from overcoming cancer as a college player to coaching at the highest levels of amateur and professional baseball. Along the way, he's developed players, built championship cultures, and never lost sight of what matters most—d...

This week, I sit down with Matt Englander, Head Baseball Coach at Case Western Reserve University, to discuss what really drives sustained success. In this episode, we dive into: • Building a championship culture from the ground up • Recruiting student-athletes who fit your program—not just your roster • Developing leaders on and off the field • The importance of fundamentals, accountability, and relationships • Why player development should always come before shortcuts Whether you're a coach,...

This week, I'm joined by Mike Deegan, Head Baseball Coach at Denison University, for a conversation that goes far beyond wins and losses. We discuss: building a program around standards, not shortcuts, what college coaches are really looking for in recruits, the role culture plays in sustained success, why coachability and character still separate great players and what today's players, coaches, and parents need to hear about long-term development. Whether you're a coach building a program, a...

This week, we’re joined by Ryan Vondracek—Assistant Coach at Crown College, Head of Recruiting & Arm Care, and Head of Pitching Operations for Minnesota Renegade. Ryan brings a powerful perspective as a former collegiate lefty who turned down opportunities to play overseas to follow his calling into coaching—and he’s been making an impact ever since. In this episode, we dive into: The biggest mistakes pitchers are making with arm care, velocity vs. true pitching development, what college coach...