The Sweet Spot

Jake sits down with former MLB, & current MiLB, strength & conditioning coach Joey Greany! Joey spent 9 seasons at the minor league level with the Kansas City Royals Organization & 8 season at the major league level with the Tampa Bay Rays Organization; before transitioning to his current role as an Arizona Complex League Performance Coordinator with the reigning WS Champs, the Los Angeles Dodgers Organization. Topics covered in this episode include: evolution of technology over the years, if players seeing their data could be a negative?, examples of in-season/pre-season training feedback loops, the reactive strength index, & much more... Tune in to this exciting & informative episode to learn all things s&c from pro coach Joey Greany!(0:00) Intro(0:39) Joeys Background (2:04) Evolution of Tech(4:16) Negatives of Tech? (5:32) In-Season Training Feedback Loop (8:10) Most Favorable Metrics (9:50) Reactive Strength Index (12:23) Organizational Collaboration(16:42) Biggest Misconceptions (20:31) Looking Ahead 5-10 YRS(22:26) Joey's Speed Accelerator Program

Jake sits down with 8 year pro hitter & Owner of Rax Hax Pro Performance, Zach Racusin, to discuss all things hitting. Zach has been playing professional baseball in the highest independent baseball leagues for 8 years now. He's played against, & along side, tons of current & former MLB players while simultaneously running his player development company. Topics covered in this episode include: how hitting approaches have changed, striking a balance w/ data & feel, most valuable metrics, incorporating data into player development, how hitters can keep evolving, creating the right mindset, & future trends in hitting development. Tune in to this exciting & informative episode to learn all things hitting from pro hitter & coach Zach Racusin!(0:00) Intro(1:50) How Hitting Approaches Have Changed (5:06) Striking A Balance w/ Data & Feel (11:25) Most Valuable Metrics (17:25) How Hitters Can Keep Evolving (21:26) Creating The Right Mindset (33:23) Future Trends In Hitting Development (37:21) Zach's Advice For Hitters

Jake sits down with St. Louis Cardinals Pitching Analyst Tim Leveque to discuss the evolution of pitching development over the past couple of years. Tim has been a coach within the cardinals organization for over 19 years. Tim has had many roles throughout his years in the organization, some of which include: pitching coach, pitching coordinator, rehab coordinator, & pitching analyst. Topics covered include: shifts in development over the years, utilizing data in pitching development, possible over reliance of data, utilizing data in the draft process, injury prevention, the next frontier of pitching development, & his advice for young coaches. Tune in to this exciting & informative episode to learn more about the evolution of pitching development from MLB coach Tim Leveque! (0:00) Intro(0:25) Tim's Background (1:19) Pitching Coach vs Coordinator vs Analyst (3:05) Shifts In Development Over The Years (5:34) Utilizing Data In Pitching Development (9:36) Over Reliance Of Data?(11:39) Utilizing Data In The Draft Process (15:20) Injury Prevention (19:34) The Next Frontier Of Pitching Development (23:13) Advice For Young Coaches

Jake sits down with Ohio St. Buckeyes pitcher Ryan Butler to to discuss transitioning to a power 5 program in the Big Ten Conference. After playing at Liberty University, Ryan transferred to Ohio St. looking to build on his success & development he had previously. Topics covered include: the transition & competition level, development & coaching differences, different environment & expectations, & on-field adjustments. Tune in to this exciting & informative episode to learn more about transitioning & adjusting to power 5, Big Ten baseball! (0:00) Intro (0:38) Biggest Initial Differences(1:48) How Do Lineups Compare? (4:11) Personal Development Changes(9:37) Utilization of Data (15:41) Coaching Differences (18:30) Biggest Cultural Differences (27:00) Ryan's Word of Advice

Jake sits down with Texas A&M Baseball ace Ryan Prager to discuss all things Aggies. After a trip to the CWS, falling just short of winning a national championship in 2024, the Aggies are looking to repeat their success in 2025. The Aggies are currently ranked as the #1 team in college baseball & Ryan has been nominated as a Pre-Season All American & Pre-Season SEC Pitcher of the year. After a long off-season, we talk about 2024 vs. 2025 team comparisons, team goals, personal goals, & transition to a new coaching staff. Tune in to this episode of all things Aggies! (0:00) Intro (1:07) 2024 vs 2025 Team Comparison (2:30) Transition To A New Coaching Staff (4:32) Being A Leader To New Players(6:12) Key Metrics Coming Into 2025 (12:23) Be Relentless Strike Throwers (17:55) Ryan's Personal Goals(19:55) Fuel To Get Back To Omaha

Jake sits down with Cam Dietz, Assistant Director of Sports Performance at The University of Cincinnati, to talk transitioning into pre-season training. Primarily working with baseball players & golfers, Cam is getting his athletes ready to compete for their spring sports. Topics include bridging the gap between incorporating sports science & human intuition, key metrics for optimizing player performance, individualization during pre-season programing, & blending into in-season training. Tune in and check out some awesome content from a true professional in the field!(0:00) Intro (0:29) Cam's Background(1:55) Sports Science vs. Human Intuition (12:27) Individualization In Pre-Season Programing (21:46) Blending Into In-Season Training(28:47) Cam's Development Advice

Jake and Mark sit down with Chris Martin, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for SEC powerhouse LSU Baseball. Chris, previously with the Houston Astros organization, shares his experiences with training elite level athletes at both the professional and collegiate levels. Topics include the differences in how data is leveraged at different levels of baseball, fi nding the sweet spot of data utilization in strength & conditioning, and fitting the coaching lens and approach to specific athletes. Tune in and check out some awesome content from a true professional in the field!(0:00) Intro(1:18) Chris' Baseball Journey (5:55) Leveraging Data at Different Levels (11:16) The Sweet Spot of Data in S&C(18:17) Under the Radar Metrics (21:49) Player Development

Jake and Mark reflect on their 2024 preseason breakout and bust picks to see where they went right and where they went wrong (spoiler alert: not a lot went wrong). They take a deep dive into the analytics to evaluate how and why certain players over- or under-performed the way they did, discussing which outcomes were bound to come true and which may have even been too good to be true. Were certain metrics particularly predictive when it came to season-over-season performance? How important is it to evaluate a player's career holistically as opposed to maximizing the emphasis on the most recent results?(0:00) Intro (1:36) Aaron Nola(4:09) Cole Ragans(6:24) Anthony Volpe (12:02) Grayson Rodriguez(15:13) Cody Bellinger(16:20) Jordan Montgomery (20:45) Blake Snell (22:45) Nolan Jones(26:12) 2025 Breakout Preview

Jake sits down with Brian Walker, the Assistant Head of Strength & Conditioning for Baseball at IMG Academy and former Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Cleveland Guardians. Brian has been coaching elite athletes for years, and he shares his insights on how he views the industry, his favorite parts of coaching, and extensive advice for both players and coaches. What role do data and technology play in day-to-day programming? Why is it important to embrace failure as you get better? And how valuable is a good mentor?(0:45) Brian's Career Journey (7:13)Using Tech & Data as Feedback(13:10)Avoiding Paralysis by Analysis(15:35)Athletic Shoulder (ASH) Testing(21:34)Psychological Components of Training(26:37)Embracing Failure & Competition(42:11)Advice to Athletes & S&C Coaches(46:42)Be Yourself & Be Great

Jake and Mark discuss the most inseparable duos in baseball. Who (or what) made the cut, and what makes each duo so dynamic? On today's episode, we're taking a lighthearted look at a serious topic, and in a timely manner, too -- one of The Sweet Spot's co-hosts just got married! Tune in to see which pairing is your favorite marriage in the game. (0:00) Intro(2:35) Sunflower Seeds & Big League Chew(8:57) Derek Jeter & The New York Yankees(10:54) The New York Yankees & October(12:33) The Grounds Crew & The Field(14:54) Fastball & Curveball(16:52) Pitcher & Catcher(18:35) Wrapping Up

Jake and Mark sit down with Ryan Ricci, the pitching coach for the Single-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins (The Fort Meyers Mighty Mussels), and former pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the George Mason baseball program. Ryan, who pitched in the Diamonbacks' organization and who is a George Mason Baseball alum himself, has overseen the development of several professional players. We hit on a topic that we've wanted to discuss for a long time: the command vs. stuff debate in pitchers' development and gameplay. Which is more important, and is one of them easier to coach? How do either or both of these metrics affect a pitcher's deception?Article Link - Click Here(0:00) Intro (2:53) Ryan's Baseball Career (4:20) How to Think About Stuff and Command (6:52) Which is More Important / Easier to Coach?(8:50) With Great Stuff Comes Great Command?(10:50) Quantifying the Trade-Off(14:08) Ryan's Ideal Data Points(17:00) Deception (19:20) Does Command / Stuff Affect Intangibles? (21:40) The Value of Consistency (22:45) Combating "Stability Ball Coaching"(25:20) Finding Success Within Your Style (26:36) Creating Deception with Command (27:37) Know Your Body: Confidence & Focus

Jake and Mark sit down with Ian Miller, former MLB outfielder and host of The 9-Hole Podcast. Ian is a professional in every sense of the word, on and off the field. We finally give the game within the game the podcast it deserves, covering topics such as facing adversity, staying level in high pressure scenarios, and the value of hard work over time. What does Ian do to prepare mentally and physically for professional baseball games? How does he apply the lessons he learned playing the game to his life beyond baseball?(0:00) Intro (3:40) Ian's Baseball Journey(7:18) The 9-Hole Mindset (9:51) On Facing Adversity (12:54) Channeling a Positive Mentality (18:16) Some "Light" Reading Material (18:39) Good. (19:54) Preparing for High Pressure Scenarios (23:34) Taking Care of Your Body (28:25) Control the Controllables (31:59) Volume X Time = Skill (33:54) Expect What You Put In(35:25) Data, Development, and Luck (43:03) 16 for 16(49:48) Lessons Beyond Baseball

Jake and Mark sit down with Nate Irving (@natebirving), hitting and game planning coach in the Reds' organization and former UVA catcher. Nate has put his data analytics knowledge to work in several capacities from Virginia to Chattanooga to Venezuela. We talk to Nate about personalization in player development and education, as well as the speed of the game at different levels. What skills help players thrive at every level of baseball? And what's it like being in the organization with budding stars like Elly De La Cruz and Christian Encarnacion-Strand?(0:00) Intro (1:35) Nate's Baseball Journey (4:47) From Playing to Player Development (7:21) Competitiveness Shines at Every Level (8:40) Flow State and Mental Acuity in High Leverage Situations (11:22) Personalization of Player Education (13:02) The Sweet Spot of Personalization in Player Development (22:09) The Speed of the Game (25:00) Making the Game Feel Slow (30:59) Rapid Fire (questions and curveballs) (36:08) Closing Thoughts & Venezuela Winter Ball

Jake and Mark sit down with Kyle Sylvester, hitting coach and infield coordinator from Eastern Connecticut State University. Kyle also oversees player development and assists with recruiting and game day scouting. We dive into the way that data is used for hitters at the D-III level, with a particular emphasis on how coaches can and should effectively communicate complex data insights to their players. How important is load timing when facing different types of pitchers? Is it always a good thing to optimize for exit velocity?(0:00) Intro (2:10) Kyle's Background (3:42) The Evolution of Analytics in Hitting (6:26) Just Swing Harder? (10:10) Making Adjustments: Load Timing (18:07) Communicating Complex Data Insights (29:19) Balancing Analytics with Traditional Coaching Methods (32:09) A Return to Contact?(36:11) Type 1, 2, and 3 Hitters (42:00) The Mental Side of the Game

Jake and Mark go pitch by pitch to build the best possible arsenal in the game today. We also tackle questions about the sweet spot of combining advanced metrics with a results-oriented approach in determining which pitches are the most elite. Who throws the best heater, sinker, and sweeper? What is the Magnus Effect? And how many aces are on this list?(0:00) Into(1:59) 4-Seam Fastball(12:12) 2-Seam Fastball/Sinker(20:14) Slider(28:16) Sweeper(32:17) Cutter(36:58) Curveball(44:00) Splitter(51:48) Changeup(54:32) Retrospective Analysis

Jake and Mark are keeping it simple today: umps and elbows. Why are some people ready for robo-umps, and what's the case against them? What's behind the rising epidemic of elbow injuries for pitchers? On today's episode, we take a deep dive into these controversial topics, covering new MLB rule changes and how to make the game as enjoyable and exciting as ever going forward.(0:00) Intro(1:08) Umps(7:24) Robo Umps (8:59) Challenging Balls & Strikes(13:20) Finding a Middle Ground(20:24) Elbows - Velo, Pitch Clock, Sticky Stuff(24:53) Glasnow Blames Sticky Stuff(29:55) Verlander's Take on Elbows(35:00) 100 MPH - Enough Bang For Buck?

Jake and Mark sit down with Joseph Guzman from Empowerment Sports Group to discuss everything from the MLB Draft to international scouting and development to the way teams and agents use data for talent evaluation. Joseph has amassed a wealth of expertise on a variety of topics, and we dig into lots of exciting areas. What do different MLB teams look for in the draft process, and how does that differ for domestic vs. international talent? How does the simple availability of data affect decision making in the front office?(0:00) Intro(2:08) Joseph's Baseball Career(6:21) International Development & Signing(10:50) What Metrics Do MLB Teams Value?(12:42) Data, Feel, and Sample Sizes(15:47) MLB Draft Decisions(23:49) Advanced Analytics, Raw Tools, and Intangibles(30:00) Advice to Young Players(32:33) A Return to Contact?

Jake and Mark sit down with Jose Ledesma, a 24-year-old RHP coming off the biggest workload of his career in Independent League Baseball. Jose transitioned to the mound late in his career, and we discuss how he has seen success mixing pitches in the vertical and horizontal planes to keep hitters off balance. What pitches did Jose add to his arsenal to stay ahead of the competition? How do Jose and other players/coaches utilize data in their decision processes in the off-season and in games?(0:00) Intro(1:36) Jose's Path to the Pros (4:23) Building an Arsenal in Both Planes(8:24) Feel & Eye Test vs. Technology & Analytics(13:35) Release Point, Tunneling, & Break Plots(19:38) Mixing Planes In Games(22:01) How Players/Coaches Use Data(23:52) Adapting the Philosophy to the Player(29:23) Command vs. Stuff(34:32) The Mental Game

Jake and Mark square off in a mock debate about the role of analytics in baseball. In this debate, Mark represents a data purist's approach, while Jake represents an anti-sabermetrics approach. What do different types of people in the industry — players, coaches, GMs, owners, trainers — think about the various topics discussed? While the opinions reflected in this episode do not represent Jake's and Mark's own opinions (unless otherwise specified), these types of debates and discussions happen every day. Let's dive into the thought processes behind each approach, and you can decide for yourself what you think makes sense.(0:00) Intro(0:46) Mock Analytics Debate: Rules & Topics(3:02) Player Evaluation & Performance Metrics(18:09) In Game Strategy & Decision Making (37:11) Future Episode Teasers(38:06) Player Development & Training Techniques(41:06) Financial Decisions & Salary Negotiations(44:10) Back to The Sweet Spot

Jake and Mark look into the crystal ball and predict breakouts and busts for the 2024 MLB season. Who will exceed expectations, and who will fall short? What kind of data do Jake and Mark value when it comes to predicting this season's performances? On this episode, we create our Mt. Rushmore of breakouts and busts, giving our top 4 candidates for each category. Tune in for a look into the future!(0:00) Intro(2:19) Grayson Rodriguez(6:08) Aaron Nola(13:50) Cole Ragans(17:07) Anthony Volpe(21:54) Cody Bellinger(24:36) Jordan Montgomery(28:14) Blake Snell (33:49) Nolan Jones(37:28) Ending on a High Note

Jake and Mark sit down with Ryan Prager (@ryanprager10), an imposing southpaw for Texas A&M University. Ryan has recovered from Tommy John surgery and is ready to lead the Aggies back to Omaha. We discuss data-driven approaches to the rehab process and the importance of being a mature athlete to make a complete recovery.(0:00) - Intro(2:06) - Ryan's Background(5:56) - TJ Surgery: Highs and Lows(10:38) - The Mental Toll of Injuries(13:26) - Using a Radar Gun to Monitor Workload(18:57) - Advantages of Driveline Pulse(23:39) - Introducing Trackman for Bullpens(29:09) - Blending "Feel" with Data(32:13) - Integrating Back Into Daily Practice(36:50)- Injury Prevention with Biomechanics(40:50) - Advice for Athletes in TJ Rehab(43:22) - Aggies Prediction and Closing Remarks

Jake and Mark sit down with R.J. Michaels (@rj_michaels), former Director of Analytics and Assistant Coach for the University of Rochester Baseball Team. R.J. transitioned from a player to a coach after his freshman year, and helped lead the team for several years. We focus on the data that R.J collected and how he communicated his insights to coaches and players to create more wins. (0:00) Intro (2:27) R.J.'s Baseball Career (4:31) Navigating the End of One's Playing Career(6:38) R.J.'s Role as Director of Analytics(9:17) Building Trust Through Success(18:13) The Simplicity and Utility of Linear Regression(23:05) Data Visualization (No Disrespect to Gerrit Cole)(24:14) From Data Driven Insights to Creating Change(25:59) Communication and Impact

EMERGENCY POD! On this episode, Jake and Mark dive into the controversial 4th down decisions made by Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell. While we're usually a baseball podcast, the opportunity to discuss the sweet spot between data analytics and human decision making in this year's NFC Championship Game was just too good to pass up. What do Jake and Mark think about the decision, and -- perhaps more importantly -- the rhetoric regarding the topic?(0:00) Intro(2:09) Initial Reactions(4:48) "The Analytics Say..."(7:26) All Models Are Wrong, But Some Are Useful(10:55) Considering Momentum(14:13) Signal-To-Noise Ratio & "Playoff Factor"(18:45) Our Thoughts on Campbell's Decisions(20:41) Hitting a 16 Against a 7

Jake and Mark discuss the history of the Moneyball era in baseball. How did it start? What was it all about? How did teams such as the Rays and Astros continue to find success after the "secret" of OBP and OPS was exposed? Where is the industry headed in the next decade with respect to analytics? In this episode, we focus on select sabermetrics as well as specific examples of how teams have had success by playing the numbers. (0:00) Intro(1:50) Bill James & the Origin of Sabermetrics(6:08) Jake's Gold, Silver, & Bronze of Advanced Metrics (WAR, DRS, FIP)(18:49) The Moneyball Story (26:00) Modern Day Moneyball(40:32) The Future of Analytics

Jake and Mark sit down with Matt Riebesell (@riebs9), Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Franklin & Marshall. Matt has been a coach at the D1 to D3 levels during his coaching career. We discuss the utilization of data at the NCAA level and focus on key attributes that Matt looks for as a recruiter. (0:00) Intro(2:23) Matt's Career Path(6:50) Evolution of Data in College Baseball(10:58) Making Decisions with Minimal Data (13:02) Recruiting Catchers (17:58) Offense vs. Defense (24:12) Velocity vs. Movement in Recruiting and Coaching (27:52) Discrepancies in Data Usage Across D1/D2/D3(30:34) How to Be More Recruitable

Jake and Mark sit down with Nick Kuzia (@kuzpitching), professional pitcher and performance coach. Nick has played in the Rockies, Tigers, and Padres organizations.Topics include Nick's path to the pros, Tackman & Rapsodo and the pros and cons of each technology, the discrepancy in data gathering and utilization across teams within the minor leagues, the importance of velocity, the influence of biomechanics on pitch design, the trade-off between the eye test and technology, and exploiting vertical and horizontal axes to maximize deception.

We introduce the “sweet spot” - what is it, why does it exist, and why are we interested? We discuss specific examples where intuition should have played a larger role (Blake Snell, Jose Berrios), as well as some of the fundamental limitations of using any sort of data modeling when it comes to sports. We also touch on how recent studies have been able to quantify certain players' intangibles that they bring to the table (David Ross, Carlos Beltran).