Podcast appearances and mentions of Lance Berkman

In this episode of Sports the NEMO Way we bring the best Houston Astros to the table for discussion. What can we say about the Astros, they had some killer "B"'s back in the day. They had a cool stadium called the Astro Dome. Their earlier throw back uniforms were pretty cool, but what wasn't cool was that sign stealing episode in the World Series. That World Series in the most tainted thing in the modern age. Almost as bad as all the different shit the New England Patriots were doing, but the New England Patriots still get the crown for most bullshit you can try to do to win games. Anyway before I go on a rant, Go listen to this episode and learn about some great Astro players. Have a great day, and we'll see you all next week... Peace.

(00:00-14:26) Bryson Stott. Cardinals walk-up songs. Colby Rasmus and Boy Foy. Doug is steadfast on not liking the NHL EBUG rule. Most electrifying clips in modern baseball. We don't give two people enough credit: Lance Berkman and Kyle Lohse. Cotton candy. Josh the Bat Boy. (14:35-22:42) Bottle service at My House. Audio of Brandel Chamblee on Fore Play talking about broadcasting at Augusta. Don't say Back 9. Height of elitism nonsense. Is Boston Market still a thing? Don't even think about taking your phone out. (22:52-28:05) Ozzie Guillen says doing sports talk radio is harder than managing a Major League Baseball team. Fighting at TGI Fridays. Tim's cadet gloves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(00:00-14:26) Bryson Stott. Cardinals walk-up songs. Colby Rasmus and Boy Foy. Doug is steadfast on not liking the NHL EBUG rule. Most electrifying clips in modern baseball. We don't give two people enough credit: Lance Berkman and Kyle Lohse. Cotton candy. Josh the Bat Boy. (14:35-22:42) Bottle service at My House. Audio of Brandel Chamblee on Fore Play talking about broadcasting at Augusta. Don't say Back 9. Height of elitism nonsense. Is Boston Market still a thing? Don't even think about taking your phone out. (22:52-28:05) Ozzie Guillen says doing sports talk radio is harder than managing a Major League Baseball team. Fighting at TGI Fridays. Tim's cadet gloves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lance Berkman played 15 seasons in the major leagues (1999-2013), where he was named to six All-Star Games and won a World Series in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was inducted into the Houston Astros Hall of Fame in 2020 and is currently a baseball coach at his alma mater, Rice University. Lance Berkman joins his former teammate and longtime friend Scott Linebrink on today's "Get in the Game" podcast to discuss his "Big Puma" nickname, the "fake injuries" he had in his back pocket during his playing days, his walk with Jesus and why coaching baseball is a part of his ministry. "Get in the Game" is part of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sports Spectrum Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Do you know Christ personally? Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how you can commit your life to Him.

Part 2 of our 2 hours with the great Lance Berkman continues with more stories from Lance & Sean plus Berkman's thoughts on his Hall of Fame snub and possibly getting in down the road one day. Full Video Broadcast here: https://youtu.be/aFmIcQQyblA https://bleav.com/

We sat down with Lance Berkman for an epic 2 hour interview.  We talk about his rise to stardom, his mastery of switch-hitting, and some epic stories about playing against The Mayor. Tons of info and even more laughs.  Part 2 drops Saturday. Full Youtube Broadcast: https://youtu.be/ZjNTJ8SHAqo Original Air Date: 10/12/21 https://bleav.com/

 605. Part 2. Derby Gisclair returns to discuss the history of baseball in New Orleans. Derby is an expert on the topic, having written the following books: Early Baseball in New Orleans: A History of 19th Century Play. The 1910 New Orleans Pelicans: A Moment in Minor League History: Shoeless Joe Jackson and the New Orleans Pelicans Championship. The Dixie Series: 1920 - 1958. In July of 1859, seventy-five young New Orleanians came together to form the seven teams that comprised the Louisiana Base Ball Club. They played their games in the fields of the de la Chaise estate on the outskirts of New Orleans near present-day Louisiana Avenue. As America's population grew through immigration, so did the popularity of what the largest newspaper in New Orleans, the Daily Picayune, called in November of 1860 "the National Game." Baseball quickly replaced cricket as the city's most popular participant sport.In 1887, local businessmen and promoters secured a minor league franchise for the city of New Orleans in the newly formed Southern League, beginning the city's 73-year love affair with the New Orleans Pelicans. From Shoeless Joe Jackson, to Hall of Famers Dazzy Vance, Joe Sewell, Bob Lemon, and Earl Weaver, to today's stars such as Jeff Cirillo and Lance Berkman, the road to the majors brought many notable players through New Orleans. From these early beginnings to the present-day New Orleans Zephyrs of the AAA Pacific Coast League, local fans have continued the tradition of baseball in New Orleans.A lifelong resident of New Orleans, S. Derby Gisclair is a member of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) and its 19th Century, Minor Leagues, Deadball Era, Oral History, and Pictorial History Committees. He heads the Schott-Pelican Chapter of SABR in Louisiana and is on the Nominating and Selection Committees for the Greater New Orleans Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 220 years. Order your copy today! This week in Louisiana history. December 23, 1813. Legislative Act #5 provides for offical state seal. This week in New Orleans history. December 21, 1890. Governor James Albert Noe, born on December 21, 1890, served in World War I as a first lieutenant of the 369th Infantry in France. He became the Governor of Louisiana, serving from January through May 1936, following the death of Gov. O. K. Allen. He later returned to the senate until 1940. In 1936 Noe founded WNOE-AM and FM radio stations in New Orleans, established Monroes KNOE-AM and FM radio stations in 1944, and KNOE-TV in 1953. This week in Louisiana. Kenner's Heritage Park Christmas Village 2015 Fourth Street Kenner, LA December 1 - December 31, 2024 Website Light display is open nightly / Vendors and entertainment will be present every Friday and Saturday from Dec. 1 - 23 Time: 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm Admission: FREE      Each year in December, the streets and buildings in Rivertown from the railroad tracks to the river, are adorned with dazzling lights and displays. The festivities culminate in Kenner's Heritage Park, located at the center of the district and open every day and evening.      There, visitors can wander through and view the festival displays, shop local food and craft vendors, find a unique gift, take a photo with Santa, or watch a song or dance performance by community churches and school groups.      Children revel in the sudsy "snow" that blankets the park throughout the evening, and a special holiday-themed musical laser light show plays in the Kenner Planetarium theater right across the street. You're sure to catch some holiday cheer in Rivertown.​ Postcards from Louisiana. David Middleton. "The Shepherd: A Christmas Play." Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

604. Part 1. Derby Gisclair returns to discuss the history of baseball in New Orleans. Derby is an expert on the topic, having written the following books: Early Baseball in New Orleans: A History of 19th Century Play. The 1910 New Orleans Pelicans: A Moment in Minor League History: Shoeless Joe Jackson and the New Orleans Pelicans Championship. The Dixie Series: 1920 - 1958. In July of 1859, seventy-five young New Orleanians came together to form the seven teams that comprised the Louisiana Base Ball Club. They played their games in the fields of the de la Chaise estate on the outskirts of New Orleans near present-day Louisiana Avenue. As America's population grew through immigration, so did the popularity of what the largest newspaper in New Orleans, the Daily Picayune, called in November of 1860 "the National Game." Baseball quickly replaced cricket as the city's most popular participant sport. In 1887, local businessmen and promoters secured a minor league franchise for the city of New Orleans in the newly formed Southern League, beginning the city's 73-year love affair with the New Orleans Pelicans. From Shoeless Joe Jackson, to Hall of Famers Dazzy Vance, Joe Sewell, Bob Lemon, and Earl Weaver, to today's stars such as Jeff Cirillo and Lance Berkman, the road to the majors brought many notable players through New Orleans. From these early beginnings to the present-day New Orleans Zephyrs of the AAA Pacific Coast League, local fans have continued the tradition of baseball in New Orleans. A lifelong resident of New Orleans, S. Derby Gisclair is a member of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) and its 19th Century, Minor Leagues, Deadball Era, Oral History, and Pictorial History Committees. He heads the Schott-Pelican Chapter of SABR in Louisiana and is on the Nominating and Selection Committees for the Greater New Orleans Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 220 years. Order your copy today! This week in Louisiana history. December 14, 1814. First clash with British in War of 1812 on Lake Borgne This week in New Orleans history. On October 14, 1975, the Dome hosted Muhammad Ali Appreciation Day. The Muhammad Temple of Islam 46 in New Orleans organized the activities, with Ali's appearance as the day's highlight. Speakers included Dr. Na'im Akbar, Wallace D. Muhammad and Louis Farrakhan. This week in Louisiana. Holiday Lights at Baton Rouge Generalue 8585 Picardy Avenue Baton Rouge, LA 70809 Website Tickets $5.00.     Join us at our annual Holiday Lights display, a first of its kind in Baton Rouge, where the large greenspace in front of the hospital is transformed into a twinkling, singing and musically synchronized lights display for the community to enjoy.     Take a stroll through our lighted walking path where you'll see countless holiday sightings on display! Check out the three dancing-light mega trees, breeze through 24 feet of lighted tunnels, dance with the singing trees and pose with the lighted candy canes and snowmen. Experience the wonder of our giant walk-through ornament, present and Santa hat! Postcards from Louisiana. The Louisiana Book Festival band plays, "When the Saints Go Marching in." Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

Bleav Hosts Robert Land & Stephen Kerr look at Sengun's big statistical dip, how Steven Adams helps Jalen Green, Jabari's new dimension & Cam Whitmore in the doghouse. Plus, Kenyon Green & Christian Harris are back for the Texans, the Texans Dolphins preview, Framber & Kyle Tucker on the Astros block & how the Mets helped the Astros path to the World Series. (:42) Rockets playing for NBA Cup! (2:30) Is Cam Whitmore in Doghouse? (5:11) Jabari turning into Mutombo? (6:15) Difference between Jabari & Jalen's progress? (8:00) How is Steven Adams helping Jalen? (9:59) Sengun's regression? (12:46) Is Kenyon Green return good thing? (15:32) Texans-Dolphins Preview (17:50) How did Mets Help Astros? (21:30) Should Astros Framber or Kyle Tucker? Which is better idea? (25:53) Less Yordan at DH? (27:15) Dave Parker & Dick Allen into HOF way too late? (31:16) Lance Berkman vs. Dave Parker - Is Berkman's case for HOF better? (33:24) SI Sportswriter Ben Reiter tells George Springer famous Cover Story about Astros Championship Prediction Subscribe on Youtube, Spotify, Apple & iHeart X @HSTPodcast #alperensengun #jalengreen #jabarismithjr #frambervaldez #kyletucker

After 15 years playing as a MLB player and then coaching at the collegiate level, All-star Lance Berkman shares several leadership lessons he learned along the way. Leaders need to know the way, show the way, and go the way. The Vance's remind us that principle of "Love your neighbor as yourself" is not a nice saying. It is a wonderful way to get to know their community and serve them in some amazing ways.  

As promised (a day late) - we have a great Baseball Hall of Fame debate. Who is more deserving of a call to The Hall? Lance Berkman or Joey Votto? OR - are both Hall of Famers?  We take a deep dive today inside The Mayor's Office. Follow Us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/M-Cd9n83hUE https://bleav.com/

In this episode of Sports the NEMO Way we bring the Best Houston Astros to the table for discussion.

Straight bias here from the Mayor's Office - LANCE BERKMAN SHOULD BE IN THE HALL OF FAME! And Sean makes no bones about it in this interview.   We catch up with The Big Puma who relays some of the most hysterical stories that have ever been told on the Mayor's Office!  From his legendary college coach Wayne Graham once telling him he was a coward in between games of a double-header (in a lovingly way) to God choosing Albert Pujols over him in an NLCS Championship game (not really - but you have to hear the story!).   Lance Berkman breaks down how former players are starting to reshape the way kids should learn baseball the right way.  It's another can't miss episode of The Mayor's Office.  Subscribe here for some awesome giveaways once we hit 4K subscribers!https://youtu.be/y5aE3yHGm_Q

Lot's to get to on this Tax Day, including: Should Aaron Boone and the Yanks simply lock Anthony Volpe into the Leadoff spot the rest of the season even after DJ comes back? Props to Andrew McCutchen on his 300th HR.  Casey goes down memory lane to that time when he was on The Pirates and met their top prospect... Andrew McCutchen! Did the Cubs steal the deal when they acquired Michael Busch from LA?  Sean certainly thinks so. Chinch met one of his favorite Celebs, Adam Richman, who could not have been any more awesome! Plus, a first look at the Autographed Sean Casey Yankees Jersey we'll be giving away once we hit 4K subscribers on Youtube!  Make sure you help us get there by clicking the link below and subscribing ASAP! https://youtu.be/895iV7f2xqw

As Adam and Adam broadcast today from UVC PowerSports; they were joined on the phone by Lance Berkman. The former Astros slugger joined the guys to talk about what he's up to now, as the head baseball coach at Houston Christian. He also talks about what he's seen from the current Astros teams over the years.

- Thoughts on the Astros acquiring INF/OF Trey Cabbage in a trade! - Can he be a hidden gem? - Lance Berkman inducted to the Houston Hall of Fame! - Mr. October Celebrity Golf Classic! - Who has the better golf swing? - CAP/NO CAP! - What's the stove cooking in the offseason? - The guys try to name all the MLB The Show Cover Athletes from 2014-2024! - Much, much, more! YouTube link: https://youtube.com/live/iPFY6NH9xWM?feature=share

The Harris County Houston Sports Authority announced Lance Berkman will be inducted into their 2024 HOF Class.  Link to HCHSA website and announcement. Today we honor Big Puma with the Relaunch of our April 2020 podcast when Geoff Blum and Steve Sparks spoke to Berman about his All Star career. A fan favorite and huge part of Astro lore, Berkman tells a hilarious story about HOF teammate Jeff Bagwell, recalls his time with Rice baseball, and fondly remembers his favorite moments in an Astros uniform.   Astros Radio is your complete source for 2024 Spring Training coverage. Listen to Steve Sparks & Robert Ford throughout the season on SportsTalk 790 KBME & 740 KTRH-Houston, the MLB App, & SiriusXM. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boy howdy it's cold. Iggy's business question. Somehow Lance Berkman gets brought up. Iggy starts naming off people in his phone. Cuffin' season. We have a guest today. Megan Gaither, the newest OnlyFans teacher and friend of Brianna Coppage, will be joining us at 8:30. The backstory on Megan. What makes more money, Instagram or OnlyFans? Internet money. Amazon drivers. What time will Mizzou vs. Tennessee kickoff? Steve in Wildwood joins us to talk it over. Steve talks about playing Grove 23 last weekend. Talking marriage and divorce. Larry Nickel joins us for the WWE Recap. Soccer Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Boy howdy it's cold. Iggy's business question. Somehow Lance Berkman gets brought up. Iggy starts naming off people in his phone. Cuffin' season. We have a guest today. Megan Gaither, the newest OnlyFans teacher and friend of Brianna Coppage, will be joining us at 8:30. The backstory on Megan. What makes more money, Instagram or OnlyFans? Internet money. Amazon drivers. What time will Mizzou vs. Tennessee kickoff? Steve in Wildwood joins us to talk it over. Steve talks about playing Grove 23 last weekend. Talking marriage and divorce. Larry Nickel joins us for the WWE Recap. Soccer Talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Holliday joins the show following a fun weekend of hanging out with Lance Berkman

On this edition of the coach me up podcast we will catch up with the former MLB All-Star and current Houston Christian University head baseball coach. Join us a we have a bunch of laughs early with some classic baseball stories, and as he coaches us up on how to dive into Scripture in a meaningful way. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Hosted by Jimmy Dykes and Chris Burke Produced by Jared Mark Fincher All audio is subject to copyright 2023 Jimmy Dykes Inc. Contact us at coachmeuppodcast@gmail.com Untitled Episode segmentsEdit audio

Contact Information: Email: tpiattoly@mysportsd.com Websites: www.mysportsd.com www.omegaquant.com Twitter: @tavispiattoly Instagram: tavispiattoly For all our digital links please click the link below! https://linktr.ee/rootsrd Discounts on  @Thornehealth  #supplements message me! Tavis Piattoly, MS, RD, LDN has been working in the field of high-performance and Sports Nutrition for the past 21 years designing personalized nutrition programs for high school, college, and professional athletes. He currently serves as the Dietitian/Healthcare Account Manager for OmegaQuant Labs, where their team works to research and provide Omega 3 Testing for healthcare practitioners, collegiate and professional teams, and supplement brands. He currently serves as the Sports Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant for Fairchild Sports Performance in Houston where he designs nutrition programs for high, college, and professional athletes. He is also an adjunct faculty for Concordia University of Chicago's Exercise Science department where he teaches graduate courses in Vitamins/Minerals, Sports Nutrition, and Exercise and Nutrition for Weight Management.  @concordiauniversitymontreal   @FairchildTraining  He is also the Co-Founder of the company My Sports Dietitian (www.mysportsd.com), an online Sports Nutrition education company that provides digital tools (Eat 2 Win Nutrition App) and services for High School and Collegiate Athletic Programs, Performance Centers, and Club Sports Teams.  @RonnieHarpermysportsd  He is the Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer/Formulator for Liquid Fuel Nutrition, an innovative Sports and Hydration beverage that uses a low-glycemic carbohydrate and optimal electrolyte ratio to help athletes and individuals achieve sustained energy and blood sugar control for optimal performance and health. www.drinkliquidfuel.com.  @drinkliquidfuel9595  He was the Sports Dietitian for the New Orleans Saints from 2006-2013 and New Orleans Pelicans from 2008-2013. He also served as the Sports Dietitian for Tulane Athletics from 2002-2014 and the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine's NFL Players Association Brain and Body program from 2013-2016. He's been fortunate to work with a long list of NFL and MLB players throughout his career, most notably helping Lance Berkman change his body composition and win comeback player of the Year along with Josh Hamilton, former #1 pick Mark Appel, Mark Melancon, Jameson Taillon and most recently, the #6 overall pick in 2021 Jordan Lawler and LSU's Tommy White.  @lsusports   @Tulane  #nfl #mlb  @NBAPelicans   @NewOrleansSaints  He is an advisor to Examine.com and was on the scientific advisory board for Nordic Naturals and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Sports Medicine Advisory Board.  @examinecom   @Nordic-Naturals  #og #experienced #highschoolsports #sportsnutrition #sportdietitian #professional #collegiate #business #athletics #field #improve #omegaquant #mysportsdietitian --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shawn-pitcher/support

Creating Confidence, Consistency and Culture with 6x MLB All-Star - Lance Berkman In this live 55min group coaching call, Brian Cain, MPM is joined by 6x MLB All-Star, World Series Champion, MLB Comeback Player of the Year and current Houston Christian University Head Baseball coach Lance Berkman.   Lance is a also a former high school head coach and D3 college coach who has seen baseball and coaching at all levels.  In this group coaching call, Brian and Lance talk about creating confidence, consistency and culture as well as the mental performance strategies Lance used as a player and what strategies uses currently as a NCAA D1 Head Baseball Coach. The biggest differences between coaching at the HS and college level and how as a professional coach you are more psychologist than coach Developing a mental game is a toolbox and choosing what tools to use What separates the good from the great at the professional level The HCU Baseball Culture of Work, Aggression, Responsibility, Service How to silence the noise and focus on what's important in that moment The importance of focusing on controlables and why everything else is just a distraction The 3Bs of hitting and how to overcome fear of an outcome Breathe Ball Back Through The Middle Why as a competitive you are always going to be nervous and you must learn to use that fear as fuel What confidence really is and it's not something you feel it's something you do  The importance of and use of visualization What it means to “have an approach” and a detailed discussion of Lance's 7 hitting approaches CALL RESOURCES To learn more about fundraising university please email - zsorensen@fundraisingu.net HCU Baseball Culture - Click Here Work                   Leave Nothing To Chance Aggression         Beat Em' To The Punch Responsibility     If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me Service               Who Can I Serve Today Lances 7 Hitting Approaches - Click Here Heroic Book Summaries - Click Here Log Into Your MPM Group Coaching Dashboard Follow @BrianCainPeak on Twitter Want to access the full interview ? Simply join Brian's Free Group Coaching Program brought to you by Fundraising University and you can find this interview and many others in your personal dashboard.

With Freddie Freeman joining the 300HR, 1000RBI club we debate whether or not he's a Hall of Famer and go down the rabbit hole to debate if fellow 1st basemen Joey Votto and Lance Berkman deserve the call to the Hall as well.   Plus, Casey takes us down memory lane with a fun story about the time he met both George Bush SR and JR at the same time and almost got taken out by their security team!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One thing led to another to begin this show. Lance Berkman came to mind one way or another which started a wormhole-style conversation. Rammer and Tim Brando crossed paths in Shreveport. The Cardinals shellacked the Brewers, much to Nate's surprise. Jack Flaherty was incredible. Adolis Garcia is leading the AL in RBI... OOPS.

What does it take to turn a World Series or a World Series champion into a Fall Classic? Well, Lance Berkman sure helps. New York Times national baseball columnist and New York Times bestselling author Tyler Kepner joins the Best Podcast in Baseball to discuss his new book, "The Grandest Stage: A History of the World Series." In it, Kepner plunges into the stories generated by World Series, revealing the history of Major League Baseball's championship through themes and personalities, not a linear retracing of box scores. With Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold, Kepner discusses the Cardinals prominent place in World Series history, how this year's Astros fit with the all-time World Series teams and tales, and what to make of Jeff Luhnow's influence over their run of pennants under the shadow of a sign-stealing scandal. Oh, and Berkman's role in the 2011 World Series is not to be overlooked. Plus, stay to hear Kepner capture the risk the Cardinals run of not responding to fan pressure and then wow with one of his talents -- instant recall of the final outs of World Series. The Best Podcast in Baseball, sponsored by Closets by Design of St. Louis, is a production of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, StlToday.com, and Derrick Goold.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gritman continues his conversation with Lance Berkman and they discuss: -More hilarious Coach Graham stories -The story behind Lance's nicknames (Blue Dart, Big Puma & Fat Elvis) -How fat guys that can flat out hit are a dying breed -Whether or not Lance is fat -The strikeout becoming so prevalent in the pro game -Lance's two strike approach to hitting -Why most major leaguers should not coach -Finding his purpose after retiring Episode Sponsor: Gordy & Sons "If you go to Gordy & Sons and don't find something you want or need, that is a sign you need to get your grit checked" -Gritman Please support our brand partners: Chama Chairs (Use code GRIT for special Gritmen savings at checkout.) Turtle Box Audio (Use code GRIT for special Gritmen savings at checkout.) Poncho Shirts (Buy a shirt get a free hat. Use code GRITMEN at checkout be sure to add the hat to your cart.)

Lance Berkman comes on the show to discuss: -the truth about grit and success -His struggles after being traded to the Yankees -2005 NLCS Game 5 (Pujols homer off Lidge) -Cardinals World Series Game 6 in 2011 -Prayer & Sports - the “do's and don'ts” -Using religion as a crutch -hunting Stone sheep in BC -playing for Coach Graham at Rice University -going from boyhood to manhood-toughness, grit and no excuses attitude -hilarious Coach Graham tactics to make you better and raise expectations Please support our brand partners: Chama Chairs Turtle Box Audio Use code GRIT for special Gritmen savings at checkout. To watch the interview visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3q0rCHFU76IKW75vDT_S4Q

Today's guest is Bill Rose, a minority owner of the most iconic sports franchise of all time, the New York Yankees. As a limited partner of the Yankees, Bill shares his special connections to The Boss, George Steinbrenner, his childhood hero, Yankee great Bobby Richardson and Hollywood icon Kirk Douglas. Despite incredible “success” in the world's eyes, Bill describes his addiction to cocaine, women, and work and how it nearly ruined his marriage. You will be encouraged by Bill's authenticity and story of God's amazing grace in his life. Be sure to subscribe to the Post Game with Paul Golden podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.www.Vickirosenyc.comwww.moodypublishers.com/every-reason-to-leave/www.PaulGolden.org

Lance Berkman played 15 seasons in the major leagues (1999-2013), where he was named to six All-Star Games and won a World Series in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was recently hired as the head baseball coach at Houston Baptist University. Today, we talk to Lance about his new role as a baseball coach, why he decided to say yes to Houston Baptist, the role he has as a dad, and why his faith in Jesus remains the central focus of his life.  Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.

Cardinals series preview vs. Chicago Cubs

Jimbo & Saban speak at SEC meetings, new CFB playoff format, Braves making mistakes, Matt Ryan about to set an NFL record no one wants, touchdown celebration involves smoking a joint, odds of SEC teams winning the Natty, Tommy Pham on Will Smithing Joc Pederson, real female swimmer takes issue with trans cheater, Madden 2023 cover. Come for Braves make a move, stay for Cubs player has freak injury with exercise band & Lane Kiffin the Voice of Reason?! Mississippi Braves manager in best tirade of all-time, Lance Berkman's Twinkie fetish, & bring me the head of Billy the Marlin. petedavis.buzzsprout.com 

Lance Berkman played 15 seasons in the major leagues, where he was named to six All-Star Games and won a World Series in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was recently hired as the head baseball coach at Houston Baptist University. He and Scott Linebrink have been friends for a long time and they both share a heart for missions and living an intentional life for Christ. In this episode of "Get in the Game," they talk about what it looks like to live out their faith authentically in the world of sports with a heart of service for others. "Get in the Game" is part of the Sports Spectrum Podcast Network. If you enjoyed this conversation, we know you'll enjoy these as well: — Jaime Garcia – Former Professional Baseball Player — Sean Casey – Former MLB Player — Adam Wainwright – St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher

Lance Berkman played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers where he compiled a .293 lifetime batting average which included 366 home runs, 422 doubles, 30 triples, 1,234 RBIs and 1,146 runs, He is a six-time All-Star and a World Series champion as well as a winner of the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award with the Cardinals in 2011.He currently is the head coach of the Houston Baptist Huskies baseball team. Tune in each week on streaming on the 365sportscast.com network or on www.sportstalknylive.com as well as facebook live at 11 am Sundays for the live broadcast, also on the 365sportscast iPhone, Android and Alexa apps

Andy Pettitte is considered one of the great Yankee pitchers of all time and is our special guest on today's episode. The 3-time All-Star, 5-time World Series champion is a beloved member of the Yankees' Core Four. Andy will share how he became a follower of Jesus Christ and how his faith strengthened him during his 18 seasons in the major leagues.  He explains how he stays spiritually strong, faithful to his wife Laura and how Covid impacted his family. Andy offers insights into his Yankee teammates and gives an update on his post-baseball career (including his new role as a grandfather).  Stay tuned to the very end for a fun Hit & Run with Andy Pettitte. 

Lance Berkman shared some of his experience growing up in Texas and becoming a star player on the Houston Astros. Lance also reminisced on his Game 6 World Series at bat that helped the St. Louis Cardinals go on to win the 2011 World Series. Berkman also shared some of his experiences as the new head coach of the Houston Baptist University Huskies baseball team.

Gritman lays out the vision for the podcast and defines what it means to be a man of grit. Wayne Graham, one of the greatest college coaches of all time, sits down with Gritman to discuss finding your purpose, recognizing potential, using intuition and analytics, and knowing what to demand from his players. We discuss his baseball career, from playing for Casey Stengel to recruiting Lance Berkman and Roger Clemens. Finally, we hit on the 2003 National Championship and the circumstances surrounding his retirement.

Straight bias here from the Mayor's Office - LANCE BERKMAN SHOULD BE IN THE HALL OF FAME! And Sean makes no bones about it in this interview.   We catch up with The Big Puma who relays some of the most hysterical stories that have ever been told on the Mayor's Office!  From his legendary college coach Wayne Graham once telling him he was a coward in between games of a double-header (in a lovingly way) to God choosing Albert Pujols over him in an NLCS Championship game (not really - but you have to hear the story!).   Lance Berkman breaks down how former players are starting to reshape the way kids should learn baseball the right way.  It's another can't miss episode of The Mayor's Office.   Step inside with Sean Casey & his producer Chinch! 

In this episode, Clay speaks with Lance Berkman. Lance is a 6-time MLB All Star, World Series Champion, Comeback Player of the Year, and member of the Houston Astros Hall of Fame. Lance and Clay explore Lance's journey from start to finish, discuss sharing a laugh with the Obamas, exchange Wayne Graham stories including a humorous recounting of Coach Graham leaving Lance in tears, walk through Home Run Derbies, the 2005 NLCS, World Series, overcoming nerves, never feeling like he arrived, difficult times in NYC, the price of placing your value on success, narrowing your focus and prayer.

Ryan Page is a musician (Bad Dads) and podcaster (Beatles vs. Stones) among his fatherly and professional pursuits. (Facts: I'm a member of both that band and that podcast). We talk about sad fans in heroic moments, Ray Allen's Three, a dummy guide to Rangers' history, Pudge's coolness, clutch David Freese, watching sports with the kinds of people who say stuff like “sportsball,” whether Nelson Cruz should have caught that ball, Josh Hamilton's story, hating Lance Berkman, loving Albert Pujols, Nolan's blank face, nerd GMs, RIP Charlies Watts, holy moly Bill Wyman. The pitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEEOZpdp9bo Justin: https://twitter.com/routinelayup Email ideas: andthepitchpodcast@gmail.com Ryan: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0awNvVnOhhUxmtEaiBkVLm?si=wZ-rthp6R6CyHenjvts7RQ&dl_branch=1 Walk-up music: Can You Hear Me Knocking, by the Rolling Stones --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Holy-what-a-show-Batman! Devin and Blake go beyond deep on an array of topics, including NCAA baseball, heavy favorites, team splits, music, and more on this nearly two-hour show! You canNOT miss this.SUBSCRIBE and RATE on iTunes by clicking anywhere in this line!Hoop Ball is partnering with the great folks at Manscaped.com once again! It's Lawnmower 3.0 season... use promo code "HOOPBALL20" to get 20% off your order and FREE shipping!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

June 1, Topics: H-town college baseball, Lance Berkman; Todd Whitting; Texas Longhorns' football; H-town college football schedules; unruly fan behavior; and more...

Eric and Brett look at Jake Odorizzi getting Lance Berkman's number and his admiration of Zack Greinke. What are the Rangers doing, allowing 100% capacity for opening day and the two exhibition games, then will lower capacity from there. What are the Astros doing with their fans? We also discussed Forrest Whitley's upcoming surgery and Pedro Baez's positive Covid test. Then, we discussed the notion of having Carlos Correa leadoff over Myles Straw.Locked On Astros, the daily podcast about the Houston Astros, hosted by Eric Huysman and Brett Chancey, is part of the Locked On Podcast Network.Be sure to subscribe to Locked On Astros in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and come back every weekday morning and spend your morning commute listening to the latest Astros news and notes. Thanks for listening, and tell your friends!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use the promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you'll get 20% off your next order.Belching BeaverLocked on Astros has made an offseason acquisition, we decided to tender a contract with Belching Beaver Brewery. The Brewery was created from a desire to make great beer and have Dam good times. http://Belchingbeaver.comBetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eric and Brett discuss the first round of the talks between MLB and the players association as they try to reach an agreement to play baseball in 2020. While the focus in the first meeting surrounded safety of the players, the status of the season will depend on the money issue that will be a sticking point. Astros bullpen catcher, Javier Bracamonte, who has been with the Astros for 20 years, recalls the moments before the Astros won the World Series to trying to catch Roy Oswalt. He also tells how Richard Hildago helped him got the job and how he became friends with Lance Berkman.Locked On Astros, the daily podcast about the Houston Astros, hosted by Eric Huysman and Brett Chancey, is part of the Locked On Podcast Network.Be sure to subscribe to Locked On Astros in Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and come back every weekday morning and spend your morning commute listening to the latest Astros news and notes. Thanks for listening, and tell your friends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Segment 1 - Astros win 11-4 behind three homers (Diaz, Correa, Springer) 28-15, only 10 loses since the 2-5 startSpringer hits an inside the park homer, first since Lance Berkman in 2002 on the road, has scored 10 times in 15 at-batsAstros are streaking, won 10 in a row earlier in season, have won seven in a row, have won 10 of their last 11 games.Set a franchise record for homers, 33 in 12 games, via Chandler RomeLooking at top offense in baseballAledmys Diaz is filling Jose Altuve's shoesWas the Diaz trade better than re-signing Marwin Gonzalez?Segment 2Wade Miley wasn't as sharpCollin McHugh is finding his grove in the bullpen, his slider was the best since his first few starts. Framber Valdez is becoming a valuable bullpen pieceTigers optioned Ryan Carpenter after the gameTyler White 0-5, .230/ .333/ .284Jeff Luhnow on the Sean Salisbury show on Yordan Alvarez and Tyler White Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brice Paterik and Morgan Price talk about the Rangers 2-1 loss against the Astros and Adrian Sampson's excellent effort on the mound. They quickly pivot to The Athletic's anonymous player survey about which players are the best, funniest, and which managers they'd like to play for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brian talks with former Major League Baseball player and Peak Performer Eric Byrnes, the day before they both compete in IronMan Arizona. Byrnes recently came out with a Documentary on his journey from a Major League field, to 8 IronMan competitions as well as The Western States 100. Watch Eric's Diamond To The Rough Documentary Follow Byrnes on Twitter @byrnes22 Follow Byrnes on Instagram ebyrnes22   You will learn about... What drove Byrne's to professional baseball and a career in sports broadcasting Byrnes' unique path to professional baseball Byrnes' thoughts on the Mental Game and exactly what it means to him The similarities of playing in a Major League Baseball game and competing in an IronMan Byrnes' thoughts on success and what it is to him   PODCAST TRANSCRIPTION Byrnes: It's not about the reward. The reward is a process. Once you understand that the reward, the money, the belt buckles, the metals, everything comes easier. Cain: Welcome to another edition of the Brian Cain Peak Performance Podcast. Today our guest, Eric Byrnes, was one of the most electrifying players of his time in Major League Baseball. His all out all the time approach made him a fan favorite and a player whose hustle, drive, effort, and energy was emulated by high school and college players and programs all over the country. A 2013 inductee to the UCLA Hall of Fame, Byrnes always brings the juice. [Bring the juice!] Cain: Whether it's playing in the outfield for the Diamondbacks, A's, Orioles, Rockies, or Mariners, working as an analyst for Major League Baseball Network, or in his endurance race career having completed eight Iron Man triathlons - it will be his ninth in two days from now - and the Western States 100 Mile Mountain Race. Be on the lookout for a documentary about his journey into the world of extreme races called From the Diamond to the Rough which follows him through the Western States 100. You can learn more about Eric at www.Byrnes22.com and on Twitter at @Byrnes22. Please welcome to the Peak Performance Podcast Eric Byrnes. Eric, thanks for joining us man. Byrnes: I need some more Brian Cain in my life. Can I get that intro every morning when I wake up out of bed and just get ready to charge? Cain: We'll create that as an alarm that you can play. Right now mine pops up and says “where is the beef jerky” as a tribute to Jocko Willard. But we can get that to pop up and play for you. Eric, if you would, give us kind of your journey from St. Francis High School in northern California to where you are today now. Byrnes: Well it's pretty simple. Basically I grew up in Portola Valley which is a small town in northern California which is I'd say probably more known for a lot of the pioneers of the silicon valley either grew up there or at least settled there in the Portola Valley Woodside area. So baseball or even sports in general wasn't very popular. But I had this dream and vision of (when I was a kid) doing two things. One of them was playing professional sports and the other one was talking about professional sports. I used to sit around with my buddies and we would just debate whatever - football, baseball, basketball, tennis, this and that, whatever it was we were so passionate about it and we just let it eat. We fed off of sports talk radio. That was something to us. KNBR 680, the sports leader, was it for us. To make a long story longer here I ended up going to St. Francis which was kind of a leap of faith for me because kids from my area there weren't a lot that went to St. Francis which was  known back then as the premier sports school really in the Bay Area. They had De La Salle across the bay. You had Serra which was where Barry Bonds went, Jim Fregosi, Lynn Swann, Tom Brady. And then Bellarmine was also a good one. But St. Francis arguably was the best of the best when it kind of came to all around sports. So I ended up going there and playing football my freshman year. At the time - think about this, you're a freshman in high school. I don't even think I had gone through puberty yet. I'm just trying to kind of make my way. I'm in a school with I think there was one other kid from my grade school that went there. All these other guys played Pop Warner, they were all friends and whatnot. It was really kind of a lonely place and I was just kind of trying to find my way. Athletically I have never seen anything like it in my life. Everybody were good athletes. So after football season it was time to make a decision whether or not I was going to play basketball. I realized that if I have any chance of being good here for the first time in my life I'm like I need to focus, narrow my focus a little bit. The decision I made (because basketball ran well into baseball season) was hey look I'm not going to play hoops - which my claim to fame (and still is today) probably my greatest athletic feat was scoring 56 points in an eighth grade basketball game. Not kidding you. I worked with Tom Tolbert at KNBR 680 who played in the NBA for like 7-8 years. I always would give Tolbert crap because he had never scored 56 in a game. But anyway I ended up going. I went to the tryouts. Think about this. I told this story at St. Francis the other night when I went back and showed the documentary Diamond to the Rough. There were 50 kids - 50 - going out for a baseball team for 15 spots. Think about that. Cain: This is a freshman. Byrnes: This is high school freshman baseball. There are 50 kids. You know what our tryouts were? Play catch for five minutes. When you get them playing catch we're going to take half of you and we're going to put you in the outfield. You are going to catch I think it was maybe 1-2 fly balls, then we are going to put you in the infield, maybe it was 4-5 grounders, and that was it. Backed up with a pitching machine that was spitting balls out in every which direction and you get five swings. Then after that it was like okay. I went in the outfield. I think I clanked one of the balls I was supposed to catch. I go in the infield, beat at a ball or two. I was just so nervous. Then I get to take a couple swings off the pitching machine, foul a c couple off, swing and miss, pop a ball up, pop another one up. “Alright Eric thanks for coming to and we'll see you, the results will be posted tomorrow in the gym.” So I went to the gym the next day and I just knew I didn't make it. There is no way. How could I have possibly made the team? I told my mom. I said “look I'm almost positive that I'm going to get cut from this team, I can't take this, I want to go to Woodside High School, I'm transferring.” It was just too much for me. It was too overwhelming. The competition was too good and the opportunity was too scarce. A lot of life is having opportunity and if you don't have the opportunity to prove yourself … So I went through the next day and posted on the outside gym wall was all the names of the guys that made it. So I'm looking kind of huddled around. I'm looking from a distance. It's like “Ryan, Brendan, Bryan, Matt,” all the way down to the bottom. Fifteen names. “Chris” was the last name. No “Eric.” I said “it's cool, I prepared myself for this, I'm going to Woodside High School no problem.” But guess what? I'm going to look at every one of these 15 guys and I'm going to mark them and I'm going to go out and prove that there is not one of these guys that was a better baseball player than I am. I went back to look at the names, scan the names, make sure exactly who the guys were. I get to the last name and it was “Chris Byrnes.” B-y-r-n-e-s. I'm like “Chris Byrnes? No way there is another Byrnes here, this doesn't make any sense.” Did he screw up the first name? Did he screw up the last name? What is going on? So I went sprinting after the freshman baseball coach as he was walking away and I'm like “Coach Ferrera, Coach Ferrera!” He turns around and goes “what can I do for you, Chris?” I go “nothing I'll see you at practice.” That was it. That was all I needed to know. I went from thinking I was getting cut from the freshman baseball team and having to transfer schools to obviously making the team. Cain: 0:08:01 felt standard. Byrnes: And my career kind of took off from there. Cain: Wow. How about that. So you go from making it as Chris Byrnes and seeing the freshman team then you end up getting drafted out of high school - so you obviously had a good career at St. Francis - and then made the decision to not sign pro with the L.A. Dodgers but go on to UCLA. A lot of players that are listening to this or parents or coaches that are listening to this there is always that debate of if you're a high school kid do you sign and go and start your pro baseball career and get those extra three years of minor league baseball under your belt or do you go to college? Depending on who you talk to you are going to get a different answer - sometimes it's a dollar figure amount, other times it's a life experience amount, an education reason. Why did you choose to go to UCLA instead of signing pro baseball straight out of St. Francis High School? Byrnes: I think it's pretty simple. First of all for people listening to this - and I imagine that a lot of the people that are actually listening are young guys that are trying to find a way. I can't tell you how important the mental side of baseball is and what that did for me. I just think that my parents instilled in me at a very young age what the most important thing in the world was family first and then education. I knew I had a dream of wanting to play professional sports but I also knew that there was going to be a time and place for it. My belief in myself and my confidence in myself - this was sort of where the mental game kind of really comes in is that you've got to be willing to walk. You've got to have this ultimate belief in yourself that this is not going to be - when I was a 38th round draft pick out of high school, a 38th round draft pick? I should have been a first round draft pick. Then I got drafted again in the fourth round by the Houston Astros after my junior year where a lot of people would sign. I met with the scouting director of the Houston Astros at the time and he had come back to Cape Cod to watch me play for a week. After the week he was like “hey Eric I'd like to take you to breakfast” and we're trying to negotiate a contract. The average of the round back then was like $150,000. So they had made an original offer of $90,000 which is nowhere even near the average of the round. Their excuse was that they had given too much of the money to Lance Berkman who they had drafted in the first round. Great choice and great guy to give a lot of money to, right? But apparently it affected their second, third, and fourth round draft picks. Ironically none of us ended up signing. Here was my thing. It wasn't about the money. I knew that $90,000 - and then you pay taxes on a bonus which is like $45,000. Even if it was $150,000 and you told me I'm going to walk away with $75,000 I'll go blow $75,000 in a weekend. That wasn't going to change my life. I understood that. I knew that. What I wanted was an organization that believed in me, that said “hey Eric look we're going to give you every opportunity to succeed.” That is what I needed. Sure enough I went to breakfast and it was the scouting director and one other guy. They sat there and they said “hey here is the deal, we gave all our money to Berkman, we've been watching you play for a week now, we think you're a circus act in the outfield, you pull the baseball way too much, you can't hit the ball the other way, you're fast but you run funny and really awkward, so here is our $90,000 offer take it or leave it at this point but it goes off the table tomorrow.” I'm like wow. Cain: That is what they said? Byrnes: I said “so hold on let me get this straight, you guys are telling me that you are going to basically offer me way less than the average of the round and then on top of that--” I said “hold on guys this isn't about the money so what do you want me to do?” I said “you want me to sign with an organization that already doesn't believe in me for the minimal value of the round and I'm going to start with my back against the wall knowing your guys' feelings about my game.” Where in the manual of being a scouting director when you're trying to sign a player does it say “let's go ridicule him and demean him and then monetarily show him we don't have any support for him either” and think that that person would sign? “You guys can go fuck yourself.” I got up and walked out. That was it. That was the last time I ever spoke to the Houston Astros. Cain: So you go back to UCLA for your senior year and then go on and get drafted and make your way up to the big leagues. Talk a little bit about that mental game or that belief that you had in yourself. Let me slow down here I'm all jacked up. What is the mental game to you, Eric? What is the mental game of baseball? Byrnes: Confidence. Belief in yourself. It kind of goes back to the story that I just told. I don't respond the way I did without the confidence and without the belief in myself. Even going back to my freshman year I don't go back freshman year of high school and having that “I'll walk, I'll transfer schools, I need an opportunity, I need to play, I am going to be a professional baseball player.” I didn't tell a lot of people. I told my mom. That was it. I kept it really low. I wasn't parading around with a megaphone to all my friends. But when I was 13 years old my dad used to throw me in batting practice all the time. He knew nothing about baseball. Absolutely zero. He was a fourth degree black belt in kenpo karate. He'd take me out and we'd go to the town center of Portola Valley and just throw BP days and days and days. Just all day. Eventually when I was 13 I was like there is only so much BP he can throw me. My parents are like “hey we got you a” - they thought they were all clever but they were like “we got you a birthday present, his name is Mike.” I'm like “what do you mean his name is Mike?” “We got you a new friend for your birthday, Mike.” I'm like “what?” Iron Mike. Cain: Oh yeah. Byrnes: So down below where we lived, our house the way it was situated was kind of up on a hill, and then down below in part of the property you couldn't really see was a batting cage with an Iron Mike machine. When I was 13 years old I cranked that thing up to 90 miles per hour, throwing as fast as it could throw. At first I had a tough time - foul balls off, foul balls off, foul balls off - and eventually *poof* I was ranking it, right? Bam, bam, bam, bam, bam! Well guess what? When I got to face - I was a sophomore in high school. I had just got called up to varsity. I didn't start with varsity when I was a sophomore. I got called up to varsity to face Dan Serafini. Dan Serafini was a first round pick out of Serra. He threw 92 miles per hour from the left side. A nasty little sink. There were 50 scouts in the stands, maybe more. I went there to face him. Everyone else 0:15:53 sample for right? Cain: Yeah. Byrnes: And I'm like no problem *whap whap whap* three bullets off of Dan Serafini. Barely anyone else was touching him. It's repetition. It is a skill that was developed through hard work. Even during football season - I played football through high school but even during football season before school in the morning I'd still bang 50 balls before I went to school. I got home at night, the sun is going down, dark, whatever, I'd put on a few lights we'd put up in the cage, boom, just 50 more. Didn't overdo it. I just loved to hit. Well guess what? Guess what that created? Confidence. So when I got there against Dan Serafini as a sophomore in high school still not sure if I - I'm barely going through puberty at this point and I'm hitting bullets off of 92 mile per hour fastballs when no one else is touching him. Now you've got 50 scouts in the stands going “huh who is this kid?” I think people need to remember when it comes to the mental game confidence is created and developed through work. It's like a test. Imagine studying for a test - and you know those tests. I went into several where I wasn't prepared for the test and what sort of confidence did I have going into that test? So long as I did my work and I studied for that test and I was ready for that test I was confident. My mental game was exactly where it needed to be. It's the same thing with the process of going up and playing in the big leagues. People go “are you nervous?” Yeah of course you are going to be nervous. This is natural nerves. But guess what? Were you scared? Not one bit. I prepared myself for that day. I prepared myself. Cain: So you've got eight Iron Mans. You're doing your ninth here in two days. What is the prep? Is it the same thing with going in and doing an endurance race whether it's the 100 mile race or an Iron Man where you've done the preparation, you've done the training with run, bike, swim? Is it the same thing with the preparation in terms of you having done the work to go prepare for an Iron Man triathlon? Byrnes: Exact same thing. It's not any different. There is no natural transition from playing professional baseball to going into the endurance world. Physically there is very little translation between the two. But psychologically very similar because it's all about doing the work and doing the work that gives you confidence to go out there and have your best race on that given day. That's it. It's as simple as that. That is what drives me I think in the training. Part of it is that fear of knowing that that test is there. That test is coming up. It's what eventually got me going in school is I knew that in order to go to college I was going to have to do the work to do well on my test to get me into a good school and it all kind of became part of the plan. Ironically as I got older I became a much better student than I ever was at a younger age. Cain: Talk about being a student for a second. One of the things you mentioned earlier off the air was how there was a time in your life where you just kind of were devouring books and you had a group of guys where you would go through Heads-Up Baseball and then talk about that. Talk a little bit about the importance of leaders being readers and for the people that are following this what are some of the best books that you like to read. Byrnes: Wow. Yeah. One of the first books I really dove into and read probably 50 times over through the course of my entire baseball career was The Mental Game of Baseball by Karl Kuehl and Harvey Dorfman. Karl ended up being a mentor of mine when I played with the Oakland A's and then even after. He was with the Indians at the time and I was with the Arizona Diamondbacks but we would have a weekly call that we had scheduled. We would schedule it at different times on different weeks but man it was so incredibly beneficial having that somebody there to sort of balance some ideas. It's funny because sometimes when I was rolling we wouldn't even talk about baseball. I sort of let him dictate the conversations. But ironically I had - well I wouldn't say ironically. There was no coincidence that I had my two greatest years in the big leagues when I was checking in with Karl on a weekly basis. Unfortunately at the end of 2008 I think was when he got sick and he ended up passing away. It hit hard and it hit fast and I still miss him dearly to this day but the lessons that he taught me in my life and my career are just invaluable. The other one was Heads-Up Baseball by Ken Ravizza is another one that I dove into with Scott Seal - a buddy of mine. We were roommates at UCLA and then he ended up transferring to Fullerton and he played there. We got into pro ball at the same time. During the offseason we just trained together, lived together. We'd go through books specific to baseball. We would read the hitting books be it Charlie Lau's book or Ted Williams' book. It was funny because the one thing I think that I always did a good job at was digesting the language that spoke to me because not everything is going to speak to you so you have to be able to throw out a lot of what you hear in this game but digest the key things. So since then as far as books I don't know where to start. But one of the latest ones that I would recommend everybody read - and you'll have to read it multiple times. The great thing about books now too - because of all the training that I do I go just about all audiobooks. But Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay Self Reliance is something that I could dig into every single day. The overall message of making decisions on your own and not necessarily conforming to the societal norms - it's also not saying be an anarchist but it's an incredible message. So much to take in. I think the parallels - and it was written however long ago but these parallels are incredible and it's amazing how relevant it still is. The Scholar was the latest one that I read of his. I can't get enough of Emerson. It's amazing to me how relevant Emerson and his writings still are to this day. Cain: I just started reading a book about stoicism and it goes back to Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus and these guys who were writing back in Ancient Greece. The book is called The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday. It's awesome. It's a one page a day read. Very short. Talking about stoic we think of stoic as somebody who is not emotional, somebody who is just kind of there. Their idea of stoicism is somebody who is so in control of themselves that they never let their emotions get the best of them, that they have the self control, that they quickly identify what they can control, what they can't control, and they only focus their time and energy and attention on things they can control - which is a lot of what I have learned through Heads-Up Baseball and Ravizza but I didn't realize it goes all the way back to the freaking Greeks. It's written in a language that you can tell it's ancient times but Ryan Holiday does a great job of translating that to making sense for what you're doing today. It's pretty cool. Byrnes: I'll check it out. Cain: Ryan Holiday. It's The Daily Stoic. Other pieces of the mental game. You talked about the confidence that comes from preparation. What about routines? What are some of the routines that you had to help you go one pitch at a time, Eric? Byrnes: I was very routine oriented. Before preparing for a game I had my whole routine of stretching that I would do. We're talking (let's say) 35 minutes before the game where it was the stretching to the sprints to jumping over the laundry basket in the club house. I did not go outside to sprint I think hardly ever in my big league career because what happened is as you start playing and you're seeing all your peers there it's what you see today - which is I don't know if it's BS or not. It depends what side of the fence you're on when it comes to fraternization but you see a bunch of guys playing grab ass out in the outfield. Well look I was there to play baseball and prepare myself for a game. I don't need to catch up with this guy and see how the family is doing and everything else. And the guy on the other team. I wasn't interested in that. So I felt like that was always a distraction to me so I would actually do my sprints underneath, in the tunnel, in the batting cage so long as it was available. I would jump over laundry baskets too and I had a whole routine of doing that. Then I would hit off the tee and it would just be five balls the other way, pull five balls, finish with five balls up the middle. And then I'd throw too so I'd just grab some balls in the cage and I'd throw 10-15 balls whenever I felt like. Then I'd make sure I'd finish about five minutes before the game so I still had that *breath* alright physically I know I'm ready. Mentally let's get here and let's do it. Cain: Awesome. Mental imagery. Anything you used at all in terms of visualizing yourself playing well? Maybe it was something you'd do at night before you'd go to bed or during the day when you're at the stadium kind of visualizing yourself taking at bats off the guy who is going to be pitching you that day? Byrnes: All the time. Every single day. That was another part of my routine that I would do. I would do it after the tee work. I would mentally have a vision of that pitcher that we were going to face that day and I would start with fastball. I'd go fast ball away ball, fast ball away strike, boom. So I'd imagine fastball away, just taking it. Nice soft hit ball. Fastball away strike. Bam. Shooting it the other way. Fastball middle, down or up, we're at ball. Okay fast ball right there. Boom. I'd just imagine low line drives. Fast ball in ball, fast ball in. Boom. Drop the hit. Homer. Same thing. Curve ball down on a wide ball, curve ball outside corner, boom, base hit right field. Curveball middle down in the dirt. Good take. Next one. Curve ball middle. Boom. Base hit out the middle. Curve ball inside. Take it. Curve ball inside. Homer. Same thing with the change up. I would do that every single day. It started - here is another book I would recommend. I'm trying to think. It was I want to say The Mental Game of Tennis but that's not right. Cain: The Inner Game of Tennis. Byrnes: Inner Game of Tennis. The Inner Game of Tennis is one of the first mental books I read. When I was a kid I was a big time tennis player. You want to talk about you think baseball players have - like that tennis game especially at a young age and you're on that island by yourself, that's heavy. So through The Inner Game of Tennis I learned the points of the visualizations. So I would play the match the night before. I would go sit in this chair in our living room. My mom would always help me with it. She was like “okay just go ahead and visualize your match.” Well I was playing against these ridiculously good tennis players. There were like - geez - Michael Jessup, Cory Guy, Misha Palecek, Ryan Walters. All four of these dudes went on. Palecek, Walters, and Jessup were like 1, 2, 3 at Stanford. Cory Guy was the number one player at Santa Barbara. All of them went on to play professional tennis in some capacity. These are a lot of the guys that - I was competing against these dudes. Cain: Yeah. Byrnes: It was just super heavy and we did a lot traveling or whatever but that is where I learned the mental side. Then I slowly transitioned that. I'm like “okay if I can envision playing these matches why can't I envision what the game is going to look like tomorrow in baseball, what my at bats are going to look like?” So I started doing that. I truly believe that is where my baseball career really took off in a sense is when I was about 12 in All Stars and going through that mental imagery of doing it. Again when you stand at the box - what did I say? What is the mental game? That game is confidence and belief. But what gives you confidence and belief is that fact that you have done the work. Well guess what? When I got in the box I had already been there. I had already done it. I'm comfortable. I had seen it. Cain: Did you do the same thing when you were getting ready to run an Iron Man? Do you see yourself crossing the finish line already and all that? I know that you have already done eight but when you go back to doing your first one was it the same process seeing yourself crossing the finish line and all that? Byrnes: I did it yesterday sitting in the float tank. A float tank is this tank filled with whatever. Now I like putting myself in positions - when I can find that quiet time I went through the whole race, went through the beginning, what is it going to be like jumping in. I don't care how many you do. The best never stop preparing. It's not like - if I didn't have a little anxiousness and a little fear - that is normal. You want that. That is why I do these. If I lose that it's not going to have the same luster. Am I more comfortable because I have eight under my belt? Of course I am. Of course I am. But I also still know that in order to get my best result I need to go out there and run through this. What is it going to be like? There is going to be a lot of contact in the swim. Imagine and visualize and even feel for every stroke I'm going to come down and I might get hit. Or what is happening when the guy is grabbing on my legs behind me? Am I going to kick him off or am I going to relax? I went through it. Then getting on the bike and visualizing the transition. What exactly do I need when I get out of the water? When I actually get out of the water I am going to unzip the top of my wetsuit. I am going to take my watch off. I like to keep it clean. If you pull everything over the watch and the thing is stopping and everything - boom, watch off, wetsuit top off, but I'm going to keep everything on waist down. They have wetsuit strippers there that actually will take the whole thing off but I want to keep mine on because I‘m going to have some little booties. I'm going to get a good run to grab my transition bag, get in the transition where I'll have my helmet, short little socks and my bike shoes ready to go. But guess what? I'll have a towel laid out too. I'll have a towel in there so I can take the booties off without getting grass all over my feet so when I put on my socks there is not going to be grass sitting there for the next nine hours or whatever it's going to be. All of that is prepared for. All of that is thought of. The bike computer is going to be on the bike. There is just so much. The nutrition, making sure the nutrition in the bottles are lined up. You need to be very meticulous about that. Then I visualize the bike. Ideally in the first loop of the bike that we have tomorrow I want to control my effort. I've had a tendency to go out guns blazing and then progressively each lap get slower. It usually happens anyway but I'm going to try to ride as consistently as possible through the entire 112 miles which then I believe will allow me to have my best run and ideally my best run I've ever had in an Iron Man. So it should be fun. Cain: Yeah. Sounds like you're - and I haven't viewed your documentary From the Diamond to the Rough which is unbelievable and anybody listening to this has got to check that out. From the Diamond to the Rough. If you'd let them know where they can get that that would be great. In that you talked a lot about the joy is in the process. What does that mean? Byrnes: So the reward. We like the reward don't we? The reward is one of the reasons why we do what we do in any industry. It's your payday. It's making your money. In the endurance world it's a medal at the end of an Iron Man. It's a belt buckle at the end of the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. That is the reward. For my kids they love it. It's the trophy. They're out there and they're playing. It's a trophy. So when we're kids I don't think - we know the reward is there and we think we're chasing the reward. When you're in baseball and you're playing baseball and you think you're chasing the money and everything and then I got to endurance sports and it was like I thought I was chasing the medal and the fact that I could say “oh I've done eight Iron Mans” and everything else. I think it really hit me when I did the Western States 100 that it's not about the reward. The reward is the process. I think that once you understand that the reward, the money, the belt buckles, the medals, everything comes easier. But that is simply a result of you fully embracing the process. So going forward here, man, I just did an article yesterday. I talked to Susan Slusser from the San Francisco Chronicle. They're going to do a big story about Diamond to the Rough and it's interesting because when I was explaining that to her - and every time I explain it as I explained it to you today it rings so true yet I think sometimes through the course of your life you don't get it and you don't understand it. But guess what? It hasn't changed. It hasn't changed since you were nine years old and you're running around a little league field or you're running around a soccer field or anything else. We thought we were chasing the trophy but we weren't chasing the trophy. The absolute reason why we do it is because of the exhilarating emotional feelings that we get from being out there, being out on the racecourse, being out on the baseball field. That is what life is about. That is living. That's it. Cain: When you cross the finish line of those Iron Mans or of the Western States 100 you carry a jersey of a former Arizona State football player, Pat Tillman. Could you talk a little bit about your relationship with Pat and then why you carry that jersey, why that is so important to you? Byrnes: Well Pat played for - he went to Leland High School in San Jose at the same time I went to St. Francis. We would watch him (I'm not kidding you) and we would just gawk. From his junior year. Junior year, senior year. It was just like is this guy for real? He was an undersized dude that just - I mean he was blowing dudes up on defense/ He was given the football and was just running around guys, he was running over guys. It was like how often is it that you get a group of high school kids in this totally uncomfortable state in your life, all this testosterone and macho bravado and everything else, where you could get a group of high school kids that were playing on the best high school football team in the area. We'd look at a guy on this other team and go “that dude is the baddest dude I have ever seen.” He had blond locks flowing out of his helmet. So basically what happened is I think the first time we met was we saw him at a Leland/St. Francis volleyball game. A buddy of ours - we were scared to go up to him. We were like “dude that's Tillman over there, that's Tillman over there.” So a buddy of ours by the name of Zach Wahls was like “I've got to go, I've got to do it” and he went up, walked across the gym, he was like “hey Pat I'm Zach Wahls I go to St. Francis, football player, I just wanted to meet you and say how much we respect you” and this and that. That was pretty cool to see because just like 4-5 years later Zach Wahls was the sixth round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals after going to Dartmouth and playing for four years and Pat Tillman was the seventh round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals after going to ASU and playing for four years. Then they roomed together with the Cardinals here. Cain: How about that. Byrnes: In 1998 when I first signed with the A's and I'd come and like - man I'd do anything to hang with the - I'm low level minor leagues. I'm the bottom barrel structurally and I'm hanging around some NFLers with Pat and Zach. My time actually getting to know Pat was very limited. I spent very little time with him hanging out with him. The times that I did you could tell there was something just special about him. Then he ended up obviously after 9/11 deciding to walk from football and join the Army Rangers. From there I wanted to do the same thing. I was just like everybody else that was emotionally moved by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We wanted to fight. Pat did an interview. He was like “what have I done, my great grandfather fought in World War I, my grandfather fought in World War II, my dad fought in Vietnam,” he was just going through it. He was like “what the hell have I done.” [Tillman: My great grandfather was at Pearl Harbor and a lot of my family has given up - has gone to fight in wars, and I really haven't done a damn thing as far as laying myself on the line like that and so I have a great deal of respect for those that have and what the flag stands for.] Byrnes: You could tell. This was the day after 9/11 when he did this interview. I had the same feeling. I always had these visions. Mike Seal who happens to be in the condo right now staying with me, him and I have always talked about being Navy SEALS. That was always our fascination. But guess what? Here I was after 9/11 just busting into the big leagues. Was I willing to give it all up to go to Afghanistan and fight for our country? I wasn't. I didn't have the balls to do it. You know what? Pat did. It's a shame of how it ended because it didn't have to. The whole thing with the friendly fire and the cover up and everything else was disgusting but in no way does it diminish the sacrifice that he was willing to make for the sake of your ass and mine. A couple years ago - a couple years, 10 years ago now in 2006 when I was with the Diamondbacks I got a call from Richard Tillman, Pat's youngest brother, and he knew I had always talked well about Pat, pumped Pat up, and he knew how close Zach and I were and he invited me out to the statue unveiling out at the new stadium in Glendale. There was a group of only about 50 family members and friends for the statue unveiling and I was fortunate enough to be there and watch it and really got close with the family - Marie his widow, Kevin his brother who he went to Afghanistan with who also was an Army Ranger, Richard, and a couple of his best friends, this guy Ben Hill and Dallas Carwood who were running the foundation at the time. I basically at that point knew that I was all in with doing whatever I could do to make sure that the next generation of kids knew exactly who Pat Tillman was and the sacrifice that he made. It's not to diminish sacrifices of other people and other 18 year old kids that are signing up around the country to go serve our country but there is something to say when you don't have to go and you're at the height of your NFL career and you have a multimillion dollar offer on the table and you walk. That was something special and I just want to continue to celebrate that and celebrate the foundation which has gone on to do some really good things with education and providing scholarships for military members and their families and basically grooming these people to be game changers in society - which is exactly what Pat was. Cain: That's awesome. I had the privilege to run the Pat Tillman race one time at Arizona State. For people that are listening to this it's a short 5k race but there are probably 25,000-30,000 people that show up a Arizona State Sun Devils Stadium for that race they do every year. If you're looking for something to get you going and something to remind you that we live in the greatest country in the world show up for that race. It's unbelievable. Walk it or do it but it's something that you've got to do. If you're listening to this podcast go online right now and Google “Pat Tillman Race Arizona State University,” find out when it is, and go smash it. Go do it because you are going to get a lot out of that experience and that opportunity. Eric, last question for you here. I really appreciate your time today. It's been fantastic. One of the most fun podcasts we have ever done. 40 years old, eight Iron Mans in, Major League Baseball career, been an analyst, you've got a book that you've written that is going to be coming out that I can't wait to read - it's going to be off the charts. You've got a documentary. You're married. You've got children. How do you define success for you right now? In baseball it's easy. It's a statistical thing. Everybody can determine if you have success based off of numbers. How do you define success in your life right now? Byrnes: A successful person - and I feel like I'm having success. I'd say I'm winning (I'm not sure that that's the right word) when I'm able to embrace the moment. We don't live in the moment today. It's very difficult sometimes and we're so consumed with social media and we want everything quick and we want everything fast and it's the Millennial generation. And I get it. I live this fast paced life. I have a lot of things going on. But you mentioned I have three kids. I have a 5, 6, and 7 year old. I'm married. I do everything I can to be a good father, good husband. And then I have a job that is 3,000 miles away. So I live in California at Half Moon Bay about 20 miles south of San Francisco but I have a place in New York City and MLB networks is in Secaucus, New Jersey right across the river about 15 minutes away. My life is constantly in flux. We have a place in Tahoe as well. We're about to go up too after this and spend just about all the winter there. You mentioned the documentary. That has been a lot and dealing with that and going through the editing process and everything else. Not to mention the training that goes into the Iron Man races and the 100 mile run. What I've learned through all of it is that you can only be in one place at one time. So if we are sitting here and doing the podcast I need to be here. I can't worry about these 15 other things going on. I've noticed that I have the most success in my life when I am able to bring it to the now and I think that is what matters is to embrace the moment. It's as simple as that. As simple as that. Cain: Awesome. Eric Byrnes, you are off the podcast hot seat my friend. Fantastic. Again you can get more Eric Byrnes at www.Byrnes22.com and on Twitter at @Byrnes22. Eric, thank you for your time. You were off the charts. Thank you. Byrnes: Thanks dude. One last thing for the film. The documentary. Cain: Yes. Byrnes: This is not a monetary play for me. I'm not doing this to make money off this thing. There is a special message in there that is very family oriented. One of the things that Susan Slusser when she was doing the article yesterday she was like “I just was amazed by the doc, I just figured it was going to be this athlete vanity piece and it's anything but that.” If there is one thing that I would recommend to people it's go to www.Vimeo.com/OnDemand/DiamondToTheRough. Watch this documentary. I think it hits so many different people on so many different levels that the only thing I care about on this is I want eyeballs to see it. Again this is not a monetary play thing. This isn't an ego thing or anything else. There is a message within that documentary I think that will resonate with a lot of people and it could help change somebody's life. Cain: What is the message, Eric, that you want people to get from the documentary? Byrnes: It's about the process. It's not about the reward. It's about embracing everything that is important in your life that helps you enjoy that process. It's about family. It's about giving your kids every opportunity to succeed. It's about setting an example for your children and influencing them and not force-feeding them anything but allowing them to make their own decisions. But guess what? You have a 100% responsibility to set that example for them, lead them to the right direction, and let them find their own path. One of the main ones is you'll always need to have an idea of what is next and find what is next and find your happiness, find your zone, find something that is going to motivate you each and every single day. I think really the last one is do something physical that will help. When you get out and do something physical - it doesn't have to be a 100 mile run. Not even close. I don't care if it's walking around the block twice. Get outside. Clear your mind. Clear your head. As a kid that grew up with severe ADHD I can tell you even now with all the information that is coming - I've got a buddy of mine that scans brain tissue. He could show me a brain of an ADD kid without exercise indoors and it looks like a tiny little penny. Imagine 20 minutes of moderate exercise after being outside that ADD kid's brain is lit up like a freaking giant pancake. We're not any different. Some people are more extreme. Maybe people with ADD are more extreme in what that can do for you. This is something that - the idea and thoughts that people are cancelling PE is disgusting to me. The lack of physical activity amongst our youth is disturbing. But again the overall message is enjoy the process and embrace the moment. Cain: I thought it was awesome that you're - the career transition piece too. Byrnes: It's big. Cain: As a pro athlete it's all of a sudden you're - the quote the guy says in there which I think is beautiful, he says “you're a dragon slayer and now there are no dragons to go slay.” Whether you are an athlete, whether you are a - if you are in the military - 0:52:08 did the same thing that when his Navy SEAL days came to a close that there were some dark times. He had to find out what is next - like the shirt that you are wearing in the documentary. For him it was taking a dry erase marker and writing down his goals on his bathroom mirror so he could see them. He said that is kind of what got him going away was seeing something, having a vision, having a tangible past and I'm going to go and attack. Whether it's preparing for a game, preparing for a seminar, preparing to go to combat, or preparing to wake up and make your kids breakfast what is your task for the day that you're going to sign your name with excellence on and go out there and keep moving forward? Having worked in athletics there are a lot of guys that when that career ends there are some dark times because everything you've always done - hitting a ball, running, diving, making a catch - that doesn't necessarily translate to what you're going to do now for the rest of your life to be successful. However who you became and who you needed to become to be successful as an athlete, that same process, that same mindset, that same drive, that same attention to detail will help you if you take that with you into what you do. Byrnes: Right. Cain: So it's trying to figure out how do you help guys to channel that. Byrnes: That's awesome dude. Thanks Brian. Cain: Awesome Eric. I appreciate you. Byrnes: That was outstanding. Thanks again.