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Clayton Kershaw Joins the 3,000‑Strikeout Club: What It Tells Us About Excellence and Endurance
On a warm summer night at Dodger Stadium, July 2, 2025, Clayton Kershaw carved his name into yet another corner of baseball history. With a perfectly spotted slider that froze White Sox infielder Vinny Capra for a called third strike, Kershaw became the 20th pitcher in Major League Baseball history to record 3,000 career strikeouts.
John Gafford
Aug 1313 min read


What Every High School Player Gets Wrong About College Baseball
One of the biggest myths high school players carry into college is that the game will eventually “slow down” once they get comfortable. They think if they train harder, study more, or get enough at-bats, the chaos will settle and the pace will mellow.
It won’t.
John Gafford
Aug 1111 min read


The Nonlinear Player: Part 3 — Building a Flexible System Without Losing Standards
So systems respond with uniformity. Everyone trains the same. Everyone gets the same message. Deviate from the path, and you’re labeled, benched, or filtered out.
That approach feels strong — until the game actually starts. Then the variance hits. Growth loops. Roles shift. Belief rises and falls. Players surge, stall, and struggle — just like they always have.
John Gafford
Aug 811 min read


The Nonlinear Player: Part 2 — Supporting the Stalled, Surging, and Struggling
One of the hardest things for coaches to diagnose is the difference between a stall and a slump — or worse, a true regression. All three can look the same on the surface: mediocre performance, lack of adjustment, and static body language. But how a program reads that phase often determines how the player survives it.
John Gafford
Aug 612 min read


The Nonlinear Player: Part 1 — Understanding the Development Curve
Watch enough players grow — across high school, college, or pro ball — and a pattern becomes clear: real development doesn’t follow a straight line. It loops. It spirals. It crawls, reverses, and accelerates. Sometimes, it even disappears for a while, only to return with more power, more confidence, and a sharper edge than ever before.
John Gafford
Aug 415 min read


How the Best Organizations Coach Communication, Not Just Mechanics
Ask any coach at the professional level to break down a swing or a delivery, and you’ll get a detailed answer — probably with timestamps, frame counts, and biomechanical terminology. Ask the same coach what phrase they used to help the player actually make the change, and the answer often takes longer.
John Gafford
Aug 111 min read


Teaching Swing Decisions: How to Build Hitters Who Know When to Say No
The message is repeated at every level. It’s well-intentioned. It’s not wrong. But it’s also not instruction.
Because here’s the problem: while everyone in baseball talks about swing decisions, almost no one actually teaches them.
They’re discussed the way hustle and leadership used to be — as if they’re either there or they’re not.
John Gafford
Jul 3012 min read


Developing a Hitter in 2025: Balancing Bat Speed, Swing Decisions, and Tech Overload
hy the best hitting coaches today are part scientist, part translator, and part traffic cop. Walk into a modern hitting facility in 2025 — college, pro, or even some high schools — and it doesn’t look much like a batting cage anymore. It looks like a lab. There’s a hitter in the box. He’s wearing a sensor on his bat, sometimes on his body. His swings are tracked in real time by multiple radar units and high-speed cameras
John Gafford
Jul 2816 min read


The Modern Bullpen: How Teams Are Reinventing Relief Pitching in the Analytics Era
Why dominant relievers aren’t what they used to be — and why that’s by design. The Death of the Traditional Closer In 2024, only four MLB...
John Gafford
Jul 2517 min read


9 Proven Ways to Develop and Foster a Growth Mindset in Athletes
Understanding the Growth Mindset in Baseball A growth mindset—the belief that abilities can be developed through hard work and...
John Gafford
Jul 247 min read


How Can Baseball Coaches Effectively Resolve Conflicts Among Players and Coaches
Conflict resolution is an essential skill for baseball coaches, as conflicts among players, coaches, or even within the coaching staff itsel
John Gafford
Apr 22, 20242 min read


How Well Do You Know Pop Culture in Baseball? Take This Quiz to Find Out!
We are going to do something a little different today. Instead of quick hits over a specific topic in baseball
John Gafford
Apr 15, 20241 min read


The Artistry of George Brett's Swing: A Masterclass in Technique and Philosophy at the Plate
In the pantheon of baseball legends, few names evoke the same reverence and admiration as George Brett.
John Gafford
Apr 11, 20243 min read


Inside the Pitching Lab: Deciphering the Art and Science of Pitching
Pitching in baseball is often described as a blend of art and science.
John Gafford
Apr 10, 20243 min read


Key Physical Indicators for Throwing a 90 MPH Fastball: What to Look For
Several physical indicators can correlate with a pitcher's ability to throw a fastball at or above 90 miles per hour (MPH). While these indi
John Gafford
Apr 8, 20242 min read


What Baseball Coaches Can Learn from Football Coaches: Key Takeaways for Success
Baseball coaches can draw valuable insights from their counterparts in football, despite the sports' differences. Here are some key takeaway
John Gafford
Apr 4, 202413 min read


How to Establish Core Values for Your Baseball Program
Establishing core values is essential for creating a strong foundation and fostering a positive culture within a baseball program.
John Gafford
Apr 3, 20242 min read


Maximizing Mental Toughness: 3 Key Strategies for Pitching Success
Becoming an elite pitcher in baseball requires not only physical prowess but also mental fortitude.
John Gafford
Apr 2, 20243 min read


Enhancing Performance: How Baseball Facilities Utilize Force Plates to Improve Players
In the ever-evolving landscape of professional sports, baseball facilities are continually seeking innovative methods to enhance player
John Gafford
Apr 1, 20242 min read


Unforgettable: The Top 5 Opening Day Performances in MLB History
Opening Day in Major League Baseball is a time-honored tradition, marking the beginning of a new season filled with hope, excitement,
John Gafford
Mar 28, 20248 min read
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