In this episode of the Mindset U Playbook, Curtis Pelletier reconnects with Tanner Swanson, the director of catching for the New York Yankees. They discuss Tanner's journey through coaching, starting from his time at the University of Washington to his current role with the Yankees. Tanner shares insights on the evolution of catching techniques, emphasizing the importance of adapting to new data and analytics in player development. He reflects on the challenges of introducing innovative catching styles, particularly the knee-down stance, and how it has transformed the way catchers approach their roles in the game. Tanner also highlights the significance of mental skills in coaching, focusing on building trust and maintaining a consistent mindset among players.

Keywords

Tanner Swanson, New York Yankees, catching techniques, player development, analytics in baseball, mindset coaching, knee-down stance, baseball coaching, catcher training, mental skills

Takeaways

• "You continue to want to push and sharpen your craft."
• "I kind of wake up every day with this panic that we're missing something."
• "The act of doing and being available and saying yes to things before you maybe feel ready was a really positive thing for my journey."
• "It's hard to be stagnant in this industry; the expectations are so high."
• "You want to feel the ground; we're anchored to the ground."
• "It's about influencing, not necessarily selling concepts to players."
• "You have to know the player and how they respond to feedback."
• "The quality of hitter that we're seeing at the position right now is much different than it was five, seven, ten years ago."
• "You have to get that piece; you just lose credibility with the people you're trying to impact."
• "Focus on improving yourself rather than comparing to others."

Titles

• Revolutionizing Catching: Insights from Tanner Swanson
• The Evolution of Catching Techniques with Tanner Swanson

Sound Bites

• "It's hard to be stagnant in this industry."
• "I wake up every day with this panic."
• "I don't have many non-negotiables."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Reconnection

01:39
The Journey to the Yankees

06:34
Innovative Catching Techniques

10:19
Understanding Pitch Framing

16:44
Implementing New Techniques in Real Time

20:52
Shifting Scouting Philosophies

24:12
The Impact of the Challenge System

25:32
Understanding Umpires and Their Impact

27:04
The Mental Game: Coaching Mindsets

29:23
Building Relationships with Young Players

31:44
Adapting Techniques for Individual Players

34:04
Non-Negotiables in Catching Development

38:06
Advice for Aspiring Coaches

40:09
The Importance of Influence in Coaching