Catching Up With Christians
Catching Up With Christians
Catching Up with Christians: EP 3 - Michael Kinkenon, LVR Baseball Coach and 5th Grade Teacher
As family ties and the love for baseball converge, I had the opportunity to sit down with my new brother-in-law, Mike Kinkenon , and explore how these powerful themes shape our lives. Mike's double duty as a fifth-grade teacher and a baseball coach for the Las Vegas recruits has yielded a treasure trove of experiences, from fostering sportsmanship to inspiring young minds. Our conversation is a heartfelt journey through the shared connections and serendipitous moments that link our families, and it's peppered with stories that celebrate the competitive spirit we cherish in our favorite pastime.
Stepping into the shoes of a teacher or coach often means leaving an indelible mark on the lives we touch. This episode peels back the layers of such transitions, revealing the wisdom and responsibility required to balance passion with life's demands. Listeners will get an inside look at the life lessons Mike and I hold dear, such as the guiding principles of keeping faith and family at the forefront. These narratives intertwine, crafting a tapestry of adaptability and lifelong learning that resonates beyond the classroom or the baseball field.
The capstone of our discussion is a reflection on living an authentic Christian faith. We examine the practical ways we integrate spirituality into our hectic schedules, touching on the importance of prayer, the recognition of divine timing, and the impact of simple acts of kindness. Wrapping up our episode, I offer a prayer of gratitude and hope that resonates with anyone seeking solace or guidance in their own life's journey. Join us for an inspiring episode that's as much about personal growth as it is about the joys of teaching, coaching, and, of course, baseball.
Welcome back to another episode of catching up with Christians, and I'm your host, coach McCarty, alongside my brother-in-law actually now it hasn't been too long for that title, right, and but super happy that I can call your brother-in-law Mike and Cannon. Mike has been in my life for a long time now, but, like I said, you know it's been just recently, was officially a part of the family, which has been an amazing time, and so I'd love for you to introduce yourself, mike, and kind of what you do and how you got there.
Speaker 2:For sure I've been in your life longer than you realized. We can talk about that later. But no, yeah, mike and Cannon from Las Vegas, nevada. I've been very thankful for all the opportunities I've got. I've. Baseball has been a part of my life pretty much forever. Right now I am currently coaching the Las Vegas recruits, nine years specifically. I do private lessons and then I teach at fifth grade at Faith Lutheran Academy and Faith Lutheran has been a big part of my life, which I'm sure we'll get to a little bit later on. But thanks for having me. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely Absolutely. So you know you touched up on some great things. So first off, talk about you know how we know each other. You know we're family. Now I'll kind of you know, talk about my perspective here, quick, about. You know this is a long time ago you talked about. You've been in my life a lot longer than I realized it has been what? Eight years, or is that off?
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, we're making our approach in eight years together.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, that's awesome. So you know, I've seen Mike growing up around the ball field. You know, when he was coaching the Las Vegas recruits, my dad and I used to coach club ball and I knew the name to the face. But obviously, you know, until you know, him and my sister, you know, were in a relationship. We got to know each other. But I won't forget that first time ever May have told me that you guys, you know, were talking and it was getting serious and those things and I don't know, maybe six months to a year or whatever it was, and not too sure of the exact timeline, but you couldn't make it up. We played my dad's team, played your team and that weekend before and she told us on like a Monday, we were playing a weekend tournament and y'all beat the breaks off, yeah, 15-0. I think you had like, was it Zane? And like George.
Speaker 2:That was that group. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:They were electric man, you, I don't know who it was the left. He was on the mound, shoved and throwing gas at that age and this absolutely wrecked us and I was like cool, okay, like this guy, you know he's got a good team. But I really admired your character and the teams you know, you know their, their sportsmanship, right. I think that's a word that I don't not a big fan of, because everybody thinks like, oh gotta, everybody deserves a trophy and all that stuff. Well, that's not what I mean by sportsmanship.
Speaker 1:I just mean even though when you're beating the team by a good amount, you still hang your head high you still are you know, giving respect to the other team and especially even on the coaching side of things, right, there's some coaches, when you beat them by a lot, they aren't the most you know. Nice, after the game They'll be. Just they'll kind of look down at you, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So I definitely respected that, because you guys, the Las Vegas recruits if the listeners don't know, it's a very well-ran organization here in Las Vegas known for taking care of business on and off the field. So knowing that it's a class act organization but also a organization that is successful is a great thing. But anyway, so I remember you know that next day going into a Monday after the tournament, she's like yeah, you know I met this guy, you know he's great, all this and he actually coaches club ball. He's never heard of a team called LBR.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, we do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we do and she goes. Yeah, he actually coaches like 14 you and I'm like really we just played them last weekend she's like oh, yeah, like, if anybody knows my sister Meg, I love her to death, but sometimes she doesn't only put two to two together, you know, and so we love her.
Speaker 1:We do. We love her to death. I love Meg and she's like, oh yeah, you guys do coach 14 you. I was like yep, and they beat us. And you know, fast forward. And I was like man, you know we've seen them a long time and you know that was that was a really kind of my first, you know introduction of knowing of you and that you guys were together and that type of stuff. And then fast forward, I want to say a couple of months after that you came over for like a dinner or lunch or something.
Speaker 2:We played a little MLB. I don't know what else we would have eaten. Captain, it was a super appropriate dinner.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, and played some show. Played a little bit of the show. That's when the rivalry started.
Speaker 2:Yeah. You beat me up with the Cardinals a little bit, but I had to hold my own because all I heard was how good you were. I was like I better not mess up. And I remember walking out of your room and I was like makes, he's gonna be mad. You're like. He was like you won. I was like, yeah, I won. So that was like I think I gained your respect. Like, more off the field, I can compete with you in the show.
Speaker 1:So there we go. You're right, man. So that's kind of my perspective. How would you kind of see, on your end, maybe just kind of meeting the family, maybe meeting me, like what was that whole you know thing like?
Speaker 2:Well, you talk about like sportsmanship and stuff, and you know it is a word, and I think like one thing I've learned about your family, or our family, you know, I guess, is the approach to everything you know. We could talk specifically baseball, but it's like you know, are you respecting the game of baseball? Are you respecting you know people? Are you you?
Speaker 2:know and those are just things that we've been and still from our parents. You know how we act and you know I think you're on the same page as me is it's like now it's our job to carry that, so to inspect and sportsmanship and teaching people how to do things the right way. But yeah, I'll never. I will never forget that dinner. That wasn't the pyramid house too, it was. It was. I remember going in and I just remember. You know, I think the most, the thing I remember the most was makes face when she realized, like wait, you guys know each other. Like, oh yeah, we just we're just at the field together, but you know, again, it goes back to you know you and your dad being out there.
Speaker 2:And I think it says a lot. You know, about people that take the time that don't have kids, you know, on a team to coach, and there's nothing wrong if they do. You know, I think it's great that parents take the time to do that. You know what are that coaches have as well. But I think it says a lot when people take time when they have no real affiliation with a sport or or anything. They just do it out of the goodness of their heart, they're passionate about it and they want to try to make a difference. So I learned, you know, that that's. That's a super important thing for you. You know, look where we're at right now. You know, trying to do the same thing just through a different way.
Speaker 1:So no, that's, that's a great way to, you know, think about it and I love the way that you put that in and I definitely agree and I think that's how we bonded so early on, with the respect and the love of the game and just a lot of our morals aligned, obviously, because you know we're family, so you know, I knew that going in, you know, and which is a huge thing for me, so that's kind of to give everybody, the listeners, that's kind of the background a little bit. And they got married last year.
Speaker 2:It was a great wedding Almost a year, now Almost a year In a year, march 11. So there?
Speaker 1:you go, man. That was an incredible time. It was amazing and I got to see a bunch of you know awesome friends and family and I ended up you know I always joke around with them I said I love them so much I missed four games that season to get that that wedding. And us baseball coaches, you know, and even Mike understands like when you're sacrificing at division three level, that's 10% of your games, because we only played 40 games.
Speaker 1:But, of course I would have never missed it. But I always tell people it's like that's how much I really love these people. You know what I mean that I missed 10% of you know my career for that of that season. But I'm definitely it was an amazing time and I wouldn't have ever missed it and it was so fun and things like that.
Speaker 2:And that goes with like something you know my dad taught me growing up you know was. You know your priorities in life and I even teach my fifth graders this, I teach the kids I coach. You know, nine year olds, you know there's your priorities, like your number one is your faith, number two is your family, number three is your job. You know dad always said school for us. You know, when you're growing up, school's your priority Faith, family, school, and then baseball Yep, no, or your hobby, whatever else it is you do.
Speaker 2:And it's like I'm a really big believer, you know, especially as I've grown up, like when those things get out of order it makes life hard and it makes you know whatever you're doing tougher and it makes it not necessarily worth it. And so you know that's a great example of doing those things. And I, you know, sometimes, yeah, it means you have to make hard decisions, but I truly believe, like if you, if you stick to that faith, family, your job, in baseball you make your decisions in that order and, like you'll be, you'll be set. You know, as tough as it might be your, I don't I don't think you can look back and question whether or not you made, you know the right decisions, and that's that's something that I've. I've done my whole life, you know, ever since my dad taught me that.
Speaker 1:That's, that's incredible and that's a great way to look at it. And I think sometimes it can be tough. You know, as a human or someone who's got a lot of things going on, you know you try to you. As you get older and become an adult, you realize you can't do everything. Yeah, you can't. You can't.
Speaker 1:You have to prioritize things in life, like you know. It's like someone who loves to help. You know, for me it's like I love helping so many people, but it's like I can only fit so much in my basket, right. And then when you've got to prioritize things and and that's a great way to put it, and it's so much of what, what my dad taught us to right, it's just kind of, you know, like you said, prioritizing things that matter in your life and attacking those 110% of your effort, right, like not, you know, doing 50% of your capabilities. Give everything you can. Yeah, and that's why you know you've been able to be successful and that's why you know you're being able to be where you are. So let's talk a little bit about your, your career. As far as your teaching, real quick, you know, faith, lutheran is a faith based school, correct, and that that's pretty cool in itself, but you teach elementary, you know, that's a lot better than I could dance.
Speaker 2:Yeah, talk a little bit about that. So. So, teaching wise, yeah. And once I finished playing, I decided to stay up in Portland and my coach, lewis and Clark, tom Flynn, he reached out and was like, king, can you come meet with me? And you know, anytime you call to the coach's office, you know whether you have a great relationship with him or not, which I did. And you know, coach was in my wedding and he called me in and he was like you know, what are your plans after graduation? And you know, I had no clue, I had zero clue. And he was like, well, would you ever consider coaching?
Speaker 2:And you know, and I had, I had some time in my four years where I was still able to kind of I don't want to say be a player coach, but I was hurt, I missed quite a bit of time. My junior year I tore a ligament at my wrist, I missed, I think I missed almost 30 games, but you know, pretty early in the season, and so I couldn't do anything. And so, you know, I kind of was able to take a backseat, you know, as a player, and be in that kind of help model, you know, with the players and you know, especially catchers. You know, we had an underclassman that was going to get quite a bit more time, and so I enjoyed it, you know. And then I had always kind of dabbled in it and so I was like, oh yeah, like that would be pretty cool.
Speaker 2:He's like would you want to coach here, coach with me? And I was like, absolutely, I loved, I loved being at Lewis and Clark. You know, portland's a great city. It was a good place to be. And so I got into coaching college for a year, graduated and I quickly learned like this is awesome, you know this is something I love to do Summertime recruiting trips.
Speaker 2:I love that, you know. Recruiting trip I got to. I got to meet a lot of cool coaches and just get so much information from people. You know there's so much information out there and it was something that took me a while to understand. Like, as a coach, you have to be able to take in information and be okay with not knowing and and and then adapting. You know how can I convey that? And so learned a lot, met a lot of really good people, you know coaching.
Speaker 2:And then the season kind of you know, then we get back for on campus for the fall and then recruiting kicked up and you know, to me that was and I think you know, a big point in my life was I realized like I'm I'm not as passionate about the recruiting aspect as as I have thought I would be. And you know, season went around and it was, it was good. You know I enjoyed the baseball side of things. And then there's the recruiting side. There's a business side of things in terms of managing, you know, schedules, helping players yeah, flights have all the schedules, and so that was, that was a lot for me, you know, coming out of college and trying to figure out what I wanted to do and and even how to do it no-transcript and it was really tough and it was really really hard for me.
Speaker 2:And I remember Christmas time was kind of when I was, I was struggling and then I was like, you know, season will be good. So then we go through the season and we were getting ready to ramp up for recruiting again and I was just like I didn't love it. You know, and I know, especially with baseball or even sports, there's, you know, there's a chain of command and there's you got to pay your time, they pay your dues. And then I I respect that, I believe in it, I understand it, I get it, but it wasn't something I could see myself doing. And so, you know, I talked with coach and you know he, he was bummed, I was going to leave, but he totally understood and I decided to move back home and um still had no clue what I was going to do and I just wanted to be home.
Speaker 2:You know, being born and raised here, I love it here in Vegas. And so led to me going out and I went and played slow pitch softball there you go. Yeah, this is yeah. So I played slow pitch softball and I ran into my buddy, dave Anderson. Yeah, I had coach at faith Lutheran and, uh, dave was my coach in the summer when he was in college and I was still playing summer ball going into my senior year. So we had a great relationship and known Dave for a long, long time and so he was like, hey, have you ever thought of you know, getting into coaching? And I was like, yeah, you know, kind of told him what I told you and he was like, well, would you want to come out and just help out with the catchers, just whenever you're feeling like it? Okay, you know.
Speaker 2:I don't have anything going on. You know I, literally we just moved home trying to figure out what path I wanted to take. So I go out and you know, one day turned into three, turned into five, turned into hey, I'll be back next week. And then it was like do you just want to coach here? Yeah, I was like yeah, and so I took. You know, I took a job just being with JV head coach at JV and then coaching all the catchers. And then after that, dave was like you ever thought of teaching? And I was like no, never did. But like absolutely the same thing.
Speaker 2:And I was that kid in high school where it's like so many people like, oh, kink, you're going to, you're going to coach baseball and you're going to teach, and like you know people like a head now that I told you so. And so I started substitute teaching, working through all the teaching stuff I needed to do, and I was set. I was like you know what I'm going to eventually? Like I'm going to coach with Dave forever. If not, he gets another job, I'll take over a faith and I'm going to. You know, I'm going to teach you faith. And you know, and that's where I went to school, sixth grade, all the way through. I'm a faith faithful. And there you go, you know, and so I was like it was, it was awesome, you know it was, it was everything I wanted.
Speaker 2:And then, um, subbing was hard because, like I was, I was picky, I'm going to be honest. I only wanted to sub at faith. I was spoiled, I knew it. I knew a lot of people there, though, right, and so they would just tell me I need a sub, I need a sub, but you know, sometimes you go a month without it Getting a sub, yeah, and so, um, so then I happened to go out to a faith football game and there was a lightning delay, and so we went across the street to the pint and just waiting it out, hanging out, grabbing some food, drinks, and I ended up seeing my old sixth grade teacher, okay, and he had just coached, uh, the, the freshman team or JV team, the day before, and so he was there, just, you know, waiting for varsity, and I was like what's up, mr Cody?
Speaker 2:And now he's the, he's the Dean at faith, okay, and but he was my sixth grade teacher, and, um, I ended up meeting his wife, and so he's like, hey, like you know, I taught you know telling her how we know each other.
Speaker 2:And it goes on to she's like oh, I understand that you're a substitute teacher, have you ever thought of subbing elementary school? And I was like, uh, yeah, you know, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like I'm like, I'm like, I'm like I'm like you know. The answer is no. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was going to teach high school and go through I didn't know what subject, but I knew I wanted to be around high school kids. And I was like no, but when you're not subbing for a while?
Speaker 1:you say yes.
Speaker 2:Say yes because I needed to, right, I needed it, yeah, and so I was like sure, I gave her my phone number. I was like, you know, reach out, I kid you, not the next week. She's like, hey, would you be interested in subbing third through fifth PE? And I was like, okay, like PE, sure we'll play golf or whatever.
Speaker 2:And I go to the Academy Faith Academy, we just called the Academy and I subbed and it was. It was chill, like I didn't think anything of it. It wasn't. You know, it was fun, it was good, yeah. And so I end up working, coaching, going, and then it turns into hey, there's an opportunity for you to sub long term.
Speaker 2:We have a uh lady that has to leave and she can't stay any longer because she was a substitute for a woman that was getting ready to they had just had a kid, I believe, or was getting ready to. So like they needed a sub for the sub. So I was, I was that low and it was like it was. It was a fourth grade and I was like sure, like how long? And if I remember correctly it was, it was three to four weeks, Like it was. It was a, it was a big chunk of time, and so I was like let's do it. And I just went in and it was tough, it was so different. Um, you know, it was something that, looking back, it was like I don't know how I did it. I mean, I learned a lot from that experience and so I remember when that finished, I was like I think I can do this.
Speaker 2:I think I can teach this age. I think I was still more comfortable with older kids, being able to work with them and and coach and teach them, and I think I was comfortable with it. And that was the thing I was comfortable. I didn't know if I was good, but I knew I was comfortable, right. And I think that's why I was not sure of myself.
Speaker 2:And so it had gotten almost to the end of that school year and this would have been seven years ago now and the principal reached out and was like hey, like, would you be interested in coming in and talking? Not, it wasn't even an interview, it was just talking. And she was like we have an opportunity for a fifth grade job that's opening up. Um, is this something you would want to do? And I was like I think so. And she was like okay, well, how about you set up a lesson for this third grade class and you're going to come in and you're going to teach a lesson and we're going to come watch you? And then, depending on how that goes you know we'll see about whether or not it's fit I'm like okay, sounds good, so go in, I teach a lesson on the Hoover dam.
Speaker 2:I'll never forget this I sucked and at this time okay, at this time Megan I were dating and we were you know, and so I remember calling her after I got in the car. I got in the car after and I just taught one lesson. It was literally like 30 minutes. It was about the dam they were doing like Nevada history. And I remember calling Meg and I was like I'm pretty sure I got fired and I didn't even have the job and it was tough, like I. Just I was so unsure maybe even insecure is the right word.
Speaker 2:We share about how I did. And so I get an email from Diana, our principal. She was like, would you be interested in coming in for an interview? I was like I must not have done that bad. I go in, have an interview. And we finished the interview. She's like, all right, like we'll give you a call and let you know. And then, like the next day, I got a phone call and we'd love to have you come teach fifth grade. And so I have been.
Speaker 2:This is my sixth year teaching fifth grade. I never, ever, ever would have thought that that was an option more. So I didn't think I'd love it as much as I do. I can't imagine myself teaching another grade, wow. And you know, and it's like I'd look back and, like I said, use that word uncomfortable. It's like you got to do uncomfortable things sometimes because you just don't know. And I mean it was the best decision I've made in teaching coaching was was saying yes to going and subbing and having that whole door open. You know I've had opportunities in the past. You know I'm no longer coaching at faith. You know just really enjoy wanting. You know, coaching the nine year olds and being around the younger kids and helping them, and you know it's time. It was just time to move on. You know nothing bad. I love that place. I mean, we're going to go to a game tomorrow actually, so, but you know it was one of the.
Speaker 2:They got the border battle this year. So but no, it was one of those things like I look back and it's like it's okay to try something different. It's okay to think you're not going to do well at it, but just try. And I mean I can't imagine going I had opportunities to to move over to the middle school, high school and really try to focus on getting in there and having an opportunity to really coach at the high school level for a long time. You know, and you know because I ended up moving my way up with Dave, you know. But I just I can't imagine teaching another grade. And then you know the fact that I'm at faith, so I didn't get to go to the elementary school, I didn't go K through five, I just went to the middle school, so six all the way through. But we are a feeder school, you know. We do a lot of stuff with the middle school, high school, partner with them on stuff. So it's cool to be involved in the faith.
Speaker 1:So that's, that's an incredible story. I think it's a testament to like God, like you, you from the story that you shared, right, it's like you also didn't put restrictions. Like you, when you felt like sure, I'm going to try this, like you just went ahead and did it. Like, even though there were some of that like maybe insecurity or doubt, like oh, I don't know if I'm quite ready for it, but it didn't stop you from trying it. Like you still went, you know, head to the wall, like just let's try it and I think that's pretty, you know, inspiring for people that are listening. Like, even if you're in a season of not knowing or an uncomfortable season, if you feel like something's on your heart to just try it, there's no harm in that right, there's no harm in like giving it a shot because you don't know where God is going to take that like yeah from.
Speaker 1:The way I take that story is like Mike went in with no real expectation and said, sure, let me try this, and now just found a calling in a way that you really love what you're doing. And to the point, now you're coaching younger guys because I'm sure you know it's even more fun. You know now that you're, you know you have the connection with the fifth grade age and now you're doing you know that stuff with the younger kids in baseball. I think that's it's powerful to show. One, it didn't sound like you ever put limitations on what God could do for you. And then two, you know you're patient. You were able to go through this uncomfortable season and be like all right, let's see what you got going on, and that's pretty powerful.
Speaker 2:You know the turning point I think I don't even know if I can say my life, because that makes me feel really old, but was was when I was in Portland. I remember, around Christmas time, being in my room. You know I had a roommate, I had a few roommates, we had a house. You know great, great people and I remember being around Christmas and I was just looking back you probably could say depressed, like like I, be being honest, looking back, I was not happy.
Speaker 2:That was a time in my life when I truly, truly can say like I don't think I've ever prayed more in my life than when I was. I was just bumped, I don't know, you know. I just remember being like God, I need, I need something, I need to do something. I don't know what I'm doing, I don't know what I'm going to do, but I knew I was unhappy, I knew it wasn't the right place, you know, and it wasn't anything anyone had done. It was just it wasn't what I felt like I was supposed to do with my life.
Speaker 2:And you know, I think the hardest part for people, you know, to figure out what they want to do and how they can do it and how you can you know, be successful is is going through those things that suck, you know, because we have a misconception. I feel like, as people, it's like our lives are supposed to be a certain way. There's a path that we want to go on and you have to follow that path, whether it's been laid out for you in your mind, by your family, whatever, or what you want to do.
Speaker 2:And it's like I got news for you guys. You don't get to make that path, that's not something that you get to do, and the quicker you can accept that, then the better. I truly think the better the blessings that there are, or even the opportunities you know, because, yeah, you're going to, you're going to do things that suck, you're going to go through things that are not fun, but, like, you have to just understand what it's not our job to understand and it's not our job to plan those things.
Speaker 2:You know you have to be patient and you have to just trust it's going to happen.
Speaker 2:You know, it's going to happen when God wants it to happen. You know, in my class we talk a lot. You know, I have the privilege to teach religion. It's my favorite part of the day. I get off on tangents like this and the kids are like oh, mr K, we got to go, we got time for PE. You know, but it's like you got to understand when you, when you pray, right, like it's such a big part. You know, everyone thinks that you got to do it a certain way. This, that is the other, it's, it's just like this yeah, yeah, just talking to God, that's it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like, you know, one really hard thing for kids, you know, and going off a little tangent, but it's hard for them to understand. Like, when you pray for something, it doesn't mean it's going to happen, it doesn't mean you're going to get what you want, you know. I tell him God is not a genie. You don't get to ask him for things and he's going to give them to you. Yep, you know, dear God, can I please get an A on this test? Well, just because you didn't study? Probably not Right, you know. And it's hard for them to understand that you know. But I tell him God answers every prayer, every single prayer. It might not be in the time you want, it might not be what you want, but he will answer it. Amen.
Speaker 2:And I think people need to understand that for everyday stuff, you know, because we all have our own things we're going through, you know. But if you can just take a step back and really just like, hey, I can't really do anything with my situation other than try my hardest and trust that God has a plan, it'll work out. And I think everybody can honestly take a second and like, think of something like that we're at psych. I could come up with tons of things. You know that you just don't expect them, but God knows when it's right for you, and you know you just that's what faith is right. That's literally the definition, and you know, and that's what's so hard for people to buy into and to understand. But when you do, you know it could change your life and then I think that that's why I'm here where I am. You know, I'm so thankful for everything I have. You know, and I think it's because you have to just know God has a plan and it's on his time.
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 2:You try to put it on your terms.
Speaker 1:Fortunately, you're going to lose that battle forever, a hundred times, a hundred times You're losing that one.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes.
Speaker 1:One thousand percent, and that was some amazing words of wisdom. And. But I think the two biggest takeaways is God will answer those prayers, and and it's just. And the second thing is is it just may not. It may not look like the way you wanted to or in the timeframe that you want to, but it does not mean that he, you know, didn't answer those prayers.
Speaker 1:And now then I've really been big on in this season and I put a little video out about this guy's like a little tangent here, short one, but basically your current season is a past prayer, and I've said this a lot recently and what I mean by that is you can find something in your current season of life.
Speaker 1:It's something that God answered in the past. Like you know, whether it's a job, whether it's a family member thing you could have prayed a year ago about it, or it could be something you prayed about yesterday, but you're probably experiencing something in this current season of your life that you've prayed for in the past. I think it's a great reminder to you know, seek and and also remind yourself of the you know gratitude, right to be appreciative in this moment, because God is faithful and he has answered prayers then and he will again and I think just remind ourselves to look into our current season and really look at it and nitpick and be like man. I see him. He's been faithful here because I know I prayed about that nine months ago or a year ago and, yeah, you waited nine months or a year, but it was answered. It happened.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I know in my own life like there's been some amazing things that's happened recently that has just been answered, prayers that just kind of remind me that he's still moving.
Speaker 1:So to anybody listening, like Mike said, you know it might not be your time, you know it might not be the way you want it, but he's still answering prayers and we really just my biggest recommendation is just remind people to just remember your current season is a past prayer. There's something going on your current season that I'm sure you prayed for in the past and it's, mind you, that God is faithful. So I know we talked about this a little offline. You talk a little bit about how faith is such a big place for you Faith, the school and your faith and what I mean by that is you've had, you know, I'm sure, opportunities. It's really easy to go to CCSD or those types of things, right, but one of the big reasons we talked about is that you love being able to be open and about the faith and be able to teach religion and those types of things. So how does your faith and your, you know, belief in God and Jesus affect, you know, maybe, your teaching style and also your coaching style?
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I think I think kind of both in one coaching and teaching. I think it's. You know, the way I act is just I try to tell people. Like you know, being a Christian is tough, okay, and it's not easy in terms of what people think of you or the decisions that you make. You know you don't have to be in everyone's face about God. I think that your reflection of Jesus Christ so what I tell kids right, like you know we have we wear uniforms say faith loose in an academy. You know, on their chest, I'm like when you guys go out in public, you know if you're disrespecting your mom and dad, at the grocery store or whatever, people are going to see your logo and they're going to be like, hmm, those kids at faith life, that's how they act, and I was like, more so though, they're gonna be like that's how Christian acts, and so I think it's really important and it goes back to what I was taught.
Speaker 2:You know, faith, family, job, baseball, everything you do you can put in a way that would be pleasing to God, how you carry yourself, how you interact with people, how you deal with challenges. You know there is so many things, especially today, I would say people are down to complain about, there's so many things. But you know what, like, we have an opportunity. And this is where I feel this is why I love being at faith is because I had so many great teachers and coaches through my time at faith that truly shaped me to be who I am. You know, I want to be able to be that person for someone else and you know learning through faith, because you know a little backstory.
Speaker 2:I went to faith. Well, I had three, three middle schools that I was going to go to and then faith was the one that I really wanted to go to and somehow I got in and my mom grew up in Utah. She was raised Mormon and my father moved all over the place, pretty much stage, you know, was most of his life here in Las Vegas, but he was raised Catholic. Okay, there was me. So I kind of was just like I know, I'm just here and I got a Bible the first day of faith. I didn't know. I didn't know what a book of the Bible was. I didn't know what the numbers meant. I didn't know any of that. Yeah, and it wasn't. It wasn't a thing of like my parents didn't want me to they just they wanted me to figure out what I was.
Speaker 2:You know what I believe in my own, and so, anyways, looking back, you know I don't feel like I was like. You know, I need to be this way. I don't feel like that's how I was. I need to be a Christian, I need to do this. This is how I need to act. I think it was just the people I was surrounded by and how they acted. There's one common theme and there's Jesus Christ, their savior you know, and it's like, wow, that's, that's all it takes.
Speaker 2:You know, I don't need to go crazy, I don't need to hold a big thing out in front of the stadiums and yell, and all you know. It's like that little simple thing of you know, action speak louder than words. It's like I don't think I could come up with a more perfect example of seeing how that you know that seven years at faith couldn't have helped make me who I am, more so than it did. You know, it's easy to be a Christian when you're on faith faith campus, right, there's religion, there's chapel, there's Bible's all over the place, there's crosses. It's easy, right. And then you go out into the real world. Okay, right, you're not just gonna be like, all right, let me look in the Bible for what I need to do. Right here, it's it's hey, I learned all these things. I learned how Jesus responded to these. I learned you know what God expects you to do. And it's like, okay, that's that's what I need to do. I mean, I'll never forget my first, my first English class in Portland Oregon. Okay, that's all we need to know.
Speaker 2:Right in Portland Oregon, they had as part of our required text was the Bible, and I remember sitting there like how, how is that gonna happen? Like I mean a liberal arts college and we're gonna read the Bible. And I remember going in and, I kid you not, this kid was wearing a black, everything was black, he had all black and he had an upside down cross on his shirt and I remember just being like, wow, this, this might be the most interesting class of all time. And it was. It was just eye opening to me because I'm like I'm not, I'm not on, I'm not a faith anymore.
Speaker 2:Right, that stuff exists out in the real world. And and again, it's not like I was like I need to. You know, put on my Christian suit and be a Christian is just like. No, like I was raised from my parents that let me make those choices, and they supported it and they sent me to a school that had Christ at the center of everything they did. And so you know, to answer your question, I feel like I don't sit and think about it. It's just kind of who I have become as a person more so you know, and it's like it, I'm not perfect.
Speaker 2:I slip up with things, you know it happens, yeah, but just knowing like, okay, I know my priorities in life. I know I have, you know, christ at the center of my heart. I might not sit and speak to everybody about it all the time, no, and it doesn't have to always be. You know, you see somebody that's struggling. Ask him for help. You know you see someone that's struggling to walk up to the door. Hold it a little bit longer.
Speaker 2:You know, and see, doing those little things I truly feel like can, can be the spark that somebody might need. You know, if I'm wearing my faith shirt and people see me, or I have my badge on or whatever, you know it's not like teaching. When I'm like right, like now I'm home, I can just be Mike. You know you're Christian either all the time or none of the time. You know you don't get a pick and choose, and I think that's what people struggle with sometimes.
Speaker 2:And you know again, you don't have to be in your face about it, you don't have to sit and yes, there is a time for that, you know there is a time when people maybe need to hear that, I would say I'm not the best at doing that, I just am like. You know what this is, who I am, this is how I grew up, this is what I was taught and and try to be a reflection of that in my everyday life. You know so.
Speaker 1:I love that answer. In so many different ways it resonates a lot with me. I have similar approaches with a lot of those things you know. I really believe that actions do speak louder words and I just you know, I it's, you know in the Bible just talks about you know how not to judge either right and we don't know other people's walks of life and, and it can be equally as valuable to just you know, show people you know, by our actions and it just being like, hey, you need to repent, which to everybody that goes and does those things, I, I, if God's calling you to do that, I, you know, I commend you for doing that. Like that is awesome.
Speaker 1:I couldn't do that, yeah like yeah, if that's what God's put on your heart, like good for you, and I'm thinking what you're doing, the Lord's work, and that's amazing. And I think everybody I know for me, sometimes like I would wrestle with, like am I doing enough? Like am I you know, because I'm not going around people be like hey, you need to. You know you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. And if I wasn't doing that every day and you know I would, there was a season in my life where I felt convicted, like, oh, am I doing enough? But then God gave me this piece that, like by like I've been doing lately, like by creating these videos and by creating this podcast and just by helping out at my church, and just by doing that you're doing what you're being called to do, like you don't have to be one of those people that, like I said, have other Collins. And so, to all the people that are early on in the faith, or maybe no matter where you're at in your faith is, just realize that whatever God's calling you to do, like it looks different for everybody and if you're here and it's not smaller, it's what he's called you to do, and so I think that's something that's really important for everybody to listen and do that.
Speaker 1:If you're the one that's supposed to go clashing people for the Bible, then that's what you're called to do. And there one that's just supposed to be a bagger at the grocery store that wears a Christian shirt, but people don't know up. But you're the biggest Christian out there and you might not even say a word. You might be so introverted that you don't talk, but people can still see Jesus through you because you know you got that shirt on or whatever. So I think that's really important. Let's talk a little bit about life can get hectic sometimes. A lot of things going on your coach, you're married, you graduated, you just bought a new house Amazing, a lot of these different things going on. How, what are some practices maybe in your life that help you keep Jesus at the center? Or maybe your relationship as well as you know your personal life, like yourself and coaching, how do you keep it all together with Jesus at the center?
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know I not to keep copping out, but I just I really focus on you know faith, family and and my job in baseball. I think it's important, no matter how much you have going on, to figure out what works for me you know, at the end of the day, it's okay.
Speaker 2:If you're not, you know the person. That's being okay. I gotta make sure I do this, you know, in terms of Christianity, or I'm in big trouble this week, right, like you know. I'll tell you this I start and end every single day with prayer. Every single night, I say the same prayer in my head. I don't sit and get on my knees and pray and all that, you know, it's just in my head to say thank you, god, for another day and thank you for all the blessings that you've given me and I love you and that's it.
Speaker 2:And I think for me that that you know, there's times, you know, today is a rare day when I get to come home straight from work and just kind of relax. And it's nice, you know, to be able to just chill. But, like, I love the days where it's like yesterday, you know, we're at work by 7am, teach till 3.30, and then I go straight to the cages till eight, nine o'clock, sometimes, do in practice, and it's like that prayer at the end of the day, especially at the end of the day, is, you know, to me that's like, hey, I'm really blessed and today was a great day and I know that I am in a position where it's like I've been able to speak my mind about what I felt today. You know and that's just my general one Sometimes, you know, there's like, oh, today kind of sucks, like what's up, man, you know. So that's a big one.
Speaker 2:You know, I think for me, in terms of how you know me and Meg work, you know it's hard sometimes. I'm not gonna lie, I am not perfect and I do not go to church every single Sunday, especially when we've got a 8am game and a tournament weekend. It makes it really really tough and it's okay, right? Like I try to tell people like that's okay. You know, it's not something that you should get in the habit of doing, right? No, I could take 10 minutes. I'm gonna sleep, I'm gonna go to the later service.
Speaker 2:You know, I'm not saying that. You know we make it a point to try to get to church when we don't have those things, or even just watch online. Like honestly, there's no excuse to not have some type of service. You know, I'm very fortunate that we get to do chapel at school every single Wednesday, and you know, so fifth graders lead chapel and so actually right now this trimester, my class leads chapel every single Wednesday, so yeah, so I'm pretty involved with that every day. So it's like you know, not trying to shortcut anything on my okay, at least that was a chapel, right, and I love chapel and it doesn't seem like a burden, you know.
Speaker 2:I love being able to go, but you know, a big one, for me too. Like I know everybody's got one of these. There's more than enough apps. I get a Bible verse every day. Yep, it pops up. I wake up usually between four and five every day, oh, my goodness. Rise and grind, man get so much.
Speaker 2:Four and eight, oh my goodness. Yeah, every day between four and five, but then, you know, but I have so much stuff going on after school, it's like I need to get things done in the morning, you know. So you get Bible verses on my phone every morning, just one, it's just a symbol. You look at the Bible app super easy, you can set what time it comes, and that's just a constant thing. And it's like, again, those aren't giant things, you know.
Speaker 2:No, I don't volunteer at our church. We go to the crossing. It's super laid back. Their theme, I love it, is come as you are. That's literally on the side of the building from every single angle. You know, and it's like that's what works for us, and I think that's such a big thing for people is it's like find what works for you.
Speaker 2:You know, maybe you can't go to church, maybe your job doesn't allow you to go to church. Okay, watch it online, have a Bible app. I mean those are things that there's never an excuse, yep, and it doesn't have to be a certain way. There are, you know. That is what is so amazing about Christianity, and I mean you can do it however you want, as long as you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. He died on the cross and rose again. You're good, you know. Now that doesn't mean you can act a fool. I teach that to the fifth graders. Right, we talk about forgiveness and grace. Right, you know you don't get a flick your sister in the ear and then be like sorry, god, and then you know and have them forget no, because then again it goes back to you're not reflecting Christ in your actions, you know, and so, anyways, you know it's just finding what works for you. And you know it is pretty cool that you know Megan and I do get to go to school together and be at a Christian school and be able to have those conversations. I feel like I have been in a position over the last 10 years no, maybe not 10, probably just since Megan and I have been together, even with just my family of like they go to church when we go and ask questions and trying to teach my niece and nephew about stuff. You know they don't go to faith. Hopefully Kaylee goes next year, that's, she applied to get in and you know they want her to have a Christian education, and so it's like being able to share those experiences and answer questions. And you know, just, christmas, explain. You know how that. You know what that stuff is, and you know Kaylee's like oh, is it bad about? You know, talk about Santa, no, but don't lose sight of what it's about.
Speaker 2:So you know, just being able again to have everything I try to do be a reflection of what I believe. You know, because I feel like there's a I don't I don't know how to say this like I feel like one of the reasons people get so turned away by Christianity or any religion honestly anything is when people are hypocritical about it. You know, do we all mess up? Yeah, do we all do dumb stuff at some point in our life? Yeah, do we all. You know you could make a laundry list of the things that we mess up on, but it's okay. And it's okay in the sense that I mean you're not going to be the perfect person with whatever it is you decide to do, but as long as you can accept that you're trying to do the right thing and you know, it's okay.
Speaker 2:You know, like, just don't lose sight of what you're supposed to be doing, don't lose sight of what the main focus is. You know, yeah, do you know? Do I? And I don't know. I'm trying to think of a good example. It's like, do I say a bad word every now and then, yeah, you know I do, I'm not going to lie, I'm not perfect, you know. It's okay, though I don't make it a habit. I try not to, you know, try to be better.
Speaker 2:But I feel like people are like, oh well, you know it's hypocritical, like I said with the church thing, like, yeah, I work at a Christian school and, yes, I try to go to church, I do. Do I go every weekend? No, I'm going to be honest, right, but it shouldn't turn people away because it can't do what society thinks you have to do. You know, no, I don't sit and read the Bible every single day. If you do, great, that's not something that I do. And so I think it's just people being able to understand like it doesn't take a lot to be a good Christian, to be a good person. It doesn't, you know, have Christ at the center of what you do. Try your best. There you go, you know. So it's kind of like I try to live my life, so I love.
Speaker 1:You know a lot of things from that and I think a couple of the biggest things is one, like you said, there's no excuse to not being able to see God anymore. Now, with resources like your phone, having the Bible app to anybody listening Bible app, you version of Bible app is incredible. Use it all the time. They have amazing devotionals. It's anything you know. They do Bible verses every day. They do regular devotionals. You can watch. A lot of churches now have their services online. Like you said, the crossing central church, a lot of really great churches around life church or elevation church.
Speaker 2:I know our whole faith community, faith community Lurston church. They stream all their services. They have Saturday night and Sunday.
Speaker 1:Exactly. I mean the resources are out there and you know, I think you know I call it a faith journey. Right, it's called a faith journey. And I think people are, you know, at different phases of their lives and journey. And I'm personally in a season of my life where I'm being called to take my faith to the next level, and I don't think everybody's necessarily called to take it to the next level or at that point yet in their lives. But for me it's like I'm at that point where I am spending time every day in the word. I am doing praise and worship, I am getting heavily involved in my church because that's what I'm feeling led to do. And feeling led, but that's okay if you're not there yet and or that's not exactly where God has you, but I think, praying just to ask God what is your will for my life, and I think that's what you've done on early on in your life or earlier, right, because now you're teaching and you feel that peace and God's made that clear. That's where you're meant to be.
Speaker 1:Then you know you're in God's will for your life, it sounds, but for all the people maybe that aren't there yet, it's not that he's saying he's, you know, doesn't do? You know all the other things that other Christians does or whatever it's? He's, you know, living the God's will for his life and he is doing things with his school right that as chapel, and he's still able to, you know, watch. You know church online. He's still raised the Bible app. You know he prays, you know, every day. Those things, like he said, are enough and I think that, like he said, sometimes we spend a little bit too much time as Christians or followers of anything to judging and being hypocrites of other things and so. But to all the people that are judges, I get it.
Speaker 1:I was listening to someone say like this like if you truly believe the word as much as you say you do, then I can understand. Like, if you and I get this, because this is where I'm at too I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe that you have to accept Him as the Lord and Savior to go to heaven. And when you have loved ones that aren't there yet, or you have people in your life that you're around that haven't, like that's a scary thing and I think that's a difficult thing for me to swallow, right so I can understand where people are. Like there's people around me that aren't there yet. So I want to go tell them the good news because I want to see them in heaven. I want to see them, you know, not have to bear the sins of the world, because Jesus already did that for us. So I definitely see that side of it. So to all the listeners that you know, I think it's a controversial topic, in my opinion.
Speaker 2:I just only want to know what it's like talking about money.
Speaker 1:It is Well it is, it is. But at the end of the day, two things I want to follow up with here was last thing, or last two things would be you know, the cool thing of baseball wise. I'm gonna shift back into baseball a little bit. We connected early on baseball wise because we're both catching guys, right, you know, you put you caught in college growing up and my brother, Grant, older than me, caught growing up, so I instantly plumbed on to catching and we really bonded over that as well.
Speaker 1:You know, I know Meg growing up, every person she loved was a catcher. I mean, she was the biggest, like Jared Saltzulamaki a fan, she was the biggest. She loves Barrett Tech. Yeah, yes, Barrett Tech. She loves all those guys you know growing up. And so you know, I think that's really fascinating. So talk a little bit about catching now, because I have a lot of listeners probably that are catching guys, because that's my family, my paternity. So you know, let's talk a little bit about developing a youth catcher real quick. What are some big takeaways? That, if you're working with a kid because you're nine, you right, or eight, nine, you you got nine you catcher.
Speaker 1:What are, what do you mean? What is your, what is your focus with that kid and how are you gonna help them get there?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. So catching's been been my thing for well. I think I caught the first time in my life and I sucked at it and I hated it. I wanna say I was 10 or 11. I think I was right around 11. So you know, over 20 years just loving catching.
Speaker 2:I think that the number one thing that you have to understand as a catcher and even as a coach you know, for anybody that is coaching or wants to get into coaching is your catcher is not a backstop. You know, you look at catchers today and I get a lot of people that are like well, you can't compare them to big leaders and not like no, but like let's be realistic, that's where a lot of people wanna get and they're the best at what they do. So let's see how we can try. You know, yes, for a nine year old it's gonna look different, but we can learn and try to adapt to that. You know. Number one, like don't be ashamed if you're athletic and you wanna catch. You know, and there is a big misconception for a long time of like you know, your catcher is your big fat slow guy, just as they're nibbles of gear on nowadays.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know it's like. So you know, number one thing regardless is you need to be fantastic at receiving. That is your number one. Yeah, that's my top. There's so many showcases and this and colleges that look at you know your pop times and how hard do you throw. That is a great tool to add to your catching arsenal. That is not what catching is about. You know, as you get older catching you're not worried about whether or not you can have a one nine pop time, because if you've got a lefty on the mound that doesn't pay any attention to the base runners, you could have a bazooka on your arm and you're not throwing them out. You know, and so that's that's one thing is, you know I tell people your catching job catch, block, throw. Those are the things that you need to focus on.
Speaker 2:When I work with kids, whether it's practice, you know we try to incorporate practice time for catching. If it's a lesson, I don't care how long. At least half of that time is gonna be devoted to receiving. You know it gets boring, it gets old, they don't like it. But that is a game changer. If you can catch the ball and present it to the umpire in a way, that's going to help your pitcher. You know, no, you're not gonna get the glory, the pitcher's gonna get all the glory, but that's not your job. Your job is to make the pitcher look good. So I would say, number one spend time receiving. There's no wrong receiving thing. Honestly, catch. Get used to catching the ball, whatever it is tennis balls, ping pong, however you want to approach it, bare man training gloves, just practice catching.
Speaker 2:You know, I had a coach in college that was. He got drafted by the Marlins. I don't know how high up he got. I know I didn't make it to the bigs, but he was involved with the catching organization or catching part of the organization. And when I got to college, I remember we had four catchers at the time, my freshman year, and he was like you know, what are your guys' approaches to receiving? You know, and when I was catching, it was, you know, get your thumb under, get your thumb under. Now you know we're working through the ball and that's really big. And I remember he was like okay, and he was just like taking in.
Speaker 2:But you could tell he like knew what he was gonna say already. You know, and I learned when I was with the Marlins and you know we're all like expecting this groundbreaking. Like he's like just catch the ball, just catch the ball, it doesn't matter, right, like your job is to. You know, the greatest catcher ever Yachty, that's not even a topic, I don't wanna get into that with anybody. He's the greatest catcher ever. He talked about just presenting the ball to the empire. How can I show the empire that that was a good pitch? Okay, so that's a really big thing for me. I will say, too, I hate the word frame.
Speaker 2:I hate, that word I has a horrible. You know people don't know what it truly means. You know you go watch. I see it a lot with the younger kids and it's not to any fault of their own. They're trying to do something they've seen on TV right.
Speaker 2:But pulling the ball and doing all this, like what I tell people, is like all you're doing is you're telling the empire you think he's an idiot and you can get that pitch called for a strike. That was two feet over the batter's head, right. So less is more. But you know, if you're starting, just practice catching, feel the ball, you know, know where you need to be. You know, yes, there's lots of technicalities. You know that we could get into with your stance, your position and this and that, but at the end of the day, like, get used to catching the baseball, become comfortable catching the baseball, you know. So that's the biggest thing you know and that's and we're very fortunate, you know, our 90 team. We've got four catchers and we're comfortable. And you know, ironically enough, where do you think two of them play, they play middle and two. They play middle and two you know and that's the progression that catching is really going.
Speaker 2:You know, I was not that athletic you know, I have guys when I was doing high school or it's like hey, we want to work on our footwork, go turn double place, and there's lots of stuff that people don't, do, you know?
Speaker 2:I know when I was catching in high school, if I put my knee down, like guys do now yeah, and you get yellow, yeah, yeah, you get yellow all the time. Yeah, and that's not. It's not saying it's wrong, it was wrong, it's just things have changed a lot. You know the game itself at all ages. I look at the nine-year team I coach. Now I'm like I never even want to have made the team.
Speaker 2:I would have been on the other end where the teams were beating. You know we're destroying. I would have been the kid on the other team, you know. And it's like, but the game is just moving so fast now, at all ages, you know, and even in the bigs, like the game moves so fast, like, yes, it's the same game, nine to the bigs, whatever, right, the game of baseball. There's little rules here and there, but like the pace, the speed, guys throwing harder, they're faster, they hit balls harder, it's like you have to be able, you know, to keep up with that at every position, at every position, you know. So don't just stick that kid back there, you know. You think that's just gonna soak in the baseball all the time and not be able to move like they've got the most important job and I truly believe it's the hardest job on the baseball field.
Speaker 2:You know, that's just physically you know, mentally and, you know, in terms of a responsibility standpoint, like it's not even a question, right, yeah, it's not even a question, but there's just that's what makes it fun, you know, that's why I loved it so much. You know, I loved all that responsibility, I loved the technicalities. I loved, you know, I was just talking to a kid I worked with. He's 11, I was like, hey, do you ever introduce yourself to the umpire? I don't even know why. I thought of it. I just asked him. He was like no, I was like, you know, but no one's taught him that right, those are not things that people. I was like he's like, why not? He's like I don't know. I was like next game you have, you know, take your mask off. Hey, sir, how's it going? You know, don't call him blue they don't like being called blue.
Speaker 2:No, no, you know, call him sir. You know you learn their name. You say it. I was like, and you know what that's gonna do is that's. You know, you protect him, you work hard. Yeah, that's gonna help you in the batter's box. I can't tell you, jesse, you remember Jesse, he umpire high school baseball forever. Do you know how many times I didn't strike out on pitches that were probably strike three? But I took care of Jesse, I didn't let him get hit, I blocked the ball, I was respectful. It's like that again, approaching things the right way, doing things the right way, it pays off. But, man, I didn't strike out so many times in high school because I got to care of the umpire, you know, and it's like that part's huge, you know. So there's a lot that goes into catching. It's a lot more than people think.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, absolutely. He talks about a lot of great stuff there, you know. To wrap this thing up, I think you know to be a coach and to be an athlete, we gotta be willing to evolve, we gotta be willing to grow. One of my biggest mentors, jerry Weinstein. He's one of the biggest catching guys known to man. But one thing I love about him and he's a dear friend of mine is he's grown with the game.
Speaker 1:The dude is 81 years old and, you know, has been in baseball for 60 years, been in professional baseball for 40 years and is adapting to like, continue to wanna learn, and has went from guys catching the ball basically with two hands, you know, when he first started to now we're on one knee to work through the baseball, all these things. And not once was he yeah, he. At first he probably was like, okay, I wanna freaking us out before I start promoting it, that be end of the day. He didn't, you know, have hangups Like he was. Like I gotta grow, I gotta adapt, see why these young bucks are teaching this and these other things.
Speaker 1:And so, to anybody listening, like, don't be turned off when you hear something that you're not comfortable with yet. Just, you know, adapt, learn, reach out to people that might know a little more than you, and that's okay. Don't be ashamed of reaching out to someone who maybe has a little more experience in those types of things, like I've talked to so many catching guys. I've talked to Mike, I've talked to other people and just be like, hey, I don't know much about this area. Or hey, vice versa. People call me, say I don't know much about this. Can you enlighten me or can we talk about this? Because if you truly wanna help your players as best you can, you need to take your own pride and ego out of the equation and be like I just need to get the best information and learn the best abilities and coach these guys and the best of my abilities with the most accurate information, and sometimes that takes you taking yourself out of the equation and putting your players in the best position to win.
Speaker 1:And so last two questions. Well, you know, talk about you know. On the catching topic, are you, do you teach any of your kids one knee down, is it? You know? Are you, whatever they feel comfortable with? What's your style on that?
Speaker 2:Well, you know, to piggyback off, adapting, like yeah, it's something I've had to learn about, you know, and try to see. I do think I'm gonna go to the second part first, about being comfortable. That is the number one thing I think with catching is you have to be comfortable. It's hard enough. If you're not comfortable you're not gonna be successful. And I think that that is that is applicable to so many parts of catching your stance, how you receive, how you throw, how you're approaching your blocking. You know you have to be in a position that you can succeed and usually that means you're comfortable with it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and all three of those.
Speaker 2:Yeah, in any part of it, right, and so I think for me I've had to learn how to approach. You know, something I didn't do right, like I said, I never, ever, ever thought of doing that. You know, if anything, I slid my leg out because I thought it looked cool like Yachty, and then that was about it. I can't feel it. There was no real reason. Honestly, I didn't have a reason for it other than like it was kind of comfortable sometimes and it looked cool.
Speaker 2:Like that's not, you know. So you know, being someone that works with the younger guys right now, I think and this is for anyone that wants to try to get to that position, because I do think it has a ton of benefits I think a lot of it, though, is you have to have the foundation of I can get into a primary stance, I can sit there. You know, I tell kids you should be in a primary stance. It's probably not going to look like mine did, but you should be able to sit there for 10 minutes and watch TV and have no issues. You can't get to that stance. We're not even going to worry about one knee, because that means to me that means you don't have enough body control to be able to do the other parts, because it looks less right, like being down on one knee looks less. It requires so much more activeness, if that's even the right words. Right, you have physicality. Right, you have to be able to move a lot more. You have to be faster, you have to be stronger, you know.
Speaker 2:So the same kid actually that I was talking about with the umpire I mentioned, you know, we were working on his throwing yesterday and I was like, hey, have you ever tried catching from a knee? You know he's almost 12 now, he's a physical kid, and he's like no. And I was like, okay, I want to start. Like you know, next time we work I want to start introducing it. You know, I think it's important. I really do. I know colleges now there are tons of colleges. You know, honestly, that that's what they teach. That's what you have to do. You have to figure out how to do it. Um, organizations do that. You know it looks different, but that's how you're going to catch for him. You know, or or you're not going to catch for him, right, and that's what it is.
Speaker 2:So I think, I think like for me being working with so many younger kids, right now not a lot, but I want them to know that, like it's okay to do that and yeah, you can do what you see. That guy on TV do Not yet. But we can learn about how to approach it because you you know you can do right People's arguments so you can't block successfully from it, you can't throw guys out and it's like no, you can't.
Speaker 2:It looks way different than how you might teach you know, 10, 15 years ago, but it can be done and it can be done very successful. So it's just about making sure again. I just go back to like, teaching the kids, are you comfortable, are you comfortable, are you comfortable? Yes, there's certain things with receiving I believe you have to do, you know. Yeah, you have to throw, you know, get in a certain spot, but they have to be comfortable. They're going to get eaten up back there.
Speaker 1:So absolutely, absolutely, no, that's, that's incredible. And I and I, you know, there's some things that you know, I, I love that you mentioned there and I go. You know, like, my catching style is like you have to be comfortable, you have to be able to be adaptable, you have to be able to be mobile Right. What I mean adaptable, you have to be able to. You know, if I'm in a stance you got to be able to receive a pitch that when a picture misses by 12 inches, you know, or or things like that. So you have to make sure your pre-pitch movement and your stance allows you to be adaptable right With with your movements. And then another thing too is is mobility you have to be able to move. If you can't move, um, then you're not in the right position, regardless of your traditional or one knee down.
Speaker 2:And see kids. That's why I love when I see kids. It's like doing the showcasing, where they're like turned like this, like I'm going to receive that. Okay, I was like so let me ask you this how are you going to block this pitch? And they're like uh, I'm like again now our priorities for catching received block. Now we're going like this and you're not going to work.
Speaker 2:It's not going to you know but you have to be able to adapt. You know you have to be able to make those adjustments picture to picture, right, I get older and you start developing a relationship with pictures. You know. Number one you have to know what that guy's strengths are. I had a guy in college that's like.
Speaker 2:When he was missing I knew I had to angle my body just a little bit. Whether or not he knew I don't know, but to me I knew I could close this off a little bit and be able to get in the zone a little bit. He wasn't missing as much. You know you have to be able to do that stuff and it's hard, you know, for my age kids, because they haven't experienced that enough. But it's like you want to keep catching, you want to be, you know. Look at, look at Greg Maddox's catcher I don't remember his name. It got caught literally had a job, always Right as long as Greg Maddox was in the league. He had a job because he was able to do the things that Greg wanted him to do. He was able to do the things that he felt made him successful and it's like that is your job as a catcher. Okay, that is your job.
Speaker 1:And I love that. I think that's amazing. And I'm a one-me guy. You know I teach a lot of my guys. I'm the guy that you know I like to. I find a stance that we can do all three of them in that they feel comfortable with and we just try to master that. Yeah, I'm not I'm not huge into teaching a couple guys. We'll have maybe two or three stances, but I see a bunch of kids and I see it all the time and it drives me nuts. They'll teach them like seven different stances. So, kickstand, let me write me you know which Super hunched over chest to sit and straight up on the high pitch. All that's gravy. But I would recommend find one, maybe two stances and just try to perfect those as best you can Like my guys.
Speaker 1:I caught a lot of guys, worked with a lot of guys who were left me primary with runners not on and then would go right knee with runners on. And you know I'm a big right knee guy because I think it's easier to throw out of. So I teach a lot of my guys that way. But I appreciate you giving me your thoughts on catching. This was awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, all the listeners I'm going to be actually working with Mike and a couple of his guys that he knows and we're going to kind of do like a little drill series type of thing we're going to kind of work together on. So you guys can kind of see my thoughts on catching, see what Mike's thoughts are on catching, and we can just have a great conversation. And obviously the best for the kids is being able to showcase their talents at their young ages and to, you know, maybe some college coaches that are watching or whatever you know when they get older. You know there you go Some kids to look out for. But I appreciate you tuning in, mike. I always like to end these with a prayer. Yeah, I'll just kind of end this with a prayer here and look forward to connecting again soon.
Speaker 2:Right on.
Speaker 1:All right, sweet. So, dear Heavenly Father, I want to thank you for bringing us together and I thank you for our family, lord, and I thank you for all the listeners that they're taking time out of their day to be able to join us and listen and hear our insights. That, and at the end of the day, god, we just want to bring all the glory and honor to you, lord, if we can just bring one person to be at peace with whatever they're going with right now. God, that you pray that our listeners understand that you are with them through this season of the life, that you are the God of impossible and you will make things happen, god, because we know that is what you're capable of doing. And I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful for Mike and his you know relationship and in our family, and I appreciate that he is, you know, taking care of my sister and all those different things. God, I'm just so thankful for this and it is in Jesus Holy Name. I pray, amen.
Speaker 2:Amen.
Speaker 1:Amen. Well, I appreciate you tuning in and I'm sure I'll see you soon.
Speaker 2:Awesome, sounds good, buddy. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.