Virtual Pitching Academy Podcast

Virtual Pitching Academy•podcasters.spotify.com

Join Coach James, former D1 all-conference pitcher, as he talks everything pitching. From mechanics to mentality to things he wishes he knew while he was still playing, you'll find it all here. Brought to you by virtualpitchingacademy.com, a totally online training website for pitchers of all ages and skill levels.

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Episodes

Arm Care Principles w/ Kyle Roberts

Coach James and Coach Kyle talk through how to improve your accuracy through catch-play and then discuss some arm care principles and their favorite, as well as not so favorite, methods for recovery. Listen up!

Jan 18, 2022•13 min•Season 1Ep. 13

Mental Tools, How to Throw Harder, & "Overuse" w/ Kyle Roberts

In this jam packed episode, Coach James and Kyle Roberts discuss mental tools such as "mental resets" and "visualization", as well as some tips for throwing harder and the misconception of "overuse".

Jan 11, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 12

Facing the "Yips" w/ Kyle Roberts

Coach James got with Kyle Roberts, former 5th round pick of the Texas Rangers, to discuss some challenges he faced as a player and his bout with the infamous "yips". If you've ever dealt with the yips, you'll want to tune in!

Dec 20, 2021•20 min•Season 1Ep. 11

CrossFit & Strength Training Principles w/ Josh Gibson

Is CrossFit good for baseball players? In this episode Coach James and Coach Josh Gibson discuss the benefits and drawbacks to CrossFit, as well as the general principles that should govern any strength program.

Dec 13, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 10

Work Ethic, Coach-ability, & Home Workouts w/ Josh Gibson

In this episode Coach James and Coach Josh Gibson talk about the importance of being coachable in your training and what you can do at home to get stronger, along with the limitations of not using equipment or going to a gym.

Dec 13, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 9

Injury Prevention and How to Warm Up w/ Josh Gibson

In part 2 of an interview with Josh Gibson, owner of Athletic Preparation, Coach James and coach Josh talk injury prevention and how to warm up properly before working out and practice/competition. Stay tuned for parts 3 & 4!

Nov 29, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 8

Why train for strength and speed? W/ Josh Gibson

Coach James interviews Josh Gibson, owner of Athletic Performance in Auburn Hills, Michigan. In part 1 of the interview, the two discuss why strength and speed training is important for baseball players and pitchers specifically.

Nov 23, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 7

More Effort, More Velo???

In this episode Coach James discusses whether more effort always means you'll throw harder. He breaks down how and when to apply effort or intensity in your throwing mechanics. He also discusses how he misunderstood new training methods and how he wishes he used them sooner.

Nov 15, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Lessons from the Postseason (2021)

There's a ton to learn from the 2021 postseason! In this episode Coach James breaks down a few takeaways, starting with Mad Max and ending with Tyler Matzek.

Nov 08, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Soreness Shouldn't Be Normal

Continuing his series "Things I Wish I Knew", coach James talks about arm soreness and how he used to cope with it vs. how he thinks about it now. He also offers some advice on how to watch playoff baseball.

Nov 01, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Things I Wish I Knew: How to Condition After Throwing

There's a debate amongst coaches about HOW pitchers should condition after pitching. Should they do long distance running? Short distance sprints? Other things? In this episode Coach James shares how his opinion has shifted over the years and what he wishes he knew much earlier.

Oct 25, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Things I Wish I Knew: Mechanical Concepts

Coach James starts a series on things he wishes he knew when he was still playing. First up, he discusses mechanical concepts that he was ignorant of, and how he could have trained better.

Oct 18, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Intro: About Coach James & VPA

In this episode Coach James Barragan shares his vision behind Virtual Pitching Academy, part of his personal journey, and who this podcast is for.

Oct 04, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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