Episodios

  • Why ‘FLOW’ Beats ‘Mechanics’ | THE HEAT CHECK 4

    Why ‘FLOW’ Beats ‘Mechanics’ | THE HEAT CHECK 4
    Dec 12 2025
    In this episode of Heat Check, Robby unpacks one of the biggest realizations of his playing and coaching career — why chasing perfect mechanics often kills performance, and how flow, freedom, and controlled chaos are what actually unlock elite movement. From backyard wiffle ball battles and mimicking MLB pitchers… to pro ball, injuries, overthinking, and ultimately rediscovering simplicity — this episode is a raw reflection on why athletes perform best when they stop forcing it and start trusting it. If you’re a player, coach, or parent trying to navigate development without burning the joy out of the process — this one hits. 🔥 Quote That Sums It Up “The throw is the throw. Your body will organize how it organizes — flow is what unlocks it.”As always, if you ever want to reach out to me personally hit me up on my Question PlatformDiscounts to Products I Use (Including the Sauna Blanket) can be found here⏱️ Episode Breakdown & Key Moments 00:00 – 00:50 | Pre-Roll + What This Episode Is Really About Setting expectations, birthday reflections, identity, and teasing the flow vs mechanics conversation. 00:50 – 02:50 | New Look, Cold Weather & Life Check-In Shaving the beard, Connecticut winter, mouth taping, and seasonal shifts. 02:50 – 04:55 | Monthly Challenges, Tightness & Body Awareness Daily challenges, soreness, desk work, and the realization that mobility may matter more than grinding. 04:55 – 06:30 | Simplicity vs Overthinking (Content + Performance) How more gear, more knowledge, and more complexity don’t always equal better results. 06:30 – 08:20 | Changing Deliveries & Early Baseball Memories Loving deviation, changing windups, travel ball memories, and falling in love with Anthony Reyes’ delivery. 08:20 – 10:25 | Wiffle Ball, Competition & Athletic Development Backyard wiffle ball, mimicking teams and players, and why play accelerated arm speed and skill. 10:25 – 12:35 | Chaos as a Development Tool Lawn chair strike zones, throwing runners out, target acquisition, and learning to organize the body under pressure. 12:35 – 14:30 | Flow, Deviation & Mental Freedom Why changing things sparks excitement, frees the mind, and unlocks better movement. 14:30 – 16:10 | Mimicking MLB Pitchers & Identity Questions Dontrelle Willis, Tim Lincecum, Josh Beckett — copying deliveries as exploration, not insecurity. 16:10 – 18:40 | Consistency Beneath the Chaos Despite changing styles, key mechanical positions stayed the same across years and levels. 18:40 – 21:15 | When Mechanics Became the Enemy Hyper-fixation, robotic movement, loss of flow, and how overthinking derailed performance. 21:15 – 23:45 | Why ‘FLOW’ is the KeyMechanics matter — but they’re not the main driver. Flow, environment, and mindset are. 23:45 – 26:15 | Coaching Philosophy Shift Moving away from “what it should look like” toward creating conditions that let the body self-organize. 26:15 – 28:40 | Variability, Arm Slots & Athletic Training Multiple arm angles, jumping throws, body angles, and teaching adaptability. 28:40 – 30:45 | Controlled Chaos & Mental Performance Why chaos simplified the mind, improved command, and unlocked repeatability. 30:45 – End | Final Reflection + Call to Action Be a kid. Protect curiosity. Fall in Love ⸻ 🧠 Core Takeaways ✅Mechanics matter — but they’re not the main driver Flow beats fixation Athleticism thrives in controlled chaos Kids need play, competition, and creativity first The body organizes itself better when the mind gets out of the wayROBBY ROW'S LINKS 4 CONSIDERATIONClick HERE To Learn More About ME!Click HERE To View The Content Equipment I UseClick HERE to Checkout My Pitching Development eBooksClick HERE to Subscribe to My YouTube Channel
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    32 m
  • Losing Myself in the Pursuit of Perfection | THE HEAT CHECK 3

    Losing Myself in the Pursuit of Perfection | THE HEAT CHECK 3
    Dec 7 2025
    A raw, honest look at perfectionism — where it comes from, how it shaped Robby’s baseball journey, and why the pressure to be different can quietly erode joy, confidence, and identity. In this episode, Robby settles into the sauna blanket and unpacks the invisible forces that drove him for years: childhood expectations, early success, attention, insecurity, the obsession with mechanics, and the internal collapse that comes when identity is built on being “the guy.” If you’ve ever chased perfection, battled validation, or felt like failure meant losing a part of who you are — you’re gonna feel this one. As always, if you ever want to reach out to me personally hit me up on my Question PlatformDiscounts to Products I Use (Including the Sauna Blanket) can be found here⏱️ Episode Timestamps + Topics 00:00 – 01:18 — Pre-Roll Setup & Show Notes • Why these Heat Check episodes bounce around• The purpose of timestamps and how listeners can navigate the episode• Setting the scene inside the sauna blanket 01:18 – 02:24 — When the Brand Doesn’t Match the New Chapter • Feeling disconnected from the past “always fired-up athlete” persona• Learning what content looks like now that playing days are over• The identity tug-of-war after walking away from baseball 02:24 – 04:13 — Childhood Memories, Dad, and Why the Brand Began • Watching his dad retire from pro ball• Wanting to show fans the behind-the-scenes perspective players never shared• The spark that eventually became The Robby Row Show 04:13 – 07:17 — Rookie Ball 2010 & The Surprise Breakthrough • Repeating rookie ball and entering the season with low expectations• The unexpected success that followed• Looking back at one of the most fun periods of his career 07:17 – 10:10 — Where the Mechanics Obsession Started • Too much downtime in extended spring training• Endless video room deep dives• The moment curiosity turned into obsession 10:10 – 13:15 — Wanting to Say All the Right Things • Talking to mental skills coaches• Developing the “right answers” identity• Trying to be the ultra-motivated, hard-working guy everyone expected 13:15 – 14:19 — Why Hard Work Didn’t Fill the Void • Being praised for effort but still feeling empty• The disconnect between work ethic and performance• Early signs of perfectionism taking over 14:19 – 17:07 — The Dark Side of Perfectionism • Why perfection removes joy• The internal pressure to never mess up• How it slowly made baseball feel heavier than it should 17:07 – 19:12 — OCD Tendencies & The Brita Jug Example • Robby vs. household timers (and why he always has to win)• The funny but real ways competition shows up in his daily life• How this wiring affected baseball 19:12 – 20:31 — When Perfection Makes the Game Harder • Baseball is built on failure… perfectionism is not• Why the two don’t coexist• How expectations suffocated enjoyment 20:31 – 23:15 — Feeling “Different” Growing Up • Being a big-leaguer’s kid• Early expectations and identity shaping• Wanting attention, wanting to stand out, wanting to be “the guy” 23:15 – 24:00 — Clearing the Air: Parenting & Perception • Giving his parents credit• Why this isn’t about blame• Understanding how kids naturally form identity 24:00 – 25:12 — The Early Personality Formation • Loving attention• Playing to the crowd• The confidence loop that formed early 25:12 – 27:29 — Seeking Eyes in Bullpens & Catch Play • Performing better when being watched• Using attention as fuel• Why it eventually stopped working 27:29 – 30:10 — When Attention Turned Into Pressure • Anxiety replacing swagger• Mechanical breakdowns tied to mental spirals• The shift from confidence → fear 30:10 – 31:04 — Mental Health, Denial, and Hiding the Struggle • Trying to “power through it” quietly• Creating an inauthentic persona• The emotional cost of pretending everything’s fine 31:04 – 33:03 — Validation vs. Confidence • The dangerous loop of chasing external approval• Why validation feels good… but doesn’t last• How baseball exposed the cracks 33:03 – 34:42 — Dad’s Influence & Staying Hungry • The motivation he got from his dad• Why that push was healthy — but still fed perfectionism• Seeing both the good and the shadow side 34:42 – 37:21 — Losing Himself in a “Killer Instinct” Culture • Trying to be stone-cold to fit in• The slow drift away from authenticity• How identity shapeshifted during the grind 37:21 – 39:48 — Big Fish, Small Pond: The Ego Trap • Why success at a young age can create false stability• Malcolm Gladwell’s “David & Goliath” effect• What happens when the environment finally challenges you 39:48 – 41:24 — Not Knowing How to Fail • Feeling failure for the first time• How perfection amplified the sting• ...
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    44 m
  • When a Ball Player STOPS Ball Playing ⚾️ | THE HEAT CHECK SERIES 2

    When a Ball Player STOPS Ball Playing ⚾️ | THE HEAT CHECK SERIES 2
    Dec 2 2025
    🎙️THE HEAT CHECK - When a Ball Player Stops Ball Playing (Episode 2) A raw, vulnerable walk through identity, retirement, faith, and finding purpose beyond the game In this episode of Heat Check, Robby climbs back into the sauna blanket and opens up about one of the hardest transitions a ballplayer can face — stepping away from the game that shaped your entire life. From childhood memories of watching his dad retire from pro ball… to the confusing emotional aftermath of his own final seasons… to the weird limbo of feeling done but not finished… This one cuts deep. If you’ve ever stopped playing, lost a version of yourself, or struggled with purpose when a chapter ends — you’re gonna feel this one. ⸻ ⏱️ Episode Timestamps + Topics 00:00 – 02:25 — Pre-Roll Vulnerability• Robby sets the scene: sauna blanket, no script, full vulnerability• Why these episodes feel like therapy• Encouragement for listeners to submit topics via Ask Robby Platform (therobbyrowshow.com/ask) 02:25 – 06:00 — Letting Go of Opinions & Fear of Sympathy• Wrestling with how people might perceive this openness• Processing ego, validation, and the fear of “sounding ungrateful”• How speaking out loud helps emotional healing 06:00 – 07:30 — The Discomfort of Closure• Robby admits this topic gives him “heebie jeebies”• Why he resists calling his career “over”• The internal battle between acceptance and hope 07:30 – 12:00 — Childhood Flashbacks (1997 Memories)• His dad in spring training with the Giants• Life in the RV, family photos, early baseball impressions• Funny/chaotic moment tipping a foul ball into his brother’s mouth• Early realization of who his dad was in the baseball world 12:00 – 17:00 — Moving to the Woods + Dad’s Retirement• Family relocating after dad leaves baseball• Life on acres of land, trampolines, fire truck hoses• The infamous “rock to the face” story• Seeing subtle emotional changes he didn’t understand as a kid 17:00 – 21:00 — Watching His Dad Fall Out of Love With Baseball• Dad unable to watch games anymore• Learning as a teenager how deeply retirement affected him• The weight of retiring when the game didn’t force you out 21:00 – 25:00 — Robby’s Early Mindset About His Own Career• How his dad’s story shaped his expectations• Belief that he’d “play until they ripped the jersey off”• Realization that experience hits different than second-hand wisdom 25:00 – 30:00 — 2022 Season, Coaching, and Sour Endings• The tough Indy Ball season as a player/coach• Being excited to rebound… but not getting the ending he imagined• Winter Ball ups and downs• Navigating being Phantom’d after performing well 30:00 – 33:30 — When Teams Don’t Want the Brand• Teams telling him to tone down or stop his content• The confusing shift from “my brand is my résumé” to “it’s a distraction”• Choosing between baseball and content creation• Feeling like either choice had a cost 33:30 – 36:00 — Identity Crisis: Player Rob vs. Creator Rob• The weirdness of waking up without a team• Missing the structured purpose baseball gave• The pressure of content performance affecting self-worth• Why engaging directly with fans helps ground him 36:00 – 39:00 — Winter Ball Comeback Attempt• Reinventing himself as a 3-slot pitcher• Feeling re-energized and excited again• Performing well… and still getting Phantom’d• Questioning whether God was closing a door or testing resilience 39:00 – 41:30 — The Emotional Toll & Loss of Faith• Honest conversation about resentment toward God • The “Disney ending” he felt he was on track for• Recognizing that the game doesn’t owe you anything• Wrestling with purpose outside of playing 41:30 – 43:15 — Moving Forward & What’s Next• Accepting that he didn’t call every team back • The mental gap between liking baseball and liking playing• Realizing baseball is therapeutic only when tied to a bigger mission• Longing for deeper purpose and identity beyond the field 43:15 – End — Closing Thoughts• Thanksgiving gratitude• Plans to get mom & dad on future episodes• Invitation to ask questions via his website • “These episodes may not be for everyone… but they’re good for me.” ⸻ 🔗 Submit a Question for Future Episodes https://therobbyrowshow.com/ask/ Discounts to Products I Use (Including the Sauna Blanket) can be found here https://therobbyrowshow.com/productdiscounts/
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    43 m
  • Why I Lost My Joy for Creating (And How I’m Getting It Back) | THE HEAT CHECK SERIES 1

    Why I Lost My Joy for Creating (And How I’m Getting It Back) | THE HEAT CHECK SERIES 1
    Nov 28 2025
    THE HEAT CHECK - Morning Mind Dump from Inside the Sauna Blanket (Episode 1)

    In this first-ever episode from inside the sauna, I get real about something I’ve been wrestling with for a long time… losing my joy for creating. And i'm publishing this "disaster" of an episode to finally attempt to rid myself of this OCD perfectionism I have that makes creating content less enjoyable..

    Since stepping away from baseball, my identity, my routines, and the way I show up online have all shifted. Somewhere along the way, content stopped feeling like something I get to do, and started feeling like something I have to do — and that slow shift into perfectionism and pressure has been eating away at me.

    Inside the sauna blanket (yes, literally sweating through this), I talk openly about:
    • burnout, overthinking, and losing the “one-take Robby” authenticity
    • the identity crisis that hits when baseball is no longer the center
    • why being perceived as “perfect” has held me back
    • how I’m trying to reconnect with my actual voice
    • and why I’m starting this new raw, unfiltered mini-series

    If you’re into mindset, creativity, growth, or just want to hear what’s going on behind the scenes of my life right now, I think you’ll take something from this one.

    Discounts to Products I Use (Including the Sauna Blanket) can be found here
    https://therobbyrowshow.com/productdiscounts/

    Personally reach out to me using my Question Platform here
    https://therobbyrowshow.com/ask/
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    35 m
  • My Biggest Pitching Regret (and What You Can Learn From It)

    My Biggest Pitching Regret (and What You Can Learn From It)
    Sep 27 2025
    This one’s personal. I’m breaking down my own throwback mechanics from my pro ball career and the mistakes that cost me years of development.

    👉 Watch the full YouTube breakdown (with throwback clips of my mechanics throughout the years): https://link.mcpay.io/BHHdnjt

    From being drafted in 2010… to getting released in 2014… to reinventing myself in the bullpen… I learned the hard way that:
    • Velocity is a choice — you throw hard by training to throw hard
    • Your environment dictates how your body organizes
    • Athleticism is more important than robotic mechanics
    • The mental approach you take into every throw will shape your movements
    • Skipping the adaptation phase is what leads to injury

    If you’re a pitcher who’s struggling with mechanics, command, or velocity… this episode is going to hit home. My journey had a lot of failures, but now I use those lessons to help guys like YOU avoid the same mistakes.

    👉 Watch the full YouTube breakdown (with throwback clips of my mechanics through the years):
    https://link.mcpay.io/BHHdnjt

    What you’re thinking impacts the way your body is going to move in an effort to complete the task at hand.. something I learned the HARD WAY and I know a lot of us ball players struggle with..

    For me I struggled sooo hard trying to get the ball to move and NOT THROW BALLS that I forgot my body is the most adaptable thing on this planet n it knows how to get the job done IF I’d just get out of my own frickin way lol

    That’s why I’m such an advocate for training in environments that DEMAND athleticism/freedom/power and FLOWWW 🌊

    Want to throw hard - Throw HARD

    Think aggressive - be aggressive

    Think passive - be passive

    Simplicity is the gateway to athleticism

    When I finally found my groove in 2015 I realized I could literally think “throw it as hard as I frickin can” and it’d actually go where I wanted it to go because I was just FLOWING bruh.. I also intentionally trained my body to adapt to the movements of high velocity demands in my preparation (long toss, pulldowns, and high intent catch plays)

    👉 Want to work with me directly? https://therobbyrowshow.com/coaching/
    👉 Have a question for me? https://therobbyrowshow.com/ask/

    Resources & Links
    A Complete Guide To Pitching Mechanics eBook → https://therobbyrowshow.com/product/mechanics-ebook/
    Discounts on Products I Use → https://therobbyrowshow.com/productdiscounts/
    My Content Equipment Setup → https://therobbyrowshow.com/content-creation/
    Development eBooks → https://therobbyrowshow.com/ebooks/
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    20 m
  • What I've Learned About Off-Season Throwing ⚾️

    What I've Learned About Off-Season Throwing ⚾️
    Jul 31 2024
    In Episode 8 of Season 9 here on THE Robby Row Show Baseball Podcast we’ll be discussing ‘OFF-SEASON THROWING’ thru the lens of my personal experiences having played professionally since 18 years of age as well as having gone thru some injuries which requires a bit more attention towards how you go about your throwing program in the off-season.

    I want to be clear in the simple understanding that every single ball player that i've ever played with/worked with/met has all been uniquely different from one another.. There's never really a singular absolute in this game when it comes to how you should go about your work. The goal is to be super intentional and mindful with understanding what your body AND mind need to be able to perform at the highest level possible.

    So with that being said - Here’s some insights that maybe will help you better understand everything that goes into off season throwing as well as how to better prepare you for your journey in this game. That’s the foundation my dudes! Here to help! Speaking of, don’t hesitate to reach out to me via my question platform

    Watch This Episode on YouTube 🎥


    MORE LINKS FROM ROBBY ROW 👇

    Click Here For DISCOUNTS on Products I Use
    Click Here To Learn More About ME
    Click Here to Checkout My Pitching Development eBooks
    Click Here To Book a Mechanical Analysis


    FOLLOW ME ON..
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    Thanks for listening + God Bless 🖖
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    19 m
  • Expert Tips for Youth Baseball Pitching Development

    Expert Tips for Youth Baseball Pitching Development
    Jul 6 2024
    In Episode 7 of Season 9 here on THE Robby Row Show Baseball Podcast we’ll be discussing what I see as an extremely important factor when it comes to developing youth baseball players and more specifically youth pitchers. This Podcast episode was recorded for a YouTube segment in the lab which you can watch by clicking here
    This episode can provide insights for parents of youth baseball players as well as any baseball player struggling to find the joy they once had for this beautiful game we call baseball.
    As always - reach out to me with your questions via my question platform (linked below)

    Aceletiqs Rebounder Amazon Link

    Encouragements to Discouraged Youth Ballers + Their Parents
    Just another way of saying control the things you can control if you’re a parent of a youth athlete who is struggling to obtain confidence within a sport he/she loves.
    Here’s 2 really big factors that I see worth emphasizing 👇
    A) FREEDOM TO FAIL ❌
    Control the environment to influence comfort at an early age.. determine how much competition needs to be sprinkled in because every kid is going to respond differently to performance but we can always create a safe environment initially to influence joy. Joy is going to be what propels the work for a kid.
    B) REPS ON REPS ON REPS ON REPS ⚾️
    Freedom to fail is going to influence this dynamic a lot because what you end up creating is a kid who understands adjustments come from experience and experience can be amplified if we can increase the repetitions. Obviously there’s going to be a ton of questions pertaining to how much volume.. here’s my answer.. don’t limit/restrict any kid from reps.. unless there’s obvious health issues that need to be addressed.

    CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
    Instagram | @robbyrow12
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    Website | www.therobbyrowshow.com
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    LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/robbyrow12
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    24 m
  • 4 Tiers to Why I See PITCHING INJURIES on The Rise

    4 Tiers to Why I See PITCHING INJURIES on The Rise
    Jun 22 2024
    Piggybacking off the previous Episode in which we talked about the rise of Pitching related Injuries in baseball. Frickin injuries man.. such a passionate topic to discuss for me being someone who has personally dealt with numerous pitching related injuries throughout the course of a little over a decade in professional baseball. This has equipped me to share insights with you in hopes that you’ll be better prepared in your journey in this game to help mitigate the risks of any potential devastating arm injuries. In Episode 6 of Season 9 here on THE Robby Row Show Baseball Podcast we’ll be diving into 4 tiers that I believe are influencing a rise in pitching related injuries over the course of the past decade. If you'd like to watch this episode for no reason but to see that my ipad in the background has clash of clans going you can do so by clicking this link - Watch Episode on YouTube The 4 Tiers we’re going to be discussing are as follows: Velocity - If you have dreams and aspirations of making it to the highest level possible in this game then there’s a dire need to enhance your Velocity. This truth has influenced a drastic change in how athletes in this sport (mainly pitchers) are preparing their bodies to accomplish this goal. This new age “Velocity Development” has taken a toll on how much the body/arm can take before it just breaks down. ‘Do Less’ - We’re not just seeing more injuries at a professional level but also at an alarming rate amongst the youth. It baffles me to hear of 10-12 year olds having to get surgery from a pitching related injury. This IMO can slightly be attributed to a “Do Less” approach in youth throwers. Brake Pedal approach means you restrict the volume of throws in an effort to mitigate the risk of hurting your arm by not throwing a whole lot. But what we forget to mention is the importance of stress adaptation. Even at that age. Design - We’re all pretty familiar with what “Pitch Design” is now that it’s gained a huge popularity within the Baseball performance industry. We can also attribute potential injuries to this dynamic due to a few different factors. Most importantly is how ‘Design’ days are being factored into the individuals work week. Another factor at play is the actual practice of ‘Design Days’ - Meaning I do believe there’s an efficient practice as well as there’s an inefficient practice. How you practice these specific days play a huge role in how your arm is going to respond. Performance - This one can be tricky. There’s a whole conversation to be had pertaining to the way individuals are now perceiving their “development time.” Meaning back in the day it was more about kids just going out and playing games/competing throughout the summer. Whereas now we’re seeing kind of the opposite where kids are not playing games instead electing to spend multiple months ‘training’ - now I don’t want to say this in and of itself is inherently ‘BAD’ but I do believe this can be a factor when looking at the “WHY” these injuries are occurring throughout the sport and at a somewhat alarming rate. If you've dealt with injuries in baseball or have thoughts on how young players can stay safe, I'd love to hear from you. Visit therobbyrowshow.com/ask to share your ideas and join the conversation. Let's work together to make baseball safer and more joyful for everyone. CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram | @robbyrow12TikTok | @robbyrow12Twitter | @RobbyRow_12Website | www.therobbyrowshow.comFacebook | www.facebook.com/robbyrow12LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/robbyrow12MORE LINKS FROM ROBBY ROW Click HERE to Personally Contact Me Via My Question PlatformClick HERE For DISCOUNTS on Products I UseClick HERE to Subscribe to My YouTube Channel Click HERE To Book a Mechanical AnalysisClick HERE To View The Content Equipment I UseClick HERE To Learn More About ME!Click HERE to Checkout My Pitching Development eBooksDONATIONS TO THE ROBBY ROW SHOW PayPal https://paypal.me/robbyrow Venmo Robbyrow12
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    20 m