In this conversation, Curtis Pelletier interviews Jordan Comadena, a catching coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates, discussing his unique journey from being a walk-on at Purdue University to becoming a bullpen catcher and eventually a catching coach. They explore the evolution of catching techniques, the importance of building relationships with pitchers, managing emotions in high-pressure situations, and the significance of routine and preparation in a player's development. Jordan shares insights on mentorship, particularly from Clint Hurdle, and reflects on the challenges of balancing family life with a demanding coaching career.


Takeaways

Jordan Comadena's journey from walk-on to catching coach is inspiring.
Building relationships with pitchers is crucial for a catcher.
Modern catching techniques are evolving, focusing on skill development.
Emotional intelligence is key in managing players' performance.
Routine and preparation significantly impact a player's success.
Family life can be challenging for coaches during the season.
Mentorship from experienced coaches like Clint Hurdle is invaluable.
Catchers have a unique opportunity to impact the game defensively.
The importance of communication and trust between players and coaches.
Players need to learn to separate their offensive and defensive roles.


Titles

From Walk-On to Catching Coach: Jordan Comadena's Journey
The Evolution of Catching: Insights from Jordan Comadena


Sound bites

"It's a crazy story of events."
"Jacob won the gold glove in 2021."
"The bat comes last for catchers."


Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jordan Comadena's Journey
02:40 Transition from Bullpen Catcher to Coach
05:37 The Evolution of Catching Techniques
08:35 Skill Development and Player Relationships
11:22 Strategic Game Management in the Dugout
14:14 Organizational Development and Catching Philosophy
16:54 Emotional Intelligence in Catching
19:56 Impact of Defense on Game Performance
26:39 The Pressure of Performance
31:16 Routine vs. Raw Talent
37:33 Balancing Family and Career
41:05 Reflections on Career Progression
43:34 Mentorship and Life Lessons

Keywords
awareness, capacity, emotional intelligence, coaching, personal growth, chaos, order, blame, performance psychology, suffering

Summary
In this episode, Curtis Pelletier breaks down why awareness without capacity leads to collapse. He challenges the habit of seeking validation instead of building structure and explains how emotional intelligence functions as an internal operating system, not a personality trait. The discussion moves through chaos and order, blame versus responsibility, and the real role of a coach in developing capability. Suffering is framed as a teacher, not an enemy, and structure is positioned as the bridge between insight and resilience.

Takeaways
Awareness without capacity creates failure, not progress.
Blame is avoidance dressed up as explanation.
Balance is an ongoing correction, not a middle ground.
A real coach builds independence, not dependence.
Emotional intelligence governs behaviour under pressure.
Structure prevents collapse when stress rises.
Suffering refines character when it is faced directly.
Chaos grows when responsibility is outsourced.
Order creates freedom when applied properly.
Growth is the repeated alignment of awareness and capacity.

Titles
Why I Work in the Dark
The Price of Needing Approval

Sound Bites
“Why I work in the dark.”
“A real coach makes you more capable.”
“EQ is the ability to hold reality without breaking.”

Chapters
00:00 Why I Work in the Dark
02:03 The Price of Needing Approval
05:07 Awareness vs Capacity
07:09 Emotional Intelligence as an Operating System
09:04 Why Blame Creates Chaos
10:55 When Opinions Replace Responsibility
15:01 Balancing Chaos and Order
19:47 What a Coach Is Actually For
25:31 Applied Performance Psychology
28:40 Baseball as a Life Model
33:45 Suffering and Meaning
37:06 What Emotional Intelligence Really Is

This version hits harder, reads cleaner, and actually matches what you’re saying instead of sounding like a therapy brochure.

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

Keywords

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

Takeaways

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

Titles

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

Sound Bites

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

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Reconnection

01:39
The Journey to the Yankees

06:34
Innovative Catching Techniques

10:19
Understanding Pitch Framing

16:44
Implementing New Techniques in Real Time

20:52
Shifting Scouting Philosophies

24:12
The Impact of the Challenge System

25:32
Understanding Umpires and Their Impact

27:04
The Mental Game: Coaching Mindsets

29:23
Building Relationships with Young Players

31:44
Adapting Techniques for Individual Players

34:04
Non-Negotiables in Catching Development

38:06
Advice for Aspiring Coaches

40:09
The Importance of Influence in Coaching